FAQ
Some information about the TRIBOS programme has been compiled into the Student HandbookNEW and you can find answers to all the other frequently asked questions below.
APPLICATION
Who can apply for the Master TRIBOS programme?
Students from all countries can apply to the Erasmus+ TRIBOS Master program. To be eligible you have to fulfill the Admission criteria provided here.
Am I eligible for TRIBOS, if I finished school of economics, law, or social sciences?
No, only candidates with a background in engineering, materials science, physical sciences, or chemistry are eligible. You can find more information here.
What do I need to apply for the Master TRIBOS programme?
The documents that you will need to provide for the application are listed and explained here.
How can I apply for the Master TRIBOS programme?
First, you must register on http://application.master-tribos.eu/ internet page, by clicking on the Register button.
You will be asked to choose the programme you are applying for and provide some personal details.
After doing so, you will get a conformational e-mail with your account details - username and password.
With this information, you can enter the http://application.master-tribos.eu/ page and start fulfilling your application form.
How do I fill out the application form?
Follow the instructions that are written on every section of your application form.
Fields marked with a red star are mandatory. That means that you cannot finish your application without providing this information.
I don’t have my diploma yet. Can I apply anyway?
Student candidates can apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship even if they have not yet completed the studies required by the consortium responsible for the joint programme. They must, however, submit a signed "Statement for students that have not yet completed their studies" stating that they will receive the relevant degree until 31st May of the enrolment year in the Joint Master TRIBOS Programme.
I don’t have my no-criminal record certificate and English language certificate yet. Can I apply anyway?
Candidates can apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship even if they don't have a no-criminal record certificate and English Language certificate at the time of the application deadline (31st Jan). They must, however, submit a signed statement stating that they will submit the no-criminal and English language certificate on 31st May of the enrolment year in the Joint Master TRIBOS+ Programme.
What should I denote in the application form if I come from a Partner country, but I lived in a Programme country?
If you have been a resident in a Programme country or have carried out your main activity (studies, work, training, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in one of the programme countries, you will be considered for the Programme country scholarship. If your residence or activities in a Programme country until the application deadline were less than a total of 12 months, you will be considered for the Partner country scholarship.
How do I know if I am a Partner country student or a Programme country student?
You are a programme country student if you are either a national of 28 EU Member States and the EEA-EFTA states (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, and Norway), for more details, please check the EACEA web site or you have carried out your main activities (studies, work, training, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in one of the above-mentioned countries.
Partner country students are all students who do not fulfill the Programme country criteria defined above.
Can I just send a paper application?
No, you must fulfill the online application form.
Can I enroll in the programme part-time?
No. The TRIBOS master programme is a full-time programme.
Can I apply to TRIBOS, if I did not finish my Bachelor's degree?
You can apply, but you have to provide a guarantee that you will obtain your BSc no later than the end of May. A guarantee is a form (found here) signed by a corresponding authority from your University. Please provide with the application as much information as possible (transcript of records, the field of study, etc.) to enable a competitive evaluation of your application against other applicants.
Can I still apply if I will graduate after the 31st of May?
No, unfortunately, the 31st of May is the last possible date for sending us a copy of the obtained degree.
Who needs Proof of English knowledge?
Proof of English knowledge is required for students from non-English speaking countries. Students from non-English speaking countries are required to have obtained the IELTS certificate or TOEFL certificate. No other form of proof will be recognized. More information is available here.
Students from the following countries are exempted from proving English Language proficiency
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Canada (from an English-speaking institution)
- Dominica
- Fiji
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Namibia
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Papua New Guinea
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Island
- South Africa
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
I don’t have my English certificate yet. Can I apply anyway?
To complete the application English test certificate is not mandatory. If you don't have an English certificate yet you must provide the date when you plan to take the test. The deadline for the English certificate is in May of the enrolment year!
Can I apply if my IELTS/TOEFL score is not sufficient?
You can still apply, but you will have to retake the exam as soon as possible to achieve an adequate score to be able to enrol in the TRIBOS programme. Please note that the evaluation score of the English knowledge criteria in case of insufficient IELTS/TOEFL score will be at a minimum. Nevertheless, please indicate in your application, when you will be able to provide a new IELTS/TOEFL score.
More information can be found here.
Can I apply if I don’t yet have IELTS/TOEFL results?
You can still apply, but the candidates who can provide the required English certificate in time have an advantage and your evaluation score of the English knowledge criteria will be at a minimum. You are also required to indicate in your application when you will be able to provide a new IELTS/TOEFL score. More information can be found here.
Can I apply if I passed another English test, not IELTS or TOEFL?
No, no other form of proof will be recognized. You have to obtain an IELTS or a TOEFL certificate.
If I submit my English certificate results after the application procedure deadline, but still within the final deadline of May of the enrolment year, will my English certificate scores be factored in the evaluation?
