INSTRUCTIONS for applicants

In order to apply for the SMACCs programme, the candidates must fill in and upload the online application form, as well as the requested annexes, via the online application platform.

The following is a list of the documents that you need to submit electronically (only if you do so will you be considered to have completed the application successfully):

  • Application form (filled-in and signed)
  • Motivation letter (1-page)
  • Proof of sufficient knowledge of the English language (TOEFL/IELTS, etc., see https://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/admission-criteria/ )
  • CV (Europass template recommended, see https://europa.eu/europass/en)
  • Copies of awarded degrees
  • Copies of academic transcripts
  • Copies of professional experience/certificates
  • Copy of the identity page of your passport (or ID card for EU applicants)

In order to submit/upload a document you will have to digitalise it. Please submit your electronic documents in pdf or jpg file format, under a single .zip archive.

All annexes to your application must be certified original copies (certified copies are made by a competent official at the municipal administration of the country in which you are).

If the certified copies of the originals are not written in English, they must be accompanied by a translation into English by a sworn translator.

Please note that, should your application be successful (see https://www.smaccs.eu/admissions/admission-criteria/), whether your are a scholarship or a self-funded student, you MUST, in order to finalize enrolment:

  • present the originals of documents constituting your application file at registration.
  • receive the authorization from the University of the Basque Country (i.e. the institution awarding the SMACCs Master degree) for accessing a Master’s degree with a foreign qualification, issued into or outside the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The procedure and the requested documents are available on the UPV/EHU’s website: https://www.ehu.eus/en/web/masterrak-eta-graduondokoak/admission-of-foreign-students . WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND APPLICANTS TO START THAT PROCESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Admitted students who do not fulfill these criteria will NOT be allowed to start their SMACCs studies.

Reference letters

In your application form, you will be asked to name two referees of your choice (at least one referree MUST be from academia).

When submitting your application file to the SMACCs system, you will receive a unique application ID and a URL that MUST be used by the two referees to upload their reference letter.

It is your responsibility to share your Application ID with the referees, and to  instruct them that they have to visit the url to submit their reference letter.  Reference forms have to be submitted no later than 15 calendar days after the application deadline that corresponds to your case. Reference letters uploaded after that date will NOT be processed.

The template of the reference letter to be used by the referees is available for download below.

For confidentiality reasons no information will be communicated to the applicant on the receipt of the letters.

Please do not forget to sign the application form and to upload it together with the required documents listed above.  Any incomplete application file will be rejected.