The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is an EU award of €1,400 a month, for up to 24 months, given to the best-ranked students admitted to an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM). Each joint master is run by a group of at least three universities in different countries, and you study in at least two of them. Scholarship holders do not pay the programme’s participation costs (tuition).
Students of any nationality can apply. There is no central application: you apply to each joint master separately through its own website, and most programmes take applications between October and January for courses starting the following September. This Erasmus Mundus scholarship guide covers the money, eligibility, documents, deadlines and what selection panels look for.
How the Erasmus Mundus scholarship works
The European Commission funds a consortium of universities to run a joint master’s programme for six years, covering at least four intakes. Each consortium then selects its own students and awards the EU scholarships it has been given to the strongest applicants. So the scholarship and the admission come from the same place: the consortium.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Who funds it | The European Union through Erasmus+, managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) |
| Who runs the programme | A consortium of at least three higher education institutions from three countries, at least two of them EU Member States or countries associated to Erasmus+ |
| Where you study | At least two countries, different from your country of residence, including at least one EU or associated country |
| Length | 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits (one to two academic years) |
| Degree you receive | A joint degree or multiple degrees from the partner universities |
| Who can apply | Students from any country holding, or about to complete, a bachelor’s degree |
| Application route | Directly to each programme; there is no central portal |
How much is the Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The EU scholarship is €1,400 per month for the length of the programme, capped at 24 months. The total depends on programme length.
| Programme length | Credits | Months of scholarship | Total at €1,400 a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| One year | 60 ECTS | 12 | €16,800 |
| Eighteen months | 90 ECTS | 18 | €25,200 |
| Two years | 120 ECTS | 24 | €33,600 |
Under the current Erasmus+ rules, the monthly payment is the whole personal allowance. Older guides list separate travel and installation grants; today the €1,400 is meant to cover travel between partner universities, visa costs, settling in (deposits and first rent) and everyday living. Tuition is handled separately, and scholarship holders are not charged participation costs.
Students with disabilities can receive extra funding on top of the scholarship for costs such as personal assistance, adapted equipment or additional travel. Ask the consortium about this before you enrol.
Plan for the first month
Consortia typically pay the first instalment only after you arrive and the programme starts, usually mid to late September. You pay your flight, visa and first rent and deposit yourself, so budget for these before you travel.
Erasmus Mundus scholarship eligibility
- You hold a first higher education degree (a bachelor’s or recognised equivalent), or you are in your final year and will graduate before the master’s begins.
- Some programmes accept prior learning that the relevant national rules recognise as equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
- You meet the programme’s own academic requirements: the subject of your degree, minimum grades, and sometimes work experience or specific courses.
- You meet the language requirement of the programme, usually English.
- You have not held an Erasmus Mundus master’s scholarship before. Former scholarship holders can still be admitted, but only as self-paying students.
There is no EU-wide age limit and no single minimum CGPA. Each consortium sets its own bar. One rule affects selection more than people expect: no more than 10% of a programme’s scholarships may go to applicants of the same nationality. If your country sends many strong applicants to a popular programme, your competition is effectively your own compatriots, which is a good reason to apply to two or three different programmes.
Do you need IELTS for Erasmus Mundus?
It depends on the programme. Many accept IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge or Duolingo results, and some accept a letter from your university confirming that your degree was taught in English. Applicants from countries where English is the official language are sometimes exempt. Read each programme’s language page closely, because the accepted tests and minimum scores differ from one consortium to the next.
Erasmus Mundus deadlines for 2027 entry
Most consortia open applications in October and close them between November and January for programmes starting in September 2027. A few close much earlier. The MARIHE Erasmus Mundus scholarship, for example, closed on 21 September 2026 for its 2027 intake, so if that was your target you are now looking at the 2028 intake, with a deadline of 21 September 2027 (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens).
Some programmes also run a second, later round for self-paying students only. If your aim is the scholarship, treat the first deadline as the only one that counts. Deadlines are usually stated in Central European Time (CET), so convert to your own time zone when you plan.
