Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships: 2027 Intake Guide
A practical guide to the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarship route for programmes starting in September 2027: funding, eligibility, programme selection, deadlines, and the consortium application process.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships: 2027 Intake Guide
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) scholarship is a route into a selected group of international master’s programmes delivered by university consortia. It is not one degree, one university, or one central scholarship form. You choose a particular master’s programme from the official catalogue, check that programme’s rules, and apply directly to the consortium that runs it.
The timing matters for the next intake. On 16 July 2026, the European Commission announced that the latest Erasmus+ call selected 37 new Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters. The announcement says those programmes will open student applications in autumn 2026 for programmes starting in September 2027. The official student guidance also says that most EMJM applications are submitted between October and January for courses beginning in the following academic year.
That announcement makes the page current, but it does not create one shared deadline. Each consortium publishes its own opening date, closing date, admission requirements, scholarship ranking process, and document list. The 2027-01-31 value in this page’s metadata is a practical January planning cutoff for the directory, not a universal Erasmus Mundus deadline. Treat the chosen master’s own website as the authority for the real date. If a programme posts a different deadline, its date wins.
At a glance
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity | Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships |
| Current intake covered here | Programmes starting in September 2027 |
| Application timing | Most applications run between October and January for the following academic year |
| Common deadline warning | There is no single EU-wide student deadline |
| Funding | Participation costs covered for scholarship holders; EUR 1,400 per month for travel, visa, installation and subsistence |
| Scholarship duration | The full master’s period, normally 12, 18 or 24 months; a reduced period can apply where prior learning is recognised, subject to the programme rules |
| Degree length | 1 to 2 academic years, worth 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits |
| Study structure | Compulsory physical mobility across at least two study periods in two countries, subject to the programme rules |
| Degree awarded | A joint degree, multiple degrees, or a combination, depending on the consortium |
| Applicant geography | Students from all over the world may be considered |
| Official student guidance | Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (students) |
| Official catalogue | Erasmus Mundus Catalogue |
What Erasmus Mundus is
An EMJM is a master’s programme jointly designed and delivered by a group of higher education institutions. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide requires the consortium to involve at least three higher education institutions from three different countries, with at least two of those institutions from EU Member States or countries associated with Erasmus+. Associated partners can add research, professional, public-sector, or other specialist experience.
The programme is built around mobility rather than a single campus. The Programme Guide requires compulsory physical mobility for enrolled students, including at least two study periods in two countries. Those countries must be different from the student’s country of residence at enrolment, and at least one must be an EU Member State or a country associated with Erasmus+. The student may therefore take classes at one institution, conduct research or a placement through another, and complete a thesis with supervision across the consortium.
The final award depends on the institutions and national rules. Some programmes issue one joint diploma on behalf of two or more higher education institutions. Others issue multiple diplomas from different consortium members. Read the specific programme description rather than assuming that every EMJM produces the same certificate.
The official catalogue is the starting point, not the application portal. It is updated annually and lists the master’s programmes currently supported by the European Union. The catalogue also warns that some listed programmes may not offer an Erasmus Mundus scholarship in every situation, for example because they are nearing the end of their funding period or have temporary permission to use the Erasmus Mundus name. Confirm scholarship availability with the programme consortium before you spend time preparing a full application.
What the scholarship pays
The current Erasmus+ Programme Guide sets the student scholarship at EUR 1,400 per month multiplied by the duration of the master. The guide describes this as a contribution to travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs. It is awarded for full-time enrolment and normally covers the entire duration of the master’s programme: 12, 18, or 24 months. The guide also says that a reduced duration may apply when prior learning is recognised, with a minimum scholarship duration of one academic year.
The simple totals are useful for planning:
- A 12-month programme has a maximum monthly-allowance calculation of EUR 16,800.
- An 18-month programme has a maximum monthly-allowance calculation of EUR 25,200.
- A 24-month programme has a maximum monthly-allowance calculation of EUR 33,600.
