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FAQ
The frequently asked questions and answers listed are divided
into questions about the MSc programmes, fellowships, the PhD
programme, short courses and online courses.

For more information, click on the topic

of choice:

MSc Programmes
MSc Fellowships
PhD Programme
Short Courses
Online Courses

MSc Programmes

What are the admission requirements?

The admission requirements are:
A Bachelor degree in a field related to the programme you would like to
join.

In principle, candidates should have a minimum of three years of

practical or research experience since graduation. All applications are,
however, considered on their individual merits.

The English language requirements for all of UNESCO-IHE's educational

programmes.
When is the yearly application deadline?
The application deadline for the Delft-based MSc programmes starting on the
third Thursday of October is 1 August of the same year. The application
deadline for the other programmes may vary, please see the respective
programme or specialization pages. Please keep in mind that in case you
wish to apply for financial assistance, the application deadline for a fellowship
is usually much earlier. Applications can be sent throughout the year.
What happens after I have applied for an MSc Programme?
On arrival of the application you will receive a confirmation of receipt by
email. The application process can take up to four weeks. You will be
informed about the outcome by email.
What are the requirements for the recommendation letters?
We prefer one recommendation letter from your current employer (if
available) and another one from the university you graduated from. Please
make sure the letters are on company (logo) paper, signed and that the date
of issue is mentioned.

What are the requirement for the motivation letter?

In maximum 500 words (1 page) clearly explain why your are applying for
admission to the choosen programme. We are not looking for an overview of
your academic background and/or work experience!
How many years is my academic admission valid?
Your admission remains valid for for three consecutive years, in case there
have not been changes in the UNESCO-IHE admission requirements. In the
last case you do not have to send in a new application. However, if there
have been changes in your personal information, academic background or
work experience, you have to inform us.
What if I am not able to find funding for the academic year I am
admitted to?
You can send an e-mail to your fellowship officer indicating your name,
programme and specialization, country and student number and request re
admission. The fellowship officer will then consider your application for
admission for next year.
Can I apply for multiple programmes at the same time?
In principle you can not apply for more than one programme per academic
year at the same time. However, if you apply for an Erasmus Mundus eligible
programme you can also apply for another programme as long as it is not
also an Erasmus Mundus eligible programme.
What are the costs for an MSc Programme at UNESCO-IHE?
More information on programme fees can be found here.
How do I pay the invoice I have received?
You can pay your invoice by transferring the mentioned amount directly to
our bank account.
Name of the bank:ING Bank N.V.
Address of Bank:Phoenixstraat 28, 2611 AL, Delft, The Netherlands
Account name:Stichting IHE Delft
Bank account number:65.57.014
SWIFT-code beneficiary bank:INGBNL2A
IBAN:NL33INGB0006557014
Make sure you indicate the invoice number and keep in mind that remittance
should be free of bank charges to the receiver.

Within what time frame should the invoice be paid?

The paid before date or time frame is mentioned on the invoice. Usually it is
within 14 days.
Can I pay in installment?
Please contact your fellowship officer if you would like to request payment in
installments.
For a joint/ double degree programme: Mrs. Ineke Melis at
i.melis@unesco-ihe.org
For single degree/ Delft-based programme: Mrs. Marlies Baburek at
m.baburek@unesco-ihe.org
Without prior arrangements it is not allowed to pay in installments!
Do I have to apply for the visa and resident permit myself?
No. Once your admission to one of our programmes has been finalized we will
send you documentation for the visa and resident permit application. The

