Frequently Asked Questions

General information

What is the start date for this program?

The start date for this programme is the third week of September.

Is this program available online?

No, this is an on campus programme, where students will visit 3 or 4 different countries (1 per semester).

Is this program offered part-time or full-time?

This is a full-time programme.

Where is this school located?

• The programme is preceded by a one-week summer school at Ghent University. The first semester follows immediately after the summer school at Ghent University and will introduce the students to the broad perspectives and basics of sustainable drug discovery.
• The programme continues with the second semester when students move together to the Medical University of Gdańsk, where more in-depth courses on e.g. molecular modelling, omics and green analytics are given.
• The third semester takes place at the University of Lille OR the University of Groningen. The different stages in the drug discovery process up to drug development are discussed, i.e. screening, target identification and validation, hit-to-lead, preclinical studies up to first-in-human trials. By selecting the appropriate mobility track, students will be able to become more proficient in certain aspects of drug discovery by benefitting from the specific expertise of the selected partner university.
• The final semester is dedicated to the execution and writing of the master thesis. The thesis is performed under the supervision of a lecturer of one of the four consortium universities and will preferentially take place at an international (incl. non-academic) partner worldwide.

In what language is this program taught?

This programme is taught in English.

Application Procedure

What is the admission process for this program?

The application and selection procedure in 5 steps:

• Determine whether you are eligible for the S-DISCO programme by checking carefully the Admission Requirements.
• Before you begin, make sure you have the required documents ready. Also, other information will be asked for, such as the e-mail address of the embassy where you will apply for your visa (if you are a non-EU student), the GPA scores or the coordinates of 2 reference persons.
• Create an UGent OASIS account by clicking the “Apply now” button on our website. After registration, you can online fill in the application form and submit it prior to the set deadlines . Note: there is one single Application Form for both admission to the programme and the scholarship application.
• In the week after the application deadline, you will be invited to fill in an online test: this test contains 10 general as well as 10 basic knowledge (chemistry, data science and biology) questions.
• Next to the scores for the online test and the Bachelor/Master GPA values, further ranking is based on (1) the educational background (5/9), with emphasis on organic chemistry, statistics/math and cell/genetic/immune biology, (2) the curriculum vitae (2/9), and (3) motivation letter (2/9).
• In case your file has been evaluated as positive by the Selection Committee, you will be invited for an online interview, which is the last phase in the Application Procedure. In the invitation, you will receive different topics from which you will choose one and prepare a lecture (presentation) of 5 minutes about this topic.
• During the online interview, you will also give your 5-minutes lecture.

When is the application deadline for this program?

For students starting in September 2025, applications will open in July 2024, with deadline 1st of December 2024 (for scholarship students and self-supported students) or end of January 2025 (only for self-supported students).

What documents are required to apply to this program?

The candidates are asked to submit the following documents through the application platform:

• a passport photo
• a copy of their passport (or other official identification proof for EEA students)
• a letter of motivation (max. 1 page).
• a complete curriculum vitae (preferably in Europass format, or max. 3 pages).
• a copy of their Bachelor of Science diploma (plus English translation), or a formal letter from their university stating they will finish their Bachelor of Science programme before their enrolment in the S-DISCO master programme, plus a formal equivalency if required.
• official university transcript of records (plus English translation) which includes a detailed list of all courses taken with their credit hours and results, the final grade received, an explanation of the grading system used, and an indication of the student’s rank within her/his cohort (including cohort size). If the candidate has not yet finalised the Bachelor of Science programme, all courses still on-going should be given as well as the results up to the moment of application.
• certification of proficiency in English, i.e. minimum B2 level according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
• a merged PDF file, containing (in this order): the bachelor degree, the bachelor degree transcript of records, the master degree (if applicable), the master degree transcript of records (if applicable), the motivation letter and the curriculum vitae.
• a recommendation letter is no longer mandatory.

Which documents are accepted to prove my English language proficiency?

Only language proficiency certificates explicitly stating at least B2 level or equivalent are accepted.

• CEFR: min. B2 level
• IELTS: min. 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: min. 83
• TOEFL ITP: min. 543
• Duolingo: min. 110

Certificates issued for English-taught courses or study programs will not be considered proof of language proficiency.

I will not have obtained my Bachelor's degree before the application deadline. Am I still eligible to apply for the S-DISCO programme?

Yes, that is possible. During the application, you will need to submit a formal letter from your university stating you will finish your Bachelor of Science programme before your enrolment in the S-DISCO master programme. Also the transcript of records, incl. all courses still on-going, should be given as well as the results up to the moment of application.

Do I need to include legalized documents (diploma/transcripts) when submitting my initial application?

No, this can be done in a later stage after you are selected for the programme. However, when you are selected, the legalization procedure should be started immediately, as it can take some time to finish.

Is it allowed to also apply to other Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programs when applying to the S-DISCO program?

Yes, this is allowed.

Do I need to (re)submit all application documents when applying to the programme for a second time?

Yes, with each application all supporting documents need to be (re)submitted. Documents from previous application rounds are automatically archived by the selection committee and will not be transferred. When applying to the programme for a second time, take into account the received feedback and update the application documents accordingly. As is the case during the first application procedure, the latest version of the recommendation forms needs to be submitted by two independent referees. Applicants are not allowed to submit (older versions) of the recommendation forms themselves.

Funding

How much does this program cost?

The cost for this programme is 4500€ per year for programme countries and 9000€ per year for partner countries. Please check the finances page for the list of programme and partner countries.

Can I pay for this program in installments?

No, this is not possible.

What other funding options do you have for this program?

Students can apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship, by indicating this choice in the application form. An Erasmus+ scholarship has a value of EUR 1400 per month, for a total duration of 24 months. For these students, the tuition fee is waived. The scholarship covers the living costs incurred by the student, including travel, visa, installation, house-rent and other living costs.

Different other funding possibilities are given on the finances page.