2011/12 Admission dates:

Applications are open in 2011 until 16 September, with two selection phases:

• 1st selection phase (recommended)

Applications are due from 1 April to 8 July 2011.
Selection expected by July 15th.

• 2nd selection phase

Applications are due from 1 to 16 September 2011.
Selection expected by September 23rd.

The formal registration in the programme must be done from the 23rd till 26th of September 2011 at the University of Porto (Secção de Pós-Graduação).

How to apply to MAP-fis?

Candidates to MAP-fis should read carefully the following instructions and make certain that they meet all requirements when submitting their application.

1) Statement of Motivation (in English).

Prepare a concise one or two page statement that describes your main areas of interest in research, your related experiences, and your objectives in pursuing a PhD degree at MAP-fis. Your statement should be specific in describing your interests and motivations. When describing your research interests, you should explain why you think they are important areas of study and why you are particularly well-suited to pursuing them.

2) Curriculum vitae (in English).

Outline your education, research experience, work experience, publications if any, scholarships awarded, prizes and honours received, society memberships, and any other extracurricular activities. Include information about your fluency in written and spoken English.

Submit one copy of certificates for each university degree mentioned in your CV. Please provide also transcript of grades and transcripts of any certificate of English proficiency, such as TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Proficiency examination (if you do not have a certificate of English proficiency, please mention in your CV your experience in the English language).

3) Three letters of recommendation (in English)..

Referees should know you relatively well and should be able to evaluate the quality of your previous work. At least two referees should be from your faculty or research laboratories members or recent employers. Letters should be sent directly to us by email (mapfis@map.edu.pt) by the referees. Paper recommendations will not be accepted.

Letters of recommendation are due by the 9 of July (1st selection phase) and 17 September (2nd selection phase).

Where to send to the required documents?

Applications, with the Statement of Motivation and CV, should be sent by email to mapfis@map.edu.pt (in pdf format). Supporting documents, such as degree certificates, should be sent to:

Secção de Pós-Graduação
Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n,
4169-007 Porto

When submitting your electronic application, please include a cover letter detailing all documents you are attaching, as well as those that will be sent by regular mail.

Opportunities for grants

To maximise funding opportunities we highly recommend that you:

Apply for FCT PhD grants directly to FCT. The applications are open, usually, during May and June. You need to have a resident permit if you are not an EU citizen.

Students wishing to pursue their PhD studies in close collaboration with a foreign research institution are advised to apply for a FCT mixed PhD scholarship. These students should prepare their application and work plan (including the proposal time span) with the help of MAP-fis supervisors. Efforts will be taken so that these students will be awarded dual PhD degrees from the foreign University and MAP Universities.

Please visit section on *Fees and financial support* for a more detailed description on research grant opportunities and application.

Questions and further enquiries should be directed to mapfis@map.edu.pt.