Those totals are not a promise that every student receives the same cash pattern every month or that every personal expense disappears. The scholarship is a contribution for the categories named by the Programme Guide. Moving between countries can involve deposits, local transport, residence-permit costs, currency differences, and timing gaps before the first payment. Ask the consortium how the allowance is paid and what support is available for visas, insurance, accommodation, and arrival arrangements.
Participation costs are separate from the monthly contribution. The Programme Guide says Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders cannot be charged tuition fees or mandatory costs related to participation in the course. The grant also includes institutional funding for services such as insurance coverage, accommodation assistance, language courses, and other student services, but the exact service package is administered by the consortium. Read the student agreement and the programme’s financial page before treating a cost as covered.
The scholarship is competitive. It is not an automatic award attached to admission, and admission is not a guarantee of funding. A programme may admit self-funded students while offering scholarships only to the highest-ranked applicants. The consortium’s own selection notice should explain how scholarship consideration works.
Two Programme Guide rules deserve attention. A student who has previously obtained an EMJM scholarship is not eligible for an additional EMJM scholarship. Also, consortia should maintain geographical balance: no more than 10% of the total scholarships awarded during project implementation should normally go to candidates of the same nationality, excluding applicable targeted-region top-ups. This is not a reason to avoid applying, but it is a reminder that a strong application still competes within a deliberately international cohort.
Who can apply
The European Commission’s student page gives the basic academic threshold. You must have a bachelor’s degree, be in the last year of bachelor’s studies, or demonstrate an officially recognised equivalent level of learning under the rules of the country that awarded the qualification. If you are still studying, you must graduate before the master’s programme starts.
That general rule is only the first screen. Each master’s website sets the academic profile it needs. A programme in data-intensive engineering may require mathematics, programming, or engineering coursework. A public policy programme may want social-science preparation, evidence of analytical writing, or professional experience. A life-sciences programme may require laboratory subjects. The catalogue title is not enough: open the programme’s own admissions page and compare its prerequisites with your transcript.
Language requirements also belong to the individual programme. Some EMJMs teach mainly in English; others use more than one language or require language preparation for a mobility track. Check which tests are accepted, the minimum scores, the validity period, and whether a previous degree taught in that language is accepted as evidence. Do not assume that a general English certificate rule applies across the whole catalogue.
Applicants from anywhere in the world may be considered, but nationality can affect visa planning, document legalisation, travel, and the consortium’s geographical-balance considerations. The programme may also have country-specific rules for residence, degree recognition, or mobility. If you need a visa, read the immigration guidance as soon as you shortlist a programme; a scholarship offer does not remove the need to satisfy national entry requirements.
How to find the right programme
Begin with the official Erasmus Mundus Catalogue. Filter by field of study, country, duration, universities, and selection year. The current catalogue page shows 220 projects and says new programmes are added annually. The 37 selected on 16 July 2026 are expected to be added and opened to students in autumn 2026, so the catalogue may change during the preparation period for the September 2027 intake.
Create a shortlist based on academic fit, not only the words “fully funded.” For every candidate programme, record:
- The consortium’s official website and the universities involved.
- The degree title, credits, teaching languages, and mobility route.
- The academic prerequisites and any required work or research experience.
- The scholarship availability, number of places if published, and whether self-funded admission is also possible.
- The application opening date, scholarship deadline, admission deadline, time zone, and any separate document deadlines.
- The required language evidence, references, transcripts, translations, passport or identity documents, and application fee policy.
The official catalogue tells you where to look. The consortium tells you whether you are eligible and how to submit. Save a copy of the relevant admissions page and student guide when you apply, because requirements can change between programmes even within the same academic year.
The application process
The process is best understood as a sequence of checks rather than a single form.
