All about the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

If Europe is your dream destination for postgraduate or doctoral studies but financial concerns are holding you back, here’s some exciting news. Have you heard about the Erasmus Mundus scholarship provided to deserving candidates from across the world?

The Erasmus Mundus is a very prestigious funding programme that has been facilitating both students and organisations in study, work, training, or participation in sports in any of the countries of the European Union.

With more than 75,000 organisations participating in the programme globally, you are sure to get excellent global exposure along with high-quality education. Consider this. More than 7000 Erasmus Mundus scholarships have been awarded to Indians so far.

So, dive in and find out details of the Erasmus Mundus scholarship, including how to apply and the eligibility criteria.

Overview of Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

Named after a leading Renaissance scholar and teacher, “Erasmus”, the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship that is awarded to students pursuing joint master's or doctoral programmes in Europe. This scholarship is administered by the European Union, as part of the Erasmus+ programme that is designed to help students and youth in education, sport, and training.

The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship applies to students across the world, not only the EU, and allows students to study at various universities throughout Europe. However, you must ensure that the university and the programme you want to study are participating in the Erasmus Mundus programme.

As India is a third country, not directly associated with the Erasmus Mundus programme, Indian students can avail of the scholarships through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree (EMJMD) programme. Consequently, they can obtain joint master's degrees or multiple master's degrees. 

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships are jointly delivered by multiple universities (at least 3 institutions from 3 countries in the EU) along with several other partners. The scholarship covers the study duration, research, thesis defence, and training and covers travel, living, and visa expenses.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship: Benefits

The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship award that offers many advantages:

• Students can get joint or multiple degrees from participating universities (from 2 or more universities)
• Plenty of scholarships on offer
• High-quality education from different countries
• Students can earn while they learn through the Erasmus stipend offered for the entire course duration
• Allows students to travel to different countries and study in different participating institutions. Students get to explore at least 3 different countries in Europe

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship: Coverage

The broader Erasmus+ programme has an approximate budget of 26 billion euros, and the Erasmus Mundus scholarship is fully funded for deserving students. Here’s what the scholarship covers:

Expenses Covered	Amount
Cost of tuition and books Living expenses Travel expenses - air tickets Visa costs Installation and participation costs Medical insurance for 24 months or the study duration	A stipend ranging from 1000-1500 euros per month for the duration of the master’s programme in addition to covering the costs mentioned here.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship: Eligibility Criteria

The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is available for students pursuing a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in the EU. Entry requirements typically depend on the programme and the institution chosen. Here are the criteria to be eligible for the scholarship:

Academic Requirements

You must have completed an undergraduate or a bachelor’s degree from a well-known Indian university Students in the final year of their bachelor's programme are also eligible to apply, only if they graduate before the start of the master’s degree You are also eligible to apply even if you don’t have a bachelor's degree but have an equivalent learning that is officially recognised by the awarding university or the country

 

Professional Requirements

Some master’s programmes may require you to show proof of practice in the chosen field: At least 2 years of professional work experience in a related field that includes a regular job, internship, or voluntary practice.

 

Language Requirements

You must show English language proficiency through any of the following: IELTS 6.5 or higher TOEFL or other equivalent test scores Higher secondary level of English

Required Documents

You must upload the following documents during your scholarship application:

1. College/university official transcripts in English
2. Well-written, structured, clear, and concise motivation letter in English
3. Latest resume/CV
4. Degree certificates, marks sheets
5. 2-3 Letters of recommendation (LORs)
6. Proof of work experience
7. Proof of residence

Eligible Fields or Courses for the Scholarship

There are several areas of study available under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree scholarship programme, with 215+ master's programmes to choose from. Search the course catalogue for more details.

Some of these subjects are:

Social Sciences Business and Law Mathematics Computing Science and Technology Engineering Arts Humanities Health and Welfare Manufacture and Construction Agriculture Veterinary Sciences Food Science Cartography Country Studies History and Culture Performing Arts Communication, Journalism

How To Apply for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

You can apply for the scholarship either by yourself or through your organisation (preferred route). However, if you are applying by yourself, you can only apply for higher postgraduate studies, exchange programmes, or training abroad.

