2024, a special year for DENSYS

This is year is special for DENSYS, as we are reapplying for a another period of funding to Erasmus+, the education programme of the European Union. The final result of this application will be known in July 2024. Before the grant  notification and although we are really confident in the positive outcome of this application, the scholarship, the participation fee reduction even the fact that the DENSYS programme will open next year is conditional.

Admission requirements

The program is open to all applicants around the world. The number of places in the program being limited, admission is highly competitive. The eligibility requirements (validated by all Consortium universities) are the following:

Degree

    • A bachelor’s degree or equivalent academic qualifications from an internationally recognized university is required:
      • degree of bachelor in science,
      • degree of bachelor in engineering,
      • technical degree of bachelor in mechanical or aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering,
      • technical degree of bachelor in energy engineering where courses fluid mechanics, applied thermodynamics and heat transfer are required,
    • Other corresponding technical or natural scientific degrees on the first level (180 credits) can also give eligibility but specific courses have to be included: applied thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, mathematics, and numerical methods.

Note: Such specific requirements may be assessed as not fulfilled if:

      • The average grade (CGPA or equivalent)  is lower than 3.0 / 4.0.
      • The degree does not qualify for admission to equivalent Master’s level in the country where the degree is awarded.

English language proficiency

The minimum requirements are:

    • TOEFL
      • Internet Based Test score of 92/120 must be achieved with reading, writing, listening, speaking with a min. of 22 for writing. Home Edition is also accepted.
      • Paper-delivered test score of 77/90 must be achieved (reading, writing, listening) with a min. of 20 for writing
    • IELTS Academic: Overall band score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 on the writing criterion
    • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): minimum grade “C”. (B2 First and FCE are not accepted).
    • Exemption only for graduates who are nationals from an English-speaking country, taught and evaluated in English. See the list of English-speaking countries below.
    • Important notes:
      • Any other type of certificate (e.g. Duolingo) or certificates delivered by universities are not accepted.
      • The certificate expiration date is not taken into account.
      • If clarifications are judged necessary, a video conference interview will be arranged.

Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Heard Island, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, McDonald Island, New Zealand, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Islands, Pakistan, Papua New, Philippines, Guinea, Saint Kitt, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. [If a country is missing do not hesitate to contact us]

Selection Procedure

  • The coordinating institution (Université de Lorraine) checks all submitted documents and if the applicants fulfil the admission requirements.
  • The applications are reviewed and rated by two reviewers from the four academic partners of the consortium. Five criteria are graded, for a maximum score of 100 points. The criteria are the following:
  • Degree, field of study, marks (max. 45)
  • Recommendations letters / self-presentation video (max. 20)
  • Motivation / work experience / professional and academic potential / awards (max. 25)
  • English language proficiency (max. 10)

On the basis of these reviews, the Admission Board allocates four different statuses to each application:

  1. Admitted in three lists:
    1. with an conditional EMJM scholarship
    2. with a conditional participation fee reduction but with no EMJM scholarship
    3. with a self-funded status
  2. Not admitted in the DENSYS program

Students will be informed by email about their application in early March. Students who are admitted will have to confirm their participation.

Provisional calendar of the selection procedure

(updated on 8 Feb. 2024)
  • 30 Oct. 2023 at 8 am CET to 23 Jan. 2024 at 6 pm CET: Online application period
  • 24 Jan. to 23 Feb. 2023: Evaluation of the applications and selection by the admission board
  • 4-5 March 2024: Information issued to the students about their admission and potential funding (Erasmus Mundus scholarship or Reduction of participation fees) in the main list and the reserve list
  • Mid-July 2024: Confirmation of the DENSYS funding by Erasmus+ and thus confirmation to the students of their admission to the program (see the message at the top of the page).

