Erasmus Mundus Scholarships Guide

What an Erasmus Mundus scholarship is

An Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) is a high-quality, integrated master's programme delivered jointly by a group of universities in different countries. Selected programmes come with a limited number of full scholarships funded by the European Union for the strongest applicants from around the world.

The scholarship is attached to the programme, not awarded separately. You do not apply to a central "Erasmus Mundus fund"; instead you apply to a specific EMJM master's, and the consortium running it selects who receives a scholarship.

• A joint master's run by several universities across more than one country
• A set number of EU-funded scholarships per programme, awarded to top applicants
• Open to students worldwide, subject to each programme's academic criteria

How EMJM differs from Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is the European Union's broad programme for education, training, youth and sport, and it includes many activities such as student exchanges, traineeships and staff mobility. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are one specific funding line within Erasmus+ that supports full degree programmes plus scholarships for international students.

In short: Erasmus+ is the wide umbrella; Erasmus Mundus is the scholarship-bearing joint-master's strand under it. If you want an exchange semester within an existing degree, that is the wider Erasmus+ side; if you want a full multi-country master's with a possible scholarship, that is Erasmus Mundus.

Who can apply and what it covers

Eligibility is set by each EMJM programme, but applicants generally need a relevant bachelor's degree (or to be in their final year and graduating before the master's begins) and to meet the programme's language and academic requirements. Students from across the world may apply, and many programmes reserve scholarships for applicants from a range of countries.

Where a scholarship is awarded, it is designed to support participation costs — which can include a contribution towards study, travel and living — but the exact amounts, the number of scholarships and any country-specific conditions vary by programme and change between intakes. Always confirm the current figures and rules on the official Erasmus+ pages and on the individual programme's own website.

How to find and apply to a programme

Start from the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue, which lists the available joint master's programmes and links to each one's website. Choose programmes that match your subject and background, then apply directly to the consortium that runs each one — not to a general portal.

Application windows commonly open in the autumn for courses beginning the following academic year, but every programme sets its own deadline, documents and selection process. You usually apply to the master's and are automatically considered for a scholarship, or you tick a box to be considered; read each programme's instructions carefully.

• Use the official catalogue to shortlist programmes in your field
• Apply directly to each programme's consortium by its own deadline
• Follow each programme's exact rule on how scholarship consideration works

Avoid scams and unofficial promises

No legitimate programme, agent or website can guarantee you an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, and you should never pay a third party a "processing" or "guarantee" fee to secure one. Selection is competitive and decided by the academic consortium.

Apply only through the official Erasmus+ pages and the programmes' own official websites, and verify every fact — amounts, eligibility, deadlines — on those official sources before you act, because details change between intakes. This is general information, not personalised advice.