documentation has to be completed and returned to UNESCO-IHE. You need

to have a residence permit if you are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country or
Switzerland and you would like to stay in the Netherlands for a period of more
than three months.
A residence permit will generally be issued for the duration of your study
programme, provided that you obtain 50% of your study credits every
year. Within five days of your arrival in the Netherlands your host institution
has to apply for a residence permit on your behalf. Please check with your
host institution to make sure this is arranged for you. As mentioned above, if
you want to keep your permit, you need to get at least 50% of your study
credits each year. However, you may have a a reason to be unable to get that
50%. Whether that is an illness, homesickness or any other reason, please do
not hesitate to contact your student counsellor. Together with your counsellor
you can find out whether your reasons are valid enough to be excluded from
the 50% credits rule. Please do not be afraid to ask for help because if you do
not and you will end the year with less than 50%, you will be sent home.
Is your MSc degree recognized by other universities?
The UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are accredited under the Dutch law and are as
such legally registered at the Central Register for Higher Education
Programmes (CROHO) in The Netherlands. The Ministry of Education is cosignatory on all the diplomas presented by the Institute, thus endorsing the
academic standard of the degrees as comparable to those of the Dutch
universities.
The MSc degree is recognised as a graduate level credit by all Dutch
universities and many universities abroad. The MSc degree gives automatic
access to the PhD programmes of those universities. Normally no extra
entrance examinations or course requirements are needed.
Candidates who fulfilled the requirements for obtaining the MSc degree are
given a diploma as well as a diploma supplement describing the programme
and an overview of the results obtained.
What are certified copies?
Authenticated or certified copies are copies with an official stamp to verify
that the copies are true copies of original documents. This official stamp may
be from one of the following: a solicitor/notary, the educational institution
from where you gained the diplomas or the local council/local authority/local
government office.
Are the programmes accredited?
Yes, they are accredited with the Netherlands-Flemish Accreditation
Organisation (NVAO) according to a standard assessment protocol.
To what internal policies do the MSc Programmes adhere?
The criteria to which the Institute's MSc Programmes comply are described in
the Policy Note MSc Programmes offered in Delft.
Does the Institute have mechanisms in place to acertain that the
quality of its programmes is safeguarded?
Yes, the main vehicle to ensure quality is the external accreditation by
the NVAO. The internal protocol used for evaluating programmes and
components thereof is described in the 'Policy Note Evaluation'.

MSc Fellowships

Which fellowships are available to me?

More information on fellowships can be found at Nuffic's grantfinder. The
various possibilities mentioned on our website are just a few options for
financial assistance. UNESCO-IHE is open to any kind of fellowship as long as
it covers the total costs of the programme. Please keep in mind that each
fellowship has its own application requirements, rules and regulations.
Finding funding is solely the responsibility of the applicant.
Am I eligible for the partial Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Scholarship in Sanitary Engineering?
In order to be eligible for this partial scholarship you must:

be admitted to one of the three eligible Sanitary Engineering

programmes
have secured or are about to secure the remaining matching funds
More information on this scholarship can be found here.
How much are the remaining matching funds for the partial Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarship in Sanitary Engineering?
This depends on the programme. In general the joint double degree
programmes are less expensive than the Delft based programme. For the
exact amount please contact: Ineke Melis via i.melis@unesco-ihe.org for the
joint/ double degree programmes, and for the Delft-based programme
contact Marlies Baburek via m.baburek@unesco-ihe.org.
NETHERLANDS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME (NFP)
What is needed for nomination for NFP Fellowship?
1) Provisional academic admission and 2) an Employers' statement and a
personal motivation for NFP Fellowship nomination in prescribed format
(download the templates here).
What is the deadline for sending documents for nomination for NFP?
20 January 2015
How will I know if my application meets the requirements for
possible nomination for NFP?
If you have a provisional academic admission and UNESCO-IHE has confirmed
receipt of your employers' statement and personal motivation for NFP
Fellowship nomination, you meet the requirements for nomination.
When will I know if I have been awarded the NFP scholarship?
You will be informed at the end of May 2015 by UNESCO-IHE
What are my chances for being awarded an NFP scholarship?
The more you meet the NFP aim and the priorities of the ministry of foreign
affairs and the eligibility criteria of the embassy, the more chance you have.
Nevertheless all applicants are advised to look for funding from other sources
as well.
Will I be able to check on my status after submitting my documents
and before the outcome of the selection?
No, this will not be possible. You will have to wait for the outcome and in the
meantime apply for other funding.

What are the four main focuses of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
Water, Food Security, Sexual and Reproductive Health of Women and Safety
and Justice. Besides this each embassy may have its own country focus. You
can find this here
How can I best prepare my candidature?
The embassy will evaluate if your candidature fits the goal of development of
human capacity through development of your organisation and your country
and how this is related to the study programme for which you wish to be
nominated for fellowship. If your background belongs to one of the embassies
priorities, then pay attention that this is clearly shown in your motivation and
the employers' statement. Prepare your motivation and employers' statement
carefully.
Which countries need to upload a government statement, besides
the employers' statement?
Check here if for your country a government statement is required
Where can I find more information about the NFP programme?
Visit our webpage about the NFP programme for more information.