The candidates who can provide the required English certificate in time have an advantage and you will, therefore, lose a few points.
The evaluation of candidates takes place sometime in Feb-Mar (depending on the date of the consortium meeting, which is arranged on a year-to-year basis). At that point, the candidates are ranked according to available documents and the rankings are forwarded to the EU commission. After that, no new documents can be factored into the evaluation.
What is »Proof of no criminal record« and where can I obtain it?
Proof of no criminal record is a document stating you do not have a criminal record and that you were not persecuted for a crime. It can be obtained at the local police station or the court office, depending on the country. It must be obtained from your home country, not from your current country of residence. If it is not in English, it must be officially translated into English. If it is costly or complicated for you to acquire the document, you can apply it without it. However, if you are chosen for the programme, you will be asked to provide the document in an agreed-upon form.
Is a confirmation of my professors, mentors, education institution, or employer sufficient as proof of no criminal conviction?
No, you should obtain official proof. Usually, it is issued at a police station, which is responsible for your area of residence.
Will my application be considered if I do not have Proof of non-criminal conviction?
Yes, you can still apply and your application will be considered, but you have to obtain and provide Proof of non-criminal conviction as soon as possible (at the latest until the end of May). Please indicate in your application that you will provide the Proof of non-criminal conviction at a later time and when.
When they are not written in English, is it sufficient to upload the original documents of Bachelor's Degree, proof of no criminal conviction, etc. or do the documents have to be translated officially?
The documents have to be officially issued in English or officially translated into the English language. Only official documents in the English language will be considered in the application procedure.
In the application form, under the information about obtained/expected education, do I write which education I will have obtained in the current institution, where I am enrolled in the education that I will obtain when I finish the TRIBOS programme?
You have to write what education/degree you will finish in your current institution (before going to TRIBOS).
If I want to submit my application by the application deadline but do not have all the required documents yet, what should I do?
If you do not have some required documents available at the time of the application deadline, you can upload a PDF document with a statement, that you will obtain the documents in question later (explain the reason for the delay and include the expected date of acquiring the documents) in the appropriate section of the application. Send the documents via e-mail to us as soon as possible.
What if my programme scores are not based on the ECTS system?
If your educational programme does not use the ECTS system, upload your transcript of records and the scores will be converted into appropriate ECTS values during the evaluation procedure. Your transcript of records must be officially translated into English.
Are any expenses for the application documents reimbursed?
No, expenses for the application documents are not reimbursed.
What is the deadline for the application to TRIBOS?
End of January of the enrolment year - For students, applying for Erasmus+ scholarship
Middle of April of the enrolment year - For students, that HAVE NOT applied for Erasmus+ scholarship (self-funded candidates)
All important exact dates are available here.
How do I know if my application was correctly submitted?
After completing and sending the online application form, you will receive a confirmation via e-mail. Please be sure that you have entered a valid e-mail address. If not, please contact us at .
What if I did not receive your e-mail?
Did you enter a valid email address? Check your email spam file.
If everything is working and you still did not receive our e-mail please contact Master TRIBOS Administrative Manager.
How will I know if I was accepted to master the TRIBOS programme?
You will get an acceptance e-mail in May/June of the year that you have applied to TRIBOS.
STUDY
What is an ECTS and what are ECTS credit points?
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a student-centered system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme of study. It aims to facilitate the recognition of study periods undertaken by mobile students through the transfer of credits. The ECTS is based on the principle that 60 credits are equivalent to the workload of a full-time student during one academic year.
More information can be found here.
Does the joint TRIBOS degree have any advantages over other comparable degrees?
The TRIBOS Joint Master Degree is one of a few truly Joint Master Degrees in Europe signed and completely approved by 4 Partner Universities: University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), University of Leeds (UK), University of Coimbra (Portugal), and Luleå University of Technology (Sweden). It is recognized in a wider European area, where TRIBOS is the only Master’s programme providing students with knowledge and skills related to the tribology of surfaces and interfaces. Based on the supporting partners of the TRIBOS Consortium, the TRIBOS Joint Master Degree offers its graduates excellent employability opportunities.
How do I choose my study track, whether to go to the University of Coimbra or Luleå University of Technology?
You will learn about the available topics for the Master theses in the 2nd semester of your studies. Based on your preferences and the rank of the other students you will be assigned to study at the University of Coimbra or Luleå University of Technology (based on “the best student has the first choice").
Is there any official help for arranging the internships?
You are responsible for arranging the internship yourself - at a company or institution of your liking. The TRIBOS Consortium can provide you with a recommendation letter or with help through any existing contacts at a particular company/institution. However, you have to act proactively to find an internship possibility, contact the company/institution, and arrange for your work plan there.
Is there any official help for arranging the Accommodation?
