Please note that there are no longer scholarships available for this programme.
Application
In order to apply, students have to make use of the official application form. Please consult the Application page of this website for details. Applications arriving after this deadline will not be taken into consideration.
Evaluation
Applications to MEME are evaluated in a three-step procedure (see the MEME Study Guide for a more detailed account):
In a first step, the application files will be checked for completeness and for meeting the minimal requirements, that is, whether the degree obtained is comparable to a BSc (or higher) obtained at a European research university, whether the candidate has sufficient background in evolutionary biology or related fields, and whether the criteria for proficiency in English are met. All applicants not meeting these requirements will be informed that their application will not be processed further.
In a second step, all remaining applications are evaluated and ranked by the programme coordinators of the partner universities. Every applicant receives three marks ranging from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) for the three evaluation criteria: academic background, motivation, and past achievement (e.g. grades obtained). Based on these scores, the team produces a ranking of all applicants, also pointing out special circumstances where the numerical score does not fully capture the suitability of an applicant.
In a possible third step, the programme coordinators interview some of the applicants online. Each online interview consists of a brief presentation prepared by the applicant on a scientific topic of their choice, a brief discussion of this presentation, and a couple of questions on background, knowledge, and motivation. Again, the applicant receives several marks for aspects such as presentation ability, ability to handle questions, and breadth and depth of knowledge. The interview scores are combined with the scores of the first round of selection (both scores having equal weight), resulting in a final ranking of candidates. Again, the team carefully checks whether the numerical scores were assigned in a fair and comparable manner. Based on this ranking, the team decides on whether an interviewed candidate can be admitted to the MEME programme.
Time line
Applicants to be invited for an interview will be notified about this by email by mid-March. All other applicants will be notified that they are not eligible for (this round of) the MEME programme. The third round of selection (the interviews) will take place last week of March. All applicants will be notified about the final outcome by the end of March.