Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters 2027: The Complete Scholarship Guide for International Students
What Erasmus Mundus is, who can apply, how much the scholarship pays and how to choose from 219 programmes. Then a step-by-step plan to apply before the 2027 deadlines, with my video sessions built in.
Subscribe on YouTubeAn Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM, often still called EMJMD) is a one- or two-year master’s degree taught by at least three universities in three different countries, funded by the European Union. You study in at least two countries and graduate with a joint or multiple degree. The best-ranked applicants from anywhere in the world get a full scholarship: no tuition fees plus €1,400 a month, worth up to €33,600.
| Funded by | European Union, Erasmus+ programme (managed by EACEA) |
|---|---|
| Programmes | 219 listed in the official Erasmus Mundus Catalogue |
| Length | 12, 18 or 24 months (60, 90 or 120 ECTS) |
| Study countries | At least 2, from a consortium of at least 3 universities in 3 countries |
| Scholarship | €1,400 per month for the whole programme, plus no tuition or participation costs |
| Who can apply | Any nationality, with a bachelor’s degree (or in the final year) |
| Deadlines | Set by each programme; mostly October 2026 to January 2027 |
| Application fee | None. EU-funded programmes may not charge one. |
Every year thousands of students from Pakistan, India, Africa, Latin America and the rest of the world start a master’s in Europe without paying a single euro of tuition. Many of them are on an Erasmus Mundus scholarship. It is one of the most generous master’s scholarships in the world, and it is not limited to toppers from famous universities. What it rewards is a clear, specific, well-prepared application.
Students keep asking me the same questions: which programme, which documents, how to write the motivation letter, when to apply. So I recorded live sessions and podcasts on Erasmus Mundus and wrote this guide to go with them. Read it in order if you are starting from zero, or jump to the section you need. If you are still deciding between countries and degree types, start with my study abroad and research guide.
In this guide
- What is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master?
- What does the scholarship cover?
- Who is eligible?
- How do you choose the right programme?
- Which documents do you need?
- How do you write a winning motivation letter?
- How do you apply, step by step?
- What is the 2027 timeline?
- What happens after you are selected?
- Which mistakes get applications rejected?
- All links, podcasts and groups
- Glossary
- FAQ
What is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master?
An Erasmus Mundus Joint Master is a single, integrated master’s programme designed and taught together by a group (consortium) of at least three universities in at least three countries. You spend at least one semester in each of at least two countries and receive a joint degree or several national degrees.
Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme for education, training, youth and sport. Erasmus Mundus is its flagship for excellence at master’s level. The programmes used to be called Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD); since 2021 the official name is Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM). Both terms mean the same thing, and you will see both online.
How a programme is built
- Consortium: at least three full-partner universities from three different countries, at least two of them in EU Member States or countries associated to Erasmus+. Non-European universities can be partners too.
- Length: one, one and a half, or two academic years, worth 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
- Mobility: compulsory. You study in at least two countries, each for at least one semester (30 ECTS; 20 ECTS in one-year programmes). Online study does not count.
- Degree: a joint diploma from several universities, or multiple diplomas, one from each.
- Cohort: classmates from dozens of countries, plus summer schools, internships and a thesis that is often done with a partner university or company.
A typical two-year route looks like this: first semester in Estonia, second in Sweden, a summer school in France, then a thesis semester in Finland. You don’t arrange any of this yourself; the consortium does.
- EMJM and EMJMD are the same thing: an EU-funded joint master’s.
- At least 3 universities in 3 countries; you study in at least 2 of them.
- 60, 90 or 120 ECTS, ending in a joint or multiple degree.
What does the Erasmus Mundus scholarship cover?
The EU scholarship pays €1,400 per month for the full length of the programme, up to 24 months. On top of that, scholarship holders pay no tuition or other mandatory participation costs. The allowance is meant to cover travel, visa, installation and living costs.
| Programme length | Months funded | Monthly | Total allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year (60 ECTS) | 12 | €1,400 | €16,800 |
| 1.5 years (90 ECTS) | 18 | €1,400 | €25,200 |
| 2 years (120 ECTS) | 24 | €1,400 | €33,600 |
- Tuition and participation costs: not charged to scholarship holders. That includes library, lab and exam fees the programme requires.
- Monthly allowance: €1,400, paid for the whole programme. You use it for rent, food, flights, visa and settling in.
- Insurance: the consortium must make sure you are insured. Read your Student Agreement to see whether the premium comes out of your allowance.
- Disability top-up: students with disabilities or special needs can receive an extra top-up for their needs (cost bands from €3,000 to €60,000).
Is €1,400 enough? In most partner cities, yes, if you live like a student. It is comfortable in Portugal, Spain, Poland, Estonia or Czechia and tighter in Paris, Amsterdam or Scandinavian capitals. Students in expensive cities share flats and use student housing.