Documents you will usually need
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid copy; some programmes accept a national ID at application stage |
| Bachelor’s degree certificate | Final-year students submit proof of enrolment and send the certificate later |
| Academic transcripts | All years, with an official translation if not in English |
| CV | Often requested in Europass format |
| Motivation letter | Usually one to two pages, answering why this programme and why you |
| Recommendation letters | Commonly two, from lecturers or employers; some programmes have referees upload them directly |
| English test or English-medium letter | Check which tests and scores the programme accepts |
| Proof of residence | Some consortia ask for a certificate of residence or similar |
| Extra items | Research proposal, writing sample, portfolio or video, depending on the programme |
Our Europass CV guide shows how to build the CV many consortia ask for, and the recommendation letter samples will help your referees.
How to apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship
- Search the catalogue: open the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue on the EACEA website and filter by field. Note every programme that matches your degree.
- Check the intake: on each programme’s own site, confirm that it offers EU scholarships for the 2027 intake. A programme whose EU funding has ended may still admit self-paying students only.
- Shortlist two or three: compare entry requirements, mobility routes (which universities and countries you study in), and the deadline. Drop any where your degree subject is not a clear fit.
- Book your English test early: if you need one, leave time for the result to arrive before the deadline and for a retake if the score falls short.
- Request references: give each referee at least four weeks, the programme name, the deadline and your CV.
- Write a separate motivation letter for each programme: name specific courses, partner universities and the mobility track you want, and link them to your past work and future plans.
- Prepare scans: scan documents in colour as PDFs, name them clearly and check the file size limits on the portal.
- Submit through the programme’s portal: tick the box applying for the EU scholarship if the form has one, and submit a few days before the deadline.
- Prepare for an interview: some programmes interview shortlisted candidates online after the deadline, so keep your phone and email active.
Programmes usually announce a main list and a reserve list. Reserve-list candidates can move up when someone on the main list declines, so keep checking your email after results come out.
What makes an application stand out
Consortia score applications against published criteria, most often academic record, relevance of your degree, motivation, references and language. You do not need to be strong in every area. What helps most is a clear link between what you have already done and what the programme teaches.
- A final-year project or thesis in the programme’s field, described with its question and result.
- Internships, research assistant work or jobs that used the skills the programme builds.
- Evidence that you understand the programme: specific modules, partner universities, or a staff member whose research matches your interest.
- A believable plan for after graduation that the programme genuinely prepares you for.
Average grades are not fatal if you meet the minimum. I would put more effort into the motivation letter and references than into extra short online certificates, which panels rarely weigh heavily.
Erasmus Mundus scholarship FAQ
Can I apply for Erasmus Mundus with a low GPA?
Only if the programme’s minimum allows it. Each consortium sets its own grade requirement, so check the admission page. Where your grade is borderline, strong research or work experience in the field can carry the application.
How many Erasmus Mundus programmes can I apply to?
You can apply to more than one joint master, since each consortium runs its own selection. Applying to two or three well-matched programmes is a sensible number; check each programme’s rules in case it limits applications to its own tracks.
Is there an application fee for Erasmus Mundus?
Most joint masters do not charge an application fee. Check the programme’s own admission page before you pay anything, and never pay an agent to submit for you.
Does the Erasmus Mundus scholarship cover PhD study?
No. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarships are for master’s study only. Doctoral funding in Europe comes through other schemes such as Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral networks.
Sources and updates
The scholarship amount, the 24-month cap, consortium structure, credit lengths and mobility rule come from the European Commission’s Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters page on the Erasmus+ website (last updated 15 April 2026). The October to January application pattern and eligibility of final-year students come from the EU’s 2026 Erasmus Mundus information flyer, which also points to the EACEA Erasmus Mundus Catalogue. The 10% nationality rule, payment timing, the exclusion of former scholarship holders and disability support come from the scholarship rules published by the MESD joint master consortium, which cite EMJM guidance. The MARIHE deadline comes from our earlier guide. Information checked on 24 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