You can apply directly on the university website for your chosen programme and the scholarship.

Note that you must submit your applications between October and January for courses starting in the next academic year. That is, if you’re applying for 2024 admissions, you should submit your applications between October 2023 and Jan 2024. Some programmes may accept scholarship applications till March. If you fail to apply within the deadline, then you will be considered a self-sponsored student.

Follow these steps to apply for the scholarship:

1. Search the course catalogue from the EU Erasmus website for your desired programme. All the available programmes and the participating institutions are listed. Use the filters provided to narrow your search.
2. Select the course you want from the catalogue.
3. Click the URL (the institution's website) given below the course link to learn more and apply.
4. Create an account and register your username and password.
5. Fill out an online application form for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship.
6. Upload the relevant documents:
   1. Passport copy
   2. Your photo
   3. Resume
   4. Motivation letter
   5. High school diploma certificate in English
   6. Academic transcripts
   7. English language scores
   8. Recommendation letters in English
   9. Any accomplishments or proof of work experience
   10. Proof of residence
7. Submit the application. For some programmes, you may have to take an additional online quiz to prove your academic skills.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship: Selection Process

The selection process is handled by the Joint Admission Committee of the EMHRPP, which includes conveners and administrative coordinators.

The selection of students is based on the ranking, which is assessed based on:

• Academic skills plus English language proficiency
• Letter of motivation
• Letters of recommendation and work experience

These criteria contribute to an overall ranking of 100 points. In addition, the students may undergo an interview as part of the selection process.

Participating Countries and Universities

The Erasmus programme is available in EU member countries and third countries (associated with the programme) that include member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), such as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and other countries like North Macedonia, Türkiye, and Serbia.

Here’s a list of other fully participating countries in the EU:

Austria Belgium Croatia Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy

Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Ukraine

Additionally, countries not associated with the Erasmus programme fully but can participate partially include countries from the Balkan region, Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Mediterranean countries, Russia, and Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Korea, Japan, and several others.

Participating Universities

Several universities in the EU and other third countries participate in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree (EMJMD) programme.

Here are some universities that offer EMJMD programmes in the areas of science, technology, big data, engineering, and related disciplines:

• Universität des Saarlandes
• Luleå University of Technology
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
• University of Helsinki
• Jagiellonian University in Krakow
• Universität Leipzig
• Université Lille 1 - Sciences et Technologies
• Università degli Studi di BOLOGNA
• Université libre de Bruxelles
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
• Technische Universität Berlin
• Eindhoven University of Technology
• KU Leuven
• Hochschule Anhalt
• Universidade Católica Portuguesa
• Maynooth University
• University of St Andrews

For each master’s programme, there is a consortium of participating universities (2 or more) that students can leverage. For example, here are the participating universities in the EU for a master’s degree in excellence in chemistry:

• Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
• Universidad de Zaragoza
• University of Chemistry and Technology Prague
• Université Toulouse

Download this document for a complete listing of participating universities (Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE)).

Key Erasmus Resources

The official Erasmus site provides several resources to help students and organisations, including application details, participating information, valuable guides, and other tools.

Here are some useful links to Erasmus resources for your reference:

1. Erasmus Programme Guide: To know all about the Erasmus Mundus programme, check this guide.
2. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Application: Check this page for details on how to apply for the programme and the scholarship.
3. Checklists for application: Refer to this list of requirements when applying for the scholarship.
4. Erasmus Mundus Association: This provides valuable information on student stories, and alumni, programme information, help with applications, and more.
5. EMJMD Catalogue: Check the programme’s grant information in this guide.
6. Others: Check this page for other useful and additional resources, such as documents, application and motivation letter templates, and more.

Other Funding Sources

In addition to the Erasmus Mundus, you can find many other opportunities for funding your masters or postdoctoral studies. Here are a few:

• Postdoctoral Fellowships (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)
• Grants for staff exchanges
• Turing Scheme of the UK
• DAAD scholarships to study in Germany