Not selected for a scholarship?
Most programmes also admit self-funded students. They pay participation costs, which vary a lot between programmes and are usually higher for non-EU students. Some consortia also offer their own partial scholarships or fee waivers to strong applicants on the reserve list. Ask the programme directly.
- €1,400 a month for up to 24 months, up to €33,600 in total.
- No tuition, no participation costs, no application fee for scholarship holders.
- One EMJM scholarship per person, ever.
Who is eligible for Erasmus Mundus?
Students of any nationality who hold a bachelor’s degree or an officially recognised equivalent, or who are in their final year and will graduate before the master’s begins. You must not have held an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship before. Each programme then adds its own academic and language requirements.
The EU-wide rules
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Degree | A first higher-education degree (bachelor’s) or a recognised equivalent level of learning. Final-year students can apply if they graduate before the start date. |
| Nationality | Open to everyone, worldwide. There is no separate “Pakistani” or “Indian” quota. |
| 10% rule | No more than 10% of a programme’s scholarships may go to students of the same nationality. This keeps cohorts diverse and means you compete mostly with applicants from your own country. |
| One scholarship only | If you already held an EMJM scholarship, you can’t get another. |
| Residence and mobility | Your study countries must be different from your country of residence when you enrol. A student living in Spain, for example, can’t count Spain as one of the two mobility countries. |
| Age | There is no age limit. |
What each programme adds
- A bachelor’s in a related field, sometimes with a minimum number of credits in key subjects such as chemistry, maths or economics
- A minimum grade, often expressed as top 20–30% or a CGPA threshold
- English proof: usually IELTS (often 6.5) or TOEFL iBT (often around 90). Some accept a medium-of-instruction letter.
- Sometimes a second language, work experience, a research proposal or an interview
- Bachelor’s degree (or final year), any nationality, no age limit.
- Max 10% of scholarships per nationality; one EMJM scholarship per lifetime.
- Grades, English and subject background are set by each programme.
How do you choose the right Erasmus Mundus programme?
Use the official Erasmus Mundus Catalogue on the EACEA website. Filter by field of study, country, university and length, then open each programme’s own website to check entry requirements, scholarship availability and the deadline. Shortlist three to five programmes that match your bachelor’s degree closely.
The Erasmus Mundus Catalogue lists 219 programmes, from agriculture and economics to law, physics, data science and public health. It is updated every year. You can filter by:
- Keywords, for example “data”, “water”, “chemistry” or “public health”
- Country and university
- Duration and credits: 12 months / 60 ECTS, 18 months / 90 ECTS or 24 months / 120 ECTS
- Field of study
- Year of project selection, which tells you how recently the programme was funded
A five-point checklist for each programme
- Fit: does your bachelor’s match its required background? Read the modules and imagine yourself in them.
- Scholarships for 2027: does the call for the 2027 intake mention EU scholarships, and how many?
- Deadline: what is the scholarship deadline (often earlier than the self-funded one)?
- Requirements: English score, documents, references, interview.
- Career: where do graduates work? Look at alumni pages and LinkedIn.
Two example programmes
These two come up often in my sessions and show what an Erasmus Mundus programme looks like in practice:
- EACH: Excellence in Analytical Chemistry: a two-year joint master’s coordinated by the University of Tartu (Estonia), with Uppsala University (Sweden), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (France) and Åbo Akademi University (Finland).
- SERP+: Surface, Electro, Radiation and Photo-chemistry: a two-year master’s coordinated by Université Paris-Saclay (France), with partners in Poland, Portugal and Italy.
Check the catalogue for each programme’s current funding status and the 2027 call before applying.
- Start in the official catalogue: 219 programmes, filterable by field, country and length.
- Always confirm 2027 scholarships and deadlines on the programme’s own website.
- A close subject match beats a famous name.
Which documents do you need for Erasmus Mundus?
Most programmes ask for a bachelor’s degree or proof of final-year enrolment, transcripts, a CV (often Europass), a motivation letter, two recommendation letters, proof of English, and a passport copy. Documents not in English usually need certified translations.
| Document | Tips |
|---|---|
| Degree certificate | Or a letter confirming you are in your final year. Some programmes ask for attested copies (in Pakistan, often HEC attestation). |
| Transcripts | All semesters, with the grading scale explained. Add a ranking letter if you are near the top of your class. |
| CV | Two pages at most. Many programmes like the Europass format. List projects, publications, skills and volunteering. Match it to your LinkedIn profile, which committees often check. |
| Motivation letter | One to two pages, written separately for each programme. See the next section. |
| Recommendation letters | Usually two, from teachers or supervisors who know your work. Ask at least four weeks before the deadline. |
| English proof | IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo or a medium-of-instruction letter, depending on the programme. Book your test early. |
| Passport | Valid well beyond your study period. Apply for or renew it now; it is needed for the visa later. |
| Extras | Research proposal, portfolio, GRE, work certificates or a video, if requested. |
Ali_Khan_Transcript.pdf. Portals often limit file size, so compress large scans before the last day.How do you write a winning Erasmus Mundus motivation letter?