About the previous cohorts

  • In 2020, about 300 students applied to the DENSYS program. At the end of the process, we had 21 students in the first cohort (8 women and 13 men – 40% of women vs 13% of the applications) from 11 different countries. The CGPA were between 3.4 and 4.0 out of 4.0 (avg. at 3.7).
  • In 2021, we had almost 400 applications  and we enrolled 24 students (6 women and 18 men – 25% of women vs 19% of the applications) from 17 different countries in this second cohort, with an Erasmus Mundus scholarschip or as self-funded students. The CGPA were between 3.0 and 3.9 out of 4.0 (avg. at 3.6).
  • In 2022, we had about 650 applications and 23 students (8 females and 15 males) were enrolled from 17 different countries with an Erasmus Mundus scholarschip or as self-funded students.
  • In 2023, we had about 500 applications and 24 students (13 females and 11 males) were enrolled from 20 different countries with an Erasmus Mundus scholarschip or as self-funded students.
  • In 2024, about 450 applications.

Gender Balance and Promotion of Female Candiadate’s Applications

“The world needs Science, and Science needs Women”, For Women in Science

“Realising the potential of the energy transition requires making use of all of the available talent pool as well as equitably distributing benefits. As such, targeted measures are required to train, recruit and retain women and other under-represented … and offer opportunities for career advancement. […]

Of the 58 million energy jobs worldwide in 2019, some 20% were in the renewable sector. The change in global employment patterns reflects new trends in energy deployment. Employment grew from 7.3 million in 2012, when IRENA began monitoring jobs in renewables, to 11.5 million in 2019. During the same period, energy jobs were decreasing owing to growing automation, lack of competitiveness of some fuels and changing market dynamics. There is also growing evidence of the wider impacts of the shift toward renewables. Notably, the rise of renewables has improved the gender balance in the energy sector, with women accounting for 32% of jobs in renewables, compared with 22% in the oil and gas.”
International Renewable Energy Agency, “World Energy Transition Outlook: 1.5°C Pathway“
"Joining DENSYS allowed me to obtain world-class training and knowledge in the field of energy systems, giving me all the tools I will need to achieve a successful career. Thus, it empowered me as a woman to go into a field that is usually dominated by men and be part of the transition towards a more sustainable society."
Sthefi KLAUS, Brasil
Student DENSYS 2021
"To be a woman in the STEM field is more than just pursuing your passion, but also living the ongoing movement of gender equality, standing before our great women ancestors with no such opportunity, and be a role for all the younger women around us. Take an active part in creating history by applying to DENSYS Program!"
Nuril Hidayati, Indonesia
Student DENSYS 2021
"As we see a shift into an era of clean energy, so we see one into an era of gender equality in the engineering field"
Paola Aponte, Colombia
Student DENSYS 2020
"Energy engineering is also an excellent choice for WOMEN ! I am so grateful for this opportunity. More girls can join us !"
Lu Li, China
Student DENSYS 2021
"As Michelle Obama said once "There is No Limit to what we as Women can accomplish". Let's get prepared to lead the change that our society needs"
Andrea Catalina Buitrago, Colombia
Student DENSYS 2020
Women are equally capable (if not more) when it comes to STEM, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. After all, “WHO RUN THE WORLD?”
Simran Masood, Pakistan
Student DENSYS 2020
"Applying to the DENSYS program is one of the best decisions in my life. This experience is giving me a lot of confidence in myself and in the ability to reach my goals. And if I can, so can you. Apply to DENSYS, join our amazing community and let your dream come true."
Jana Dundure, Latvia
Student DENSYS 2021
"Energy sector off limits to girls? Not anymore! Break the norms and follow your dreams. DENSYS has provided me the much needed platform to make a tangible difference for a Clean Energy Future. So don't be shy and apply away. If I can do it, so can you!"
Sadia Riaz, Pakistan
Student DENSYS 2021
"I encourage women to apply to DENSYS as it's one of the greatest opportunities to build a career in the energy field. DENSYS is a great place to work with like-minded people and gain the necessary skills to excel as an engineer. Great opportunities lie ahead for women, be it in academia, research, or companies."
Indira Ochoa, Honduras
Student DENSYS 2020

In accordance with the principles promoted by the European Union and by the DENSYS consortium’s institutions, from September 2021 the DENSYS program is committed to:

    • Fostering the gender balance to promote equal access to higher education in science and technology, and to close the gap in women’s participation in the energy transition,
    • Ensuring the gender balance in the admission process in order to reach the target of 40% of women on the main list:
      1. All selected candidates in the main and reserve lists need to pass the selection criteria.
      2. Some candidates may be removed from the main list and replaced by the next ranked candidates in the reserve list to comply with the gender ratio target.

