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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (F.A.Q.)

 

Masters programme: European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies

Erasmus Mundus Scholarships

Universities

Language

Application

Costs

Masters programme: European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies

What is the duration of the Masters programme?
The degree requires three semesters for completion.

Which degree will be awarded?
The Master of Arts (MA).

Which topics are focused as a part of this degree?
The programme is comprised of the following four areas of study:

  • Theory, History, Epistemology of Media and Communication
  • Institutions, Law, Politics, Economy of the Media
  • Media as a Text, Media Production and Analysis
  • Audience, Reception, and Media Education

How high is the average course load?
The student is expected to successfully complete a total of 30 ECTS credits per semester. All academic achievements are assessed using the European Credit-Transfer-Systems (ECTS): 30 credits have to be earned at the home university, 30 credits at the host university, and 30 credits through the completion of the Master Thesis at the home university.

How does the credit system work?
Utilizing the ECTS framework, each university has developed courses with pre-determined ECTS credit values. Upon successful completion of each course – regardless which partner university the student attends – the student will receive the alloted credits. Parallell to this, the ECTS credits will be entered into the student’s overall transcript of records. Each individual university is responsible for specifying the required academic achievement standards.

What is required to complete the degree?
The Masters programme European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies consists of three main phases. During semester 1 and 2 the student attends courses at two of the participating universities. During this time, he or she will complete a series of classes (including essays and practical work in some cases) and aquire ECTS credits. A mastering of each of the four areas of this programme should be equally represented by the student’s final transcript. After having earned 60 ECTS credits, the student becomes eligible to apply for the Master Thesis. The student’s last step is then to complete the Master Thesis at his or her home university. By successfully completing the 90 ECTS, the degree candidate will establish that he has acquired necessary academic knowledge and appropriate skills related to modern media and he will receive his diploma certificate.

Is it possible to transfer previously aquired credits?
Assessments done in the same areas of study at partner universities will be recognized. In order to ensure academic standards have been met, the ECTS credit system will be applied. Achievement in studies in other faculties will be taken into account, as long as the completed course work follows ECTS standards. Equivalent correspondence courses are also admissable.

Erasmus Mundus scholarships

Do you offer any scholarships for international students?
Yes. Since September 2004, the European Union universities of the International Consortium for Media, Communication and Cultural Studies are partners of the European Commission in Erasmus Mundus. So the Consortium is able to give scholarships to students and scholars from non-EU countries (so called "third-countries"). More information are provided in the section "Erasmus Mundus Scholarships".

What is Erasmus Mundus?
The Erasmus Mundus programme is a co-operation and mobility programme in the field of higher education which promotes the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world. It supports European top-quality Masters courses and enhances the visibility and attractiveness of European higher education in third countries. It also provides EU-funded scholarships for third country nationals participating in these Masters courses, as well as scholarships for EU-nationals studying in third countries. For further information, please have a look at http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html.

What is CoMundus?
CoMundus are the European universities of the International Consortium for Media, Communication adn Cultural Studies. Since 2004, this group offers as partner of the European Commission Erasmus Mundus scholarships to students and scholars from non-EU countries.

How high are the scholarships?
Erasmus Mundus non-EU students receive EUR 35.600 during the three semester Masters programme (16 months x 1.600 EUR + 2 x 5.000 EUR).
Erasmus Mundus non-EU scholars (fellows) receive max. EUR 13.000 for max. 3 months of academic acitivities at at least one of the partner universities (3 months x 4.000 EUR + 1 x 1.000 EUR).

How many Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available?
For the academic year 2006/07, a total of 24 scholarships for non-EU students is available:
- 12 schoalrships are reserved for students from non-EU countries.
- Additionally, the European Commission offers 12 scholarships for Asian students. The country distribution of the 12 Asian students for 2006/07 is:

  • 6 Indian nationals;
  • 1 Chinese nationals;
  • 3 nationals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka or Vietnam;
  • 1 Malaysian national;
  • 1 Thai national.

For non-EU scholars 3 scholarships are available for the academic year 2006/07.