Generally speaking, students are responsible to arrange their accommodation at the host University. However, for reference, we have provided some information in the student's handbook.
University of Ljubljana:
https://www.uni-lj.si/study/information/accommodation
University of Leeds:
https://accommodation.leeds.ac.uk/
University of Lulea:
https://www.ltu.se/edu/Exchange-Studies/Bostad?l=en
University of Coimbra:
https://apps.uc.pt/accommodation?locale=en
Please contact the international office of the host universities for further details
SCHOLARSHIP
Do Erasmus+ scholarships cover all expenses?
The Erasmus+ scholarship covers tuition fees and usually allows covering all living expenses that students normally face during their studies.
Which are the two categories of the Erasmus+ scholarships?
Programme country Scholarships can be awarded to master students (selected by the consortium) who come from a country other than an eligible applicant country and who are not residents nor have carried out their main activity (studies, work, training, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in one of these countries. Eligible applicant countries include the 28 EU Member States and the EEA-EFTA states (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, and Norway). For more details, please check the EACEA web site.
Partner country Scholarships can be awarded to any master's students selected by the consortium consortia who do not fulfill the Programme country criteria defined above.
You can find more information on Erasmus+ Scholarships here.
If I am chosen for a scholarship, how will I receive the money since my bank account is in a different country?
It is recommended to open a temporary bank account in your name in your current country of studies and the money will be transferred there.
How can I open Bank Account in Leeds, UK?
Regarding opening a bank account in Leeds, please see the below link:
https://students.leeds.ac.uk/bankaccounts
In which currency the scholarships are received in Leeds and Luleå, where the Euro is not the official currency?
The funds are transferred to your account in Euro, irrespective of your current location.
INSTALLATION
I was accepted into the TRIBOS programme. What now?
You should receive further instructions over e-mail. Do not forget about VISA and accommodation.
Will somebody help me find an apartment when going to Leeds or other cities?
Generally, you are responsible for arranging your accommodation. However, once enrolled in TRIBOS, you will be able to consult the Student departments and Foreigners departments, which will be able to offer you some advice in this respect.
Should I find an apartment before coming to Leeds?
It is recommended that you arrange for accommodation before arriving in the UK. However, you can also book a hostel (or similar) first and look for other accommodation options once you are already in the UK. Help with accommodation:
https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10101/welcome/1336/moving_to_leeds
Where can I find a safe and relevant internet site to search for an apartment before reaching Leeds?
Once you are enrolled in TRIBOS, you will be able to consult the Student departments and Foreigners departments, which will be able to offer you some advice in this respect.
If I need a visa for the UK and other European countries, should I apply for a regular visa or a short-term visa?
Since the semester lasts for about 5 months, you should apply for a short-term UK visa. Here you can find some information on what to provide when applying for a UK short-term study visa:
https://www.gov.uk/study-visit-visa
The ‘documents you must provide’ section is quite comprehensive and should hopefully provide you all the necessary information. If your UK visa is approved, visas for Slovenia, Sweden, and Portugal are usually granted as well, as the UK has the strictest visa requirements and is not within the Schengen area.
What is ATAS certificate/clearance and how to obtain it?
TRIBOS students from outside the European Economic Area will need an ATAS certificate to apply for a UK short-term visa. ATAS certificate can take up to 30 working days, so you should leave plenty of time to complete this. Guidance on applying is on the Leeds offer letter and applications are free of charge. There are a couple of useful links to obtain information about ATAS certificate/clearance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme
Please read the information before applying. For TRIBOS you will need the following information for the ATAS application:
Sponsor name: TRIBOS Coordinator
Address: the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Askerceva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Course start date: 23.09.2020
Course end date: 21.09.2022
CAH code: CAH07-01-01
A list of the modules studied in the course, can be found via the following link:
https://www.master-tribos.eu/programme_information/courses_and_modules/
ATAS certificate is an internal matter of UK authorities and student thus TRIBOS do not interfere in this process. It is a student's responsibility to obtain VIsas for all consortium countries.
What if I need healthcare during my stay in one of the countries?
You will have valid health insurance for the duration of your study, which should cover everything you may need.
What to bring with me to the UK?
The International Student Office of Leeds has compiled a useful suggested list of what to bring (and what not to bring) with you when you arrive in Leeds:
https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10101/arrival/978/what_to_bring
You can ignore the Student Finance England and National Insurance bits in Essential Documents in the above link – these do not apply to you. You may not have sorted out an accommodation contract either yet, although you should aim to get this organized as soon as possible.
Travel Information
There is also some useful information about travel:
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/130113/preparing_for_leeds/113/travel_information
Welcome and Arrival information for Leeds?
Important details on your welcome and arrival can be found via the link below:
https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/21503/welcome_and_arrival/977/new_students
Please note that this link is regularly updated with new information.