Documents required to prepare an application

This part is just for information purposes and don’t replace what is asked on the application platform.

    1. a CV in pdf created with Europass (https://europa.eu/europass/en/create-europass-cv)
    2. a motivation letter (max 1 page, font 11pt)
    3. a self-introduction video of 3 to 5 minutes
    4. a notarised copy of your degree and transcripts (from the Bachelor’s level). If not graduated at the application time (which is perfectly fine ), proof of your registration in an education program and the transcripts you already have are sufficient.
    5. two reference letters: they will have to be uploaded by your referees so don’t ask them to give you the letters. They are going to receive an email (from noreply-densys at tchooz dot app) with a link to the application platform. The referees can be work managers or teachers.
    6. a copy of your ID card or passport
    7. a copy of your English test certificate
    8. an ID or passport photo i.e. a picture that you could put on a CV

Tips to prepare a successful application

The applicant will be guided all over the application process in the platform (see below). In addition, here are some tips to prepare a successful application. Those tips will be updated regularly according to your questions and feedback.

    1. Join the discord server to chat with the DENSYS staff and other applicants. Here is an invite: https://discord.gg/FDTTycyyZm
    2. The application can be completed progressively and submitted far before the deadline. Even after submission, any field or document can be modified (except for the contact information of your referees – see below). Our advice is to prevent any last-minute rush (or technical issue) by submitting your application as soon as possible.
    3. The letter of motivation (addressed “To whom it may concern” or to the DENSYS program chair, Prof. Lemoine) is a one-page letter in font 11pt stating your motivations to join the program but also the reasons why the Admission Board should select your application.
    4. A short video (3-5 min) where the applicant introduces himself or herself and explains his or her goals and motivation for applying to DENSYS. Do not hesitate to be creative but, first of all, make sure that we can hear you properly. You will be asked to share this video via a link on the platform of your choice (dropbox, youtube, …). Mind the access rights: the file has to be available with no connection request up to the end of March.
    5. About the 3rd semester track, on one hand, we have to balance the cohort between the 3 tracks, and on the other hand, every year 3/4 of the applications are for KTH. As a consequence, the level of competition is really higher for KTH. Keep that in mind, make your choice on the basis of the track content (see the Programme content page) and be clear about your motivation.
    6. The letters of recommendation from the referees (teachers or work manager). These letters have to be uploaded on the application platform by the referees themselves thanks to a link sent by email before you are allowed to submit your application. Think carefully about who you want to ask for these letters. Your referees have to know you personally and devote some time to understanding the DENSYS program. They have to convince us that you are the right candidate for this program. The email is sent by our platform (from noreply-densys at tchooz dot app) so check in the spam folder. Those letters are the main “last-minute issue” encountered by the applicants.
    7. All the documents have to be submitted in English. Your degrees and transcripts have to be translated (if not in English) and certified by a notary public or equivalent.
    8. Do not hesitate to mention any valuable experience: related to the energy sector or because it gave you the opportunity to develop or polish your skills, be it technical or linked to communication, leadership, management, etc. It can be mentioned in the video or in the motivation letter, and you can join documents to your application.
    9. Check the Fees and Scholarships page, and especially the section “Additional EMJMD scholarships”. If you are a national of one of those targeted countries, it increases your chance to be selected. Due to the EACEA regulation, if you are a national from a Program country, it also increases your chance to be selected.
    10. If you don’t find the answer to your question on this website or on the application platform, double-check and send us an email via the contact form in the footer of this page.
    11. To convert your CGPA on a scale of 4.0, please apply a linear conversion and give 2 numbers after the decimal point (#.##).

Frequently Asked Questions

    • The application is open to any person having a Bachelor’s degree by enrollment at the University of Lorraine (early September).
    • There are no requirements of any kind on the ID photo (background, color, glasses, …).
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Application platform

An application period only for European citizens is open from 4 March 8.00 a.m. up to 30 June 6.00 p.m. Click on the link below to go to the application platform.

Link to the application platform

Appeal: If you want to appeal the decision of the admission board, use the form available here.