Write a new letter for each programme. Explain what problem or field drives you, prove it with your projects and results, name specific courses, partner universities or tracks of that programme, and finish with a clear career goal and how this master’s gets you there. Keep it to one or two pages.
When grades are close, the motivation letter decides who gets the scholarship. Selection committees read hundreds, and most of them sound the same. Use this structure:
- Hook (1 paragraph): a specific moment, problem or project that started your interest. Not “Since childhood I have dreamed…”.
- Evidence (2 paragraphs): your thesis, internships, publications and skills, with results and numbers.
- Why this programme (1–2 paragraphs): name courses, the mobility track you want, a lab or professor at a partner university.
- Why you add to the cohort (1 paragraph): what you bring from your country, culture or experience.
- Goal (1 paragraph): what you will do after graduating, and how you will use it at home or internationally.
- One letter per programme. Name its courses, universities and tracks.
- Show evidence (projects, results), not adjectives.
- End with a concrete career goal.
How do you apply for Erasmus Mundus, step by step?
You apply directly to each programme through its own online portal, not to the EU. Shortlist programmes in the catalogue, check each call, prepare your documents and a tailored motivation letter, submit before the scholarship deadline, then prepare for a possible interview.
- Step 1Shortlist3–5 programmes from the catalogue that fit your degree
- Step 2Read the callRequirements, documents and the 2027 scholarship deadline
- Step 3PrepareDocuments, English test, two referees
- Step 4Write & submitA tailored letter per programme, submitted on its portal
- Step 5InterviewOnline interview if invited, then results
Some practical points that trip students up:
- Every programme has its own portal and rules. There is no common EU application form.
- Referees often upload letters themselves through a link the portal sends them. Enter their details early and remind them politely.
- Submit at least three days before the deadline. Portals slow down on the last day, and deadlines are usually in Central European Time.
- No application fee. EU-funded programmes may not charge one. Anyone asking you to pay to apply is not the official route.
- Interviews are usually 15–30 minutes online: why this programme, your thesis, your goals. Re-read your own letter before the call.
What is the Erasmus Mundus 2027 timeline?
For the September 2027 intake, most programmes open applications in October 2026 and close their scholarship rounds between November 2026 and January 2027; a few run into February or March. Results usually come in March to April 2027, followed by visas over the summer and classes from late August or September 2027.
- Now · November 2026Shortlist and start documents. Book IELTS or TOEFL, contact referees, request transcripts and attestations.
- November 2026 – January 2027Scholarship deadlines. Submit each application at least three days early.
- January – March 2027Evaluation and interviews. Keep checking email, including spam.
- March – April 2027Results. Offers, reserve lists and self-funded offers. Reply by the stated date.
- April – July 2027Visa and housing. Apply for the visa of your first study country as soon as you get the admission letter.
- August – September 2027Start. Orientation, registration and your first scholarship payment.
These are typical windows. The deadline on each programme’s website is the only one that counts.
What happens after you are selected?
You accept the offer, sign the Student Agreement with the consortium, apply for a visa for your first study country, arrange housing, and travel in time for orientation. If you are on the reserve list, you may still get a scholarship when a selected student declines, sometimes as late as June.
- Offer types: scholarship, reserve list (waiting list for a scholarship), self-funded place, or rejection.
- More than one offer? You can accept only one Erasmus Mundus scholarship. Decline the others quickly so the next student on the reserve list gets a chance.
- Student Agreement: read it carefully. It sets out payments, insurance, mobility rules and what happens if you fail a semester.
- Visa: the consortium gives you admission and scholarship letters, which most embassies accept as proof of funds. Book the embassy appointment early, because summer slots fill up.
- Each move: you may need a new residence permit in each study country. The consortium usually helps.
Many Erasmus Mundus graduates go straight on to a funded PhD in Europe, since you finish with a European degree, a network across several universities and a thesis done abroad. When you get there, browse the Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD positions.
Which mistakes get Erasmus Mundus applications rejected?
The most common reasons are a missing or incorrect document, a generic motivation letter copied across programmes, applying to programmes that don’t match your degree, weak or late recommendation letters, and submitting on the last day.
- Fewer, better applications win.
- Match the programme’s background, follow its checklist, submit early.
- No agent can guarantee an Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
Erasmus Mundus links, podcasts and community groups
Official links
- 1Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (main website)Official European Commission page for students
- 2Erasmus Mundus CatalogueAll 219 programmes, with filters
- 3Erasmus+ Programme Guide: Erasmus MundusThe official rules and criteria
- 4Europass CVFree EU CV builder
- 5EACH: Excellence in Analytical ChemistryExample programme, University of Tartu
- 6SERP+: Surface, Electro, Radiation & Photo-chemistryExample programme, Université Paris-Saclay
Podcasts and live sessions
Join the community
Community advice is useful but unofficial. Confirm anything important on the programme’s own website.
