How to Apply to an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master as a Non-European Student

How EMJMD applications are different

Applying to an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master is unlike applying to a single university. You apply to the programme's consortium — the group of partner universities that jointly run it — through that programme's own application route, not to each university separately and not through a single EU-wide portal.

Each Joint Master sets its own admission process, deadlines, and requirements on its own website. So your task is first to find programmes, then to follow each chosen programme's specific instructions. This guide walks through that process; the separate scholarship guide covers funding.

Step 1 — Find programmes in the official catalogue

Start with the official Erasmus Mundus Catalogue, maintained by the EU's executive agency (EACEA). It lists the currently available Joint Masters, which you can browse by field of study. A new batch of programmes is added each year, so check the current catalogue rather than older lists.

For each programme that interests you, open its own website from the catalogue. The programme website is the authoritative source for the partner universities, the mobility route, entry requirements, fees, deadlines, and the application portal.

• Browse the official EACEA Erasmus Mundus Catalogue by subject.
• Shortlist programmes that match your field and the countries you want.
• Open each programme's own website for the real application details.

Step 2 — Check eligibility before you invest time

A core requirement is a bachelor's-level qualification: you generally must hold a bachelor's degree, or be in your final year and graduate before the master's begins. If your qualification is from outside a conventional system, it must be recognised as equivalent to a bachelor's.

Programmes also set field-specific prerequisites and language requirements — most Joint Masters are taught in English and ask for proof such as IELTS or TOEFL, though required levels vary. Read each programme's eligibility page carefully; non-EU applicants are eligible for these programmes, but the exact criteria are programme-specific. Verify them on the official programme website.

Step 3 — Apply through the consortium's single application

For most Joint Masters you submit one application to the consortium that covers admission to the whole multi-country programme — not separate applications to each university. The application is made on the programme's own portal, in the format and on the timeline that programme specifies.

Application windows commonly fall in the months before the academic year begins, but each programme sets its own dates and may have early scholarship deadlines. Apply within the window stated on the official programme page, and note that scholarship consideration may require applying earlier than fee-paying admission.

• One consortium application usually covers the whole programme.
• Submit on the programme's own portal, not an EU-wide site.
• Confirm each programme's exact dates — scholarship deadlines may be earlier.

Step 4 — Prepare your documents

Document requirements vary by programme, but most ask for a similar core set. Gather official versions early, as international transcripts, translations, and recognition statements can take time to obtain.

Because you may later study in several countries, keep official, well-organised copies of everything — they are reused for enrolment and, where relevant, for visa and residence-permit applications in each host country.

• Bachelor's degree certificate and academic transcripts (often officially translated).
• Proof of English proficiency (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL) where required — levels vary by programme.
• CV, motivation letter, and recommendation letters as the programme specifies.
• Passport and any required recognition or equivalence statement for your qualification.

Step 5 — After an offer: enrolment and what comes next

If you are admitted, the consortium confirms your place and your mobility route — which partner you start at and where you move next. This admission documentation is what you will use to begin visa and residence-permit steps for your first host country.

Because the programme is multi-country, plan the practical logistics early. The visa and mobility logistics for a multi-country Erasmus degree are covered in a dedicated guide; review it as soon as you accept an offer so you have enough lead time for each country's process.

• Confirm your starting country and the full mobility schedule.
• Use the official admission letter to begin first-country visa steps.
• Read the multi-country visa logistics guide before term starts.