PhD Programme
How do I apply for the PhD programme?
The application procedure for UNESCO-IHE's PhD programme is
described here. The PhD programme application form can also be
downloaded via the link.
What are the admission requirements?
Candidates for the PhD programme should have a UNESCO-IHE MSc degree
with high qualification. An MSc degree from another university or institute equal to UNESCO-IHE's standards - may also be acceptable. If a candidate is
not yet in the possession of an MSc degree, but has an interesting research
proposal and proven track record, he or she may be admitted to UNESCOIHE's MSc programme first, as part of and in preparation for the PhD research.
PhD candidates will only be accepted after their research proposal has been
approved by UNESCO-IHEs Academic Board. UNESCO-IHE's PhD degrees are
awarded jointly with a relevant university, ensuring that it is embedded in the
prevailing higher education legislation.
Click here for the English language requirements for all UNESCO-IHE
programmes.
What happens after I have applied for the PhD Programme?
After we have received the documents mentioned above, we will first send
your diplomas and transcripts to Nuffic for validation. If your diplomas are
found to be adequate, we will send your documents to one of UNESCO-IHE's
professors, who will review your academic qualifications and research
proposal and decide whether to approve or decline your application. If your
application is rejected you will be provided with a brief justification for the
decision. In the case of approval, you will receive an unconditional admission
letter. However, if you still need to submit the results on an English test, the
admission letter will be conditional. On average this process will take 6 to 8
weeks.
How can I get in contact with a supervisor/professor?
It is common that prospective students will have already identified a potential
promoter based a comparison of their interests and the professor's area of

expertise. It is not a requirement, however, that you find a professor yourself.

An admissions officer will contact the most suitable professor, based on your
research proposal. The name and email address of the professor will be
mentioned in your admission letter.
How can I apply for a fellowship?
Please click here for more information on possible fellowships or scholarships.
What are the costs of a PhD study?
Please click here for more information about costs.
What is the application deadline?
We do not have an application deadline, you can always apply. After you have
obtained your admission and funding, and after the approval of your
professor, you can start the programme.
How many years is my academic admission valid?
Your academic admission is valid for 3 years. This time is available to you to
secure the necessary financing or complete any other needed preparations.
The programme may not be started until full financial support is acquired.
Why is the PhD degree awarded jointly with a Dutch university?
UNESCO-IHE is not an official Dutch university. Therefore UNESCO-IHE can not
issue a PhD degree. Your professor is registered at a Dutch university and you
will be registered at the same university. The logo of that university and of
UNESCO-IHE will both appear on your diploma.

Short Courses
Where can I find more information about the short courses?
You can find information about every short course here. After selecting a
course, you can find more specific information regarding the course content,
the dates, the prices, the deadlines and a possibility to apply for the online
course.
What is the workload of a short course?
A short course has around six to eight hours of study per day.
Do I receive credit points for finishing a short course?
Almost all our short courses have the option of taking an exam: It is possible
to receive 5 ECTS Credit Points by successfully passing this exam at the end
of the course (cost of the exam is 250).
Who do I contact for more information about the application
procedure?
If you cannot find your answer among the FAQs, you are welcome to send an
email to: info@unesco-ihe.org
Who do I contact for more information regarding the course content?
You can find information about all short courses here. After selecting a
course, under 'More Info' you can find the email address of a specific
course's coordinator.
What are the costs of a Short course?
You can find information about all short courses here. After selecting a
course, you see the cost of the course.
How many years is my academic admission valid?
Once you have been academically accepted this admission remains valid for
three years.
What is the application procedure?
You can find information about all short courses here. After selecting the
course of your interest, under 'More Info' you can find the possibility to apply:

"Click here to apply for this course". After receipt of your application, we will
assess your file and inform you regarding the outcome within ten working
days.
When is the application deadline for a short course?
UNESCO-IHE's application deadline for online courses is 4 weeks before the
start of the course.
Which documents do I need for applying for a short course?
After filling out the application form, you have to attach your curriculum
vitae.
What are the entry requirements?
You should at least have a Bachelor of Science degree, some years of working
experience and a good command of the English language.
Why do I not receive an admission letter?
You will receive the outcome of your application by email as for several
fellowships it is no longer necessary to hand over an admission letter. In case
you do need a letter for your sponsor, we will provide you with this letter
upon request.
When is the payment deadline for a short course?
Before the start of the course we should have received your payment in our
bank account.
Am I entitled to a discount?
Discounts on the tuition fee of online courses apply to the following persons:
30%: UNESCO-IHE alumni
30%: UNESCO-IHE G-PoWER partners
10%: UN family staff members
10%: groups of 5 or more (provided that the online course starts at the
same time and a group application has been sent)
Can I pay with credit card?
Unfortunately we do not accept cheques sent to UNESCO-IHE nor credit
cards.
Can I pay in installments?
No. In order to participate in the course, it is necessary that we have the
whole amount in our bank account before the course starts.
Does UNESCO-IHE have scholarships available?
Unfortunately, UNESCO-IHE does not provide any scholarships.
Where can I find possible scholarships?
For possible scholarships, use Nuffic's grantfinder.
What is an NFP scholarship?
Please find more information regarding the NFP scholarship on NUFFIC's
website.
Is my country eligible for an NFP scholarship?
For all information regarding the NFP scholarship, please visit NUFFIC's
website.
How do I apply for an NFP scholarship?
You have to apply to a short course first. If you meet the academic admission
requirements you will be informed by the admission and fellowship officer
about the next step that you have to take if you wish to be nominated for NFP
scholarship.
Does UNESCO-IHE provide housing?
Yes, student rooms might be available for 50 per night. For more