1. Confirm the programme and scholarship route
Read the master’s website, admissions guide, scholarship page, and FAQ. Confirm that the programme has a scholarship for the intake you want. Some pages distinguish between the general programme application, an Erasmus Mundus scholarship application, and self-funded admission. If the instructions use one combined form, follow the scholarship-selection questions carefully. If they use separate forms, submit both before the earlier deadline.
2. Check your academic and language evidence
Compare your completed modules with the prerequisite list. Arrange a language test early if the programme requires one. Ask your university for official transcripts and degree documents, and determine whether certified translations, apostilles, or a specific grading explanation are required. Final-year students should verify exactly what proof of expected graduation the consortium accepts.
3. Prepare a programme-specific application
Most consortia request an online form, a CV, a motivation letter or statement of purpose, transcripts, degree evidence, language results, and references. The exact list varies. Some ask for a research proposal, portfolio, proof of work experience, passport copy, or a programme-specific questionnaire. Use the programme’s own templates and file limits. A complete document with the wrong format can still be treated as incomplete.
4. Explain fit and mobility clearly
Your statement should show that you understand the curriculum and the mobility route. Name the modules, research areas, or partner strengths that connect to your preparation. Explain why studying at more than one institution is relevant to your goals. Give concrete evidence from coursework, work, research, volunteering, or projects. Avoid turning the letter into a list of personal adjectives; the committee needs to see preparation, direction, and a credible reason for choosing that particular consortium.
5. Submit through the consortium
The official Erasmus+ student page says students apply directly to the institution running the chosen programme. There is no single EU-wide student submission form. Submit through the portal named by the consortium, verify that references have arrived, and save the confirmation email or receipt. If the page lists a time zone, convert it before the final day. Submit early enough to handle a missing reference, rejected PDF, or portal outage.
6. Wait for selection and plan the next steps
The consortium evaluates applications and ranks candidates for admission and, where available, scholarships. It may contact you for clarification or an interview. If selected, read the offer and student agreement carefully. Check the mobility schedule, funding instalments, insurance, housing process, visa documentation, and conditions for keeping the scholarship. If you receive admission without a scholarship, do not assume that a later email will automatically convert it into funded admission.
Preparing during the 2026 window
The official announcement places the new programmes’ student applications in autumn 2026 and their programme start in September 2027. Use the period before the portals open to build a shortlist, identify missing prerequisites, book language testing, request transcripts, and speak to potential referees. Do not write one generic statement and wait for a central application form; that form does not exist.
When applications open, check each programme page again. Record the actual deadline in your own tracker and replace the directory’s January planning marker with the consortium’s date. Some programmes may close in October, November, December, or January. A second round, where one exists, may apply only to self-funded places and should not be treated as a scholarship round without explicit confirmation.
Mistakes to avoid
Assuming the catalogue is the application portal. It is a directory and starting point. The consortium’s own website controls the application.
Treating EUR 1,400 as unrestricted disposable income. It is calculated to contribute to travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs across the study period. Ask about payment timing and budget for relocation.
Applying to a programme without checking scholarship availability. Some catalogued programmes may not offer an EMJM scholarship for the intake you want.
Ignoring mobility requirements. The academic plan may require several moves, and the visa or residence process can differ at every destination.
Reusing a statement without changing the substance. A convincing application connects your preparation to the exact curriculum, partners, and mobility route.
Waiting for January to start. Most windows fall between October and January, but preparation documents, tests, translations, and references can take weeks.
Bottom line
Erasmus Mundus remains a live, recurring scholarship route for international master’s study. The verified 2027 cycle is in preparation: 37 newly selected masters are expected to open applications in autumn 2026 for studies beginning in September 2027. The opportunity is substantial, but it is distributed across individual consortia rather than offered through one central deadline.
Use the European Commission’s student page to understand the rules, the EACEA catalogue to find programmes, and each consortium’s official website to apply. The most reliable application plan is simple: shortlist carefully, verify the current scholarship route, prepare the programme’s exact documents, and treat the consortium’s published deadline as the only deadline that governs your submission.