All applications will be graded from 0.000 (minimum) to 5.000 (maximum) in each of the three evaluation criteria:
Criterion A – Merit of the Applicant;
Criterion B – Merit of the Work Program;
Criterion C – Merit of Hosting and Supervision Conditions.
Applicants will be ranked according to the weighted average of the score obtained in the three criteria, following the relative weighting of: 40% Merit of the Applicant (A); 40% Merit of the Work Program (B); 20% Merit of the Hosting and Supervision Conditions (C), converted into the following formula:
Final Grade = (𝟎, 𝟒 × 𝑨) + (𝟎, 𝟒 × 𝑩) + (𝟎, 𝟐 × 𝑪)
For purposes of tiebreak, the final ranking list will be based on the scores assigned to each of the evaluation criteria in the following order: criterion A (Merit of the Applicant), criterion B (Merit of the Work Programme) and criterion C (Merit of the Hosting Conditions).
Applicants whose application is scored with a final grade lower than 3.000 will not be eligible for studentship granting.
Criterion A - Merit of the Applicant
The criterion A, which has a 40% relative weight to the final score, is evaluated based on two sub-criteria:
A1. Academic career (reflecting the academic degree grades), with a relative weight of 50% in the Merit of the Applicant.
The academic career sub-criterion is calculated according to the final classification stated in the academic degree certificate, submitted in the application form, according to Table 1: i) Graduate + Master / Integrated Master; ii) Graduate degree only; or iii) Master degree only.
Although it is not mandatory to submit degree certificates for the admission to the call, documental evidence of the classifications obtained in the academic degrees is mandatory for the evaluation of the sub-criterion A1.
See Table 1 in the Terms of the Call
In case no valid academic degree certificate is submitted, the sub-criterion A1 will be scored zero (A1 = 0).
To apply the scoring system presented in Table 1, it is mandatory to submit the following documents in the application form:
a) Academic degree certificates, indicating the final grade and, if possible, the final classification of the disciplines completed. Applicants with post-Bologna education shall present both 1st and 2nd study cycles academic degree certificates or an integrated master certificate, while applicants with pre-Bologna education should present the graduate and/or master degree certificates. It should be noted that a certificate of curricular units does not substitute the submission of a degree certificate including the degree’s final grade required to the sub-criterion A1 calculation.
b) In case of foreign academic degrees it is mandatory to submit the recognition of such degrees and the conversion of the respective final grade to the Portuguese grading scale, to guarantee the principle of equal treatment to applicants with national and foreign academic degrees.
A2. Personal curriculum (reflecting the scientific, professional and academic career, when applicable, and the applicant’s motivation to proceed with this study cycle) with a relative weight of 50% in the Merit of the Applicant. In particular, in the domain of Particle and Astroparticle and associated domains, previous experience in theoretical, experimental or phenomenology fields will be valued. In the domain of technologies associated to the Portuguese participation at CERN and their transfer to society, skills in instrumentation, electronics, computing and engineering will be valued. In the assessment of the personal curriculum, the panel will consider the motivation letter, in particular the clear identification of applicant’s motivation to submit the application and the maturity to develop the proposed scientific work plan. The recommendation letters and the most representative document (documents of mandatory submission) will also be considered in the sub-criterion A2. In the case of the recommendation letters, the skills identified by the referees selected by the candidate will be evaluated. Similarly, the quality of the most representative document will be assessed and its choice should be justified in the motivation letter.
Disability Bonuses
Applicants that state a degree of disability equal to or above 90% shall have a bonus of 20% on criterion A – Merit of the Applicant.
Applicants that state a degree of disability equal to or above 60% and under 90%, shall have a bonus of 10% in this criterion.
The degree of disability should be duly proven by submitting, in the application form, the document Atestado Médico de Incapacidade Multiuso (AMIM), issued according to the Decree-Law no. 202/96, of 23 of October, in its current version.
Criterion B - Merit of the work programme
The merit of the work programme criterion has a relative weight of 40% and is evaluated in an integrated and transversal manner, assessing the quality, originality and relevance of the work plan in all of its dimensions, in the following three sub-criteria:
B1. Justified relevance of the subject of study;
B2. Scientific quality of the state of the art and the methodology of the work programme; B3. Feasibility of the work programme.
For sub-criterion B1, the evaluation is based on the clear definition of aims and research questions, as well as the originality and the potential contribution of the research project to the knowledge and progress of science and technology and, when applicable, its social impact.
The assessment of sub-criterion B2 is based on the quality of the state of the art and the proposed research methodology, considering the clarity, consistency, and coherence, in accordance with internationally accepted standards, and the originality of the work plan to be developed.
For sub-criterion B3, evaluation is based on the adequacy of methodologies to the tasks and aims proposed in the work plan and the respective planned deadlines as the total period expected to complete the project. The submission of the thesis, or of the scientific work leading to the doctoral degree, at the university, must be included in the timeline. If applicable, the risk assessment presented is also analysed, by identifying the most critical points and the corresponding contingency measures to be adopted.
The presentation of a timeline, of mandatory submission, is also considered, as well as additional and optional information related to the work plan such as schemes, formulas, or figures illustrating preliminary data.
Criterion C - Merit of hosting and supervision conditions
The merit of the hosting and supervision conditions criterion has a relative weight of 20% and takes into account two parameters:
C1. The scientific merit and experience of the supervisor in the scientific field of the application [and, if applicable, the co-supervisor(s)] and his/her suitability with regard to the supervision of the applicant towards obtaining a PhD;
C2. Quality and adequacy of the host institution(s) conditions.
The evaluation of these sub-criteria is performed in an integrated way, considering the following:
a) The supervisor(s) associated CV;
b) The means available at the host institution(s) mentioned throughout the application form.
Applications that present more than one host institution should clearly indicate the tasks performed in each institution.
When two or more supervisors are proposed, the role of each one should be clearly explained, highlighting the relevance of each one’s participation and complementarity for the development and feasibility of the work plan.
When applying to a grant both in Portugal and abroad (whose work plan is partially carried out in a foreign institution), it is mandatory to identify the foreign affiliation institution(s), and to associate the respective foreign supervisor/co-supervisor, affiliated to that/those institution(s).