Who is eligible for Erasmus Mundus scholarships?
Elligible for Erasmus Mundus scholarships are non-EU students and scholars who meet the European Commission's definition of "third-country graduate students" respectively "third-country scholars":

Extract from the “DECISION No 2317/2003/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 5 December 2003 establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries (Erasmus Mundus) (2004 to 2008)”

“Article 2 Definitions […]
2. ‘third-country graduate student’ means a national of a third country other than those from EEA-EFTA States and candidate countries for accession to the European Union, who has already obtained a first higher education degree, who is not a resident of any of the Member States or the participating countries as provided for in Article 11, who has not carried out his or her main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any of the Member States or the participating countries; and who has been accepted to register or is registered in an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course as described in the Annex;
3. ‘third-country scholar’ means a national of a third country other than those from EEA-EFTA States and candidate countries for accession to the European Union, who is not a resident of any of the Member States or the participating countries as provided for in Article 11, who has not carried out his or her main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any of the Member States or the participating countries, and who has outstanding academic and/or professional experience;”

Link to the original document:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/decision_en.pdf

How can I apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
As student, you can apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship in combination with the application for the Masters course European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies only. All information for students and scholars about prerequisites, the application process, forms and deadlines are provided in the section "Erasmus Mundus Scholarships".

Universities

What does "home" and "host" university mean?
The home university is kind of administrative responsible for students. For applying to the programme, students have to send your application to their preferred home university.

Which universities participate in the Masters programme?
The following universities are members of the International Consortium for Media, Communication and Culturals Studies and offer the Masters programme European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies (without Erasmus Mundus Scholarships):

Which universities participate in the Erasmus Mundus programme and offer scholarships for non-EU students and scholars (fellows)?
The European Universities of the International consortium offer Erasmus Mundus scholarships.

Which combinations of universities can I choose?
For participating in the Masters course without an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, you can choose between the following combinations:

First Semester

 

Second Semester

Roskilde

 

Kassel or Dijon or Grenoble or Florence or London or Arizona or Texas

Dijon

 

Roskilde or Kassel or Florence or London or Arizona or Texas

Grenoble

 

Roskilde or Kassel or Florence or London or Arizona or Texas

Roskilde or Dijon or Grenoble or Florence or London or Arizona or Texas

 

Kassel

Florence

 

Roskilde or Dijon or Grenoble or Kassel or London or Arizona or Texas

London

 

Roskilde or Dijon or Grenoble or Kassel or Florence

Arizona, Tempe

 

Roskilde or Dijon or Grenoble or Kassel or Florence

Texas at Austin

 

Roskilde or Dijon or Grenoble or Kassel or Florence

For participating in the Masters course in combination with an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, you can choose between the following combinations:

First Semester

 

Second Semester

Roskilde

 

Kassel or Dijon or Grenoble or Florence or London

Aarhus

 

Kassel or Dijon or Grenoble or Florence or London

Dijon

 

Roskilde or Kassel or Florence or London

Grenoble

 

Roskilde or Kassel or Florence or London

Roskilde or Dijon or Grenoble or Florence or London

 

Kassel

Florence

 

Roskilde or Dijon or Grenoble or Kassel or London

London

 

Roskilde or Dijon or Grenoble or Kassel or Florence

Which combinations of universities are not possible to choose?
You can not choose two universities in the same country. So it is not possible to choose the combinations Dijon - Grenoble and Arizona - Texas. Also it is not possible to choose unviersities in two countries with the same mother tongue (U.K. and USA).

Where can I find detailled information related to the Masters course at each of the partner universities?
Information about each university's instructional schedule, assessment rules, teaching and administrative staff, term dates, examination periods, requirements and procedure for application, application deadline, support for international / first-year students, institutional frame, research activities and quality assurance and evaluation is accessable by clicking on the arrows below and is provided on the pages "Partner universities" under the sections "International Consortium", "Masters Course" and "Erasmus Mundus":

  • Denmark: Aarhus Universitet
  • Denmark: Roskilde Universitetscenter
  • France: Université de Bourgogne
  • France: Université Stendhal Grenoble 3
  • Germany: Universität Kassel
  • Italy: Università degli Studi di Firenze
  • United Kingdom: Institute of Education, University of London
  • U.S.A.: Arizona State University
  • U.S.A.: University of Texas at Austin

Language

How good should my language skills be?
It is necessary that you are capable of communicating in the language of your two chosen universities. Some of the partner universities ask for language tests for an application. Student have to be able to analyse course literature and complete work at academic level. For specific information regarding individual language standards, please contact the respective university.

Is the Masters programme for students speaking either German or Italian only?
No, students can choose between English, French, German and Italian teaching universities.

