Full scholarship, fee waiver and self-funding applicants

Applications Now Closed

Thank you to everyone who applied—this has been another record-breaking year for ACES.

We appreciate the time and effort put into each application. Please visit our website in October for updates regarding the 2027 intake.

How to apply

Application Portal – University of Highlands and Islands

When applying to the ACES-STAR programme, applicants must complete an online application form AND submit relevant supporting documents. Please see below for more information on what you will need to prepare.

*Please note, applicants MUST fully complete these steps in order to submit a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please read the advice on preparing your application below.

The application process is the same for everyone, however please note that the closing date for those applying to the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is much sooner.

Preparing your application

Ensure you are applying for the correct funding option on your application. If you are unsure which is correct for your circumstances, please email aces@sams.ac.uk before you submit your application form. The funding option you select could be the place you are offered if successful. For example, if you incorrectly select Self-Funding, you may only be offered a self-funded place.

We strongly advise that applicants begin working on their application as soon as possible before it opens for submission to allow extra time to collate your supporting documents and answers for your application for questions.

For the application you will need to provide the following documents :

1. Curriculum vitae (CV)
2. A professional reference (of 500-800 words) – please see section on Professional References for further guidance on how this should be prepared
3. Copy of your passport
4. Certified copy of degree certificate (plus certified translation into English if applicable);
5. Certified copy of transcript of marks (plus certified translation into English if applicable); and
6. Proof of English language ability, IELTS certificate (if applicable). You must achieve an overall score of 6.5 in your IELTS test and have obtained this qualification by the time you apply for the EMJMD ACES-STAR course.

We advise preparing for the following questions ahead of the submission open date:

1. Motivation statement (max. 350 words)

   How will the EMJM ACES-STAR support your personal and professional development and career aspirations?

   Here you should discuss why you are applying to the EMJM ACES, what you hope to learn, how this programme will help develop you as an individual and how you hope to use your new knowledge and practical skills in the future.

2. Previous Experience in Aquaculture

   Please provide examples of your experience in this area, and/or why you are interested in aquaculture and its relationship with the environment and society.(approx 350 words in total)

   Here you should consider the knowledge, skills and values needed for the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry and the relevance of the EMJM ACES-STAR.

FURTHER ADVICE ON COMPLETING FULLY-FUNDED ERASMUS MUNDUS APPLICATIONS

Commonly asked questions for fully-funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship application forms (when selecting full scholarship or bursary):

• For “Funding/Organisation name”: Please state “Erasmus Mundus”
• Where asked for Address, please state – “European Commission, European Education and Culture Executive Agency, Rue Joseph II 59, 1000 Brussels, Belgium”
• For “Amount Awarded” on Fully-Funded Erasmus applications please state: “Cost of tuition fees, insurance and €1,400 per month”
• Under “Any relevant information of funding”, please state: Erasmus Mundus Full Scholarship.
• IELTS & English Language Requirements
• Please visit the UHI website for Entry requirements and visa advice – English language requirements (uhi.ac.uk)
• For further advice please see the UK Government Website for advice on Exempt Countries : English language requirement (accessible) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Anyone outside of the list which is about three quarters of the page down needs to provide an accepted certificate as explained on the UHI website.

Please also read the information about statements and references.

Certified translations

If any of your documents (e.g. official degree certificate, transcript or professional reference) were not issued in English, then you will need to provide a certified translation that is verified by your university, an official translator, embassy or lawyer. This translation may be checked by the EMJMD ACES-STAR admissions team. Misleading translations can lead to the rejection of otherwise eligible and complete applications.

General Data Protection Regulation

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), in the context of managing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, collects and processes the personal data of some of the candidates. In particular, certain data of the scholarship holders and non-scholarship holders is shared with the Agency and treated according to this privacy statement.