Planning a research career after your master’s? Learn to write papers with the free Scientific Writing playlist, build data skills with the free AI and data science roadmap, and if you’re heading into life sciences, see Bioinformatics ka Chilla.
Related guides on Codanics
- 1Study abroad & PhD research guidePlan your path from master’s to research career
- 2All Marie Curie PhD positions 2026–27Fully funded PhDs in Europe, after your master’s
- 3LinkedIn networking guide for studentsBuild a profile that selection committees notice
- 4Free AI & data science roadmapSkills that strengthen any STEM application
More scholarship and career guides on the Codanics blog.
Erasmus Mundus glossary
- EMJM / EMJMD
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (Degree): an integrated master’s run by a consortium of universities in several countries.
- Consortium
- The group of at least three universities in three countries that runs one Erasmus Mundus programme together.
- ECTS
- European Credit Transfer System. One academic year is 60 ECTS; Erasmus Mundus masters are 60, 90 or 120 ECTS.
- EACEA
- European Education and Culture Executive Agency, which manages Erasmus Mundus and publishes the catalogue.
- Joint degree
- A single diploma issued together by several universities of the consortium.
- Multiple degree
- Two or more separate diplomas, one from each university where you studied.
- Mobility
- The compulsory study periods in at least two countries during the programme.
- Student Agreement
- The contract you sign with the consortium on enrolment, setting out rights, duties, payments and insurance.
- Reserve list
- The waiting list of applicants who receive a scholarship if a selected student declines.
- Self-funded student
- A student admitted without a scholarship who pays the programme’s participation costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master?
An Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM, formerly EMJMD) is a 1 to 2 year master’s programme (60, 90 or 120 ECTS) run by at least three universities in at least three countries. You study in at least two countries and graduate with a joint or multiple degree. The best-ranked applicants worldwide receive full EU scholarships.
How much is the Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The EU scholarship is €1,400 per month for the full length of the programme, up to 24 months, which is €33,600 for a two-year master’s. Scholarship holders also pay no tuition or other mandatory participation costs. Students with disabilities can receive an extra top-up for their needs.
Who is eligible for Erasmus Mundus?
Students of any nationality who hold a bachelor’s degree, or an officially recognised equivalent, or who are in their final bachelor’s year and will graduate before the master’s starts. You cannot get a second scholarship if you have already held an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship. Each programme sets its own extra entry requirements.
When is the Erasmus Mundus deadline for 2027?
There is no single deadline. Each programme sets its own, and most fall between October 2026 and January 2027 for courses starting in September 2027. A few close as late as February or March. Check the website of every programme you want.
How many Erasmus Mundus programmes can I apply to?
The official student pages do not set an EU-wide limit, but individual programmes can have their own rules, so read each call carefully. Most successful applicants send three to five strong, well-matched applications rather than many weak ones.
Is there an application fee for Erasmus Mundus?
No. Under the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, EU-funded Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters cannot charge application fees. Be careful of agents or websites that ask you to pay to apply.
Do I need IELTS for Erasmus Mundus?
Most programmes are taught in English and ask for proof of English, usually IELTS, TOEFL or a similar test. Some accept a medium-of-instruction letter from your university. The required score and accepted proofs differ by programme, so check each call.
Can students from Pakistan, India or Africa get Erasmus Mundus scholarships?
Yes. Scholarships are open to students from every country. To keep the intake diverse, no more than 10% of a programme’s scholarships can go to students of the same nationality, so a strong, specific application matters more than where you come from.
Can I work while studying on an Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The scholarship is for full-time study. Part-time work rules depend on the visa and laws of each host country and on your programme’s Student Agreement. Most students rely on the €1,400 monthly allowance and do not need to work.
Can I apply for Erasmus Mundus without a scholarship?
Yes. Most programmes also admit self-funded students, who pay the programme’s participation costs. Fees vary widely between programmes and depend on nationality, so check the fees page of each programme.
About the author. Dr. Muhammad Aammar Tufail is the founder of Codanics and completed his PhD in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme. He helps students in Pakistan, India and beyond find funded study and research opportunities in Europe, and teaches AI, data science and research skills in Urdu and Hindi.
Sources: European Commission, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (eligibility, application, programme structure); Erasmus+ Programme Guide, Erasmus Mundus Action (€1,400 monthly unit cost, 10% nationality rule, mobility, no application fees, one scholarship per person, disability top-ups); EACEA, Erasmus Mundus Catalogue (219 programmes, checked 4 November 2026). Rules can change each year; always confirm on the official pages.