Which university teaches in which language?

  • Denmark: Aarhus Universitet : Teaching language: English, Danish
  • Denmark: Roskilde Universitetscenter : Teaching language: English, Danish
  • France: Université de Bourgogne : Teaching language: French
  • France: Université Stendhal Grenoble 3 : Teaching language: French
  • Germany: Universität Kassel : Teaching language: German
  • Italy: Università degli Studi di Firenze : Teaching language: Italian
  • United Kingdom: Institute of Education, University of London : Teaching language: English
  • U.S.A.: Arizona State University : Teaching language: English
  • U.S.A.: University of Texas at Austin : Teaching language: English

Can I apply to two univerisities where language of intruction is English?
 Yes, you can apply for a combination of English teaching universities. But you can not choose two universities in the same country. Also it is not possible to choose unviersities in two countries with the same mother tongue (U.K. and USA). So you can not choose the combinations of English teaching universities Arizona - Texas, Arizona - London, Texas - London, Roskilde - Aarhus.

Can I apply to two universities where language of instruction is French?
No. It is not possible to apply for two universities in the same country.

How much score of language proficiency tests is accepted by the consortium?
For an application, it is necessary to hand in a language proficiency tests or documents proofing sufficient laguage abilities for the home and the host university. Each university has different scores and accepts different language tests. Please have a look at the partner universities' websites for detailled information.

Application

I'm from a country which is not represented in the consortium. Can I apply for the programme nevertheless?
Yes. Students from all over the world can apply for the Masters course. Only students from non-EU countries can apply for Erasmus Mundus scholarships.

I graduated in a mayor subject not directly related to media, communication or cultural studies. Can I apply in the European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies?
As far as a student has theoretical or practical experiences in at least one of the Consortium's four areas of study and he meets the other prerequisites he can apply for the Masters programme.

Do I have to apply to the one of the university participating in the programme which I wish to be my home institution directly? Or there should be applications sent to all the universities I wish to study at during the hole programme?
Students have to apply to one of the two universities they want to visit during the Masters course. The one the student sends his application to will be his home university, the other one will be his host university.
In case you apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship additionally to the Masters course, students have to send their application written in English languageto their chosen home university.

Do I have to send my application to the European Commission?
No, plese do not send your application to the European Commission, neither for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship nor your application for the Masters programme. The applications have to be send to your chosen home university only.

Should I design my own course programme from the list of the courses offered at the universities I wish to study at the time of application?
As soon as you are accepted as a student, you have to choose from the universities' courses offered during your stay at the universities.

Do I have to follow some standard curricula already defined by the consortium that covers four areas of study?
Yes, you have to choose courses at your home and host university which fit in the consortium's four curriculum areas. This is necessary to follow the aims and standards of the European Master of Arts in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies and to make sure that your earned ECTS will be recognized.

With whom should I approve the learning agreement which I downloaded from your website?
The learning agreement is part of your application and must be sent to your prefered home university.

What to do with the ECTS section in the application form?
ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) is the grading system which is used by the universities participating in the Masters programme. In each of the three semesters study duration, a student has to earn 30 ECTS. Please fill in the application with 30 ECTS for each, the semester at your home university and the semester at your home university.

Which application deadlines are valid for this programme?
Mainly, there exist two different deadlines: For an application for the Masters course (without an Erasmus Mundus scholarship), there exist different deadlines at the different partner universities. For the Masters course in combination with an application for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship the application deadline is January 31st, 2005.

Why this early deadline for Erasmus Mundus scholarships?
This deadline is set this early because the consortium has to make proposals for students who will receive a scholarship to the European Commission until a defined deadline at the beginning of each calendar year. Therefore the consortium has to meet the European Commission's guidelines in choosing students as well as it has to equalize the spreading of students regarding the participating universities.

Could I submit single documents after the deadline?
No, this is not possible. Because of the high number of applicants and the deadline for submitting the lists with applicants' names to the European Commission it is not possible for the consortium to accept application documents after the deadline.

How long will the process of application selection take?
Normally, the applications are handled within fife months after the deadline.

Costs

If someone is admitted for the programme and comes from the EU, how much does the programme cost?
The costs differ from university to university. Due to bilateral agreements, some universities offer a limited number of tuition free study places.

 

Source: faq.html
printed: 09.04.2010, 19:18:14