information about the type of room facility and availability you may
contact : accommodation@unesco-ihe.org

Online Courses
Where can I find more information about the Online Courses?
On our website you can find information about every online course. After
selecting a course, you can find more specific information regarding the
course content, the dates, the prices, the deadlines and a possibility to apply
for the Online course.
What is the study load of an Online Course?
A typical course covers a four-month period, and requires around eight hours
of study per week (total study load 140 hours).
Do I receive credit points for finishing an Online Course?
Momentarily, there are four Online courses for which ECTS Credit Points can
be obtained: Biological Waste Water Treatment (6 ECTS) and for the following
three courses 5 ECTS can be earned: Integrated River Basin Management,
Cleaner Production and the Water Cycle, and Solid Waste Management.
Who do I contact for more information about the application
procedure?
If you cannot find the answer to your question among the FAQs, you are
welcome to send an email to: onlinecourse@unesco-ihe.org
Who do I contact for more information regarding the course content?
The course coordinator can answer all your questions about course specific
questions, for instance regarding the content. After selecting a course on our
website under 'More Info' you can find the email address of the course
coordinator.
What are the costs of an Online Course?
On our website you can find information about every Online course. After
selecting a course, you can find the cost of the Online course.
How long is my academic admission valid?
Once you have been academically accepted this admission remains valid for
three years.
What is the application procedure?
After selecting the course of interest on our website, under you can find the
possibility to apply. After receipt of your application, we will assess it and
inform you regarding the outcome within two weeks.
When is the application deadline for an Online Course?
UNESCO-IHE's application deadline for Online courses is two weeks before the
start of the course.
Which documents do I need for applying for an Online Course?
Before submitting the application form, you have to attach your curriculum
vitae.
What are the entry requirements for an Online Course?
You should at least have a Bachelor in the relevant field and a good command
of the English language.
Why do I not receive an admission letter?
You will receive the outcome of your application by email as for several
fellowships it is no longer necessary to hand in an admission letter. In case
you do need a letter, we will provide you with this letter upon request.

When is the payment deadline for an Online Course?

Before the start of the course we should have received your payment in our
bank account.
Am I entitled to a discount?
Discounts on the tuition fee of Online courses apply in the following
situations:
30%: UNESCO-IHE alumni
30%: UNESCO-IHE G-PoWER partners
10%: UN family staff members
10%: groups of 5 or more (provided that the Online course starts at the
same time and a group application has been sent)
Can I pay with credit card?
Unfortunately we neither accept cheques sent to UNESCO-IHE nor credit
cards.
Can I pay in installments?
No. In order to participate in the course, it is necessary that we have received
the entire tuition fee in our bank account before the course starts. As it is
possible to pay just before the course starts, it seems unnecessary to transfer
the fee in installments. Therefore, we recommend you to keep your money
until you can transfer the whole amount. This way you also have to pay
possible transfer costs only once.
Does UNESCO-IHE have scholarships available?
Unfortunately, UNESCO-IHE does not provide scholarships.
Where can I find possible scholarships?
For possible scholarships, use Nuffic's grantfinder.
What is a NFP scholarship?
Please find more information regarding the NFP scholarship NUFFIC's website.
Is my country eligible for a NFP scholarship?
To check if your country is eligible for an NFP scholarship, please NUFFIC's
website.
How do I apply for a NFP scholarship?
You have to apply to an online course first. If you meet the academic
admission requirements you will be informed by the admission and fellowship
officer about the next step that you have to take if you wish to be nominated
for NFP scholarship.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
GUIDE 2015

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