Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees for ASEAN Students: Eligibility and Application

What Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees are

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) are master's programs delivered jointly by a group of universities across different European countries, funded through the European Union's Erasmus+ program. You study at two or more of the partner universities during your degree, earning one joint or double qualification at the end. Programs run 1 to 2 academic years, worth 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits depending on the program, according to the European Commission's Erasmus Mundus program page .

Category A: the scholarship that matters for ASEAN students

EMJMD scholarships split applicants into two categories. Category A covers students who are not residents of, and have not carried out their main activity such as work or study in, any European Programme Country for more than a total of 12 months over the last 5 years. Almost every ASEAN applicant qualifies as Category A, since the rule targets students based outside Europe. Category B covers everyone else, mainly students already based in Europe, who receive a smaller contribution or none at all.

What the scholarship covers

Full EMJMD scholarships for Category A students cover your tuition at every partner university in the consortium, and add a living allowance for the months you spend on the program. The scholarship also pays your travel expenses and visa costs, based on the European Commission's program page. Exact monthly figures are set in the annual Erasmus+ Programme Guide and shift between intakes, so check the specific program's scholarship page for the current amount before you plan your budget.

Eligibility basics

• You hold a bachelor's degree, or you are in your final year and will graduate before the master's program starts.

• You meet the specific admission requirements set by the consortium, including language test scores, a personal statement, and academic references.

• You fall under the Category A definition above for the full scholarship, since some programs also admit self-funded or Category B students without scholarship funding.

How to apply

You do not apply through a single central EU portal. Each EMJMD program runs its own application process through its consortium website, since the partner universities jointly select their cohort. Start by browsing the EMJMD catalogue on the European Commission's education platform to find programs matching your field, then go to that specific program's website to check its requirements and deadline.

Most consortia open applications around October and close between December and January, for a program starting the following September or October. Deadlines vary by program, so confirm the exact date on the consortium website rather than assuming a fixed date across all programs.

Building a strong application

• Target programs that match your academic background closely, since consortia rank applicants primarily on fit with the program's field.

• Ask for recommendation letters from professors who speak specifically to your readiness for graduate-level study in that field.

• Write a personal statement explaining why a joint program across multiple countries suits your goals better than a single-university master's.

• Apply to more than one EMJMD program if your field allows it, since competition for Category A scholarship places is high and each consortium ranks applicants independently.

Life during the program

Because EMJMD programs move you between at least two countries, budget time and money for relocation between each mobility phase, even with a full scholarship covering your core costs. Check the visa requirements for each country in your consortium early, since your degree spans more than one country's residence rules.

Fields ASEAN students commonly choose

EMJMD programs span most academic fields, but ASEAN applicants show strong interest in data science, environmental and sustainability studies, public health, and international development, since these fields connect closely to regional priorities across Southeast Asia. Engineering and technology-focused joint degrees also draw steady interest, particularly programs built around renewable energy or digital systems.

If you do not get the scholarship

Missing out on a Category A scholarship place does not always mean missing the program entirely. Some consortia let you enroll as a self-funded student if you cover tuition and living costs yourself, and a small number offer partial funding to strong applicants who rank close to the scholarship cutoff. Ask the consortium directly whether a self-funded or partially funded place exists before you rule out a program that did not award you a full scholarship.

After you graduate

An EMJMD degree carries recognition across every partner university in the consortium, not only the one where you spent the most time, since the qualification is issued jointly or as a set of linked degrees. This multi-country recognition helps if you plan to work or continue study in Europe after graduation, since employers and universities across the consortium's countries recognize the same qualification.

Post-study options in Europe

Graduating with an EMJMD degree does not grant an automatic right to stay and work in Europe, so check the post-study work rules of the specific country where you want to build a career, since these rules differ by country and change over time. Many EMJMD alumni build their careers back in Southeast Asia, using their European qualification and network to move into research, policy or international organization roles connected to their consortium's field.