Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees: How to Apply and What They Fund
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published May 10, 2026 • Guides, Study in Europe, Erasmus & Exchange, Fields of Study
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees are EU-funded programs run by universities in at least two European countries together. Full scholarships pay a monthly allowance plus tuition and travel, so many students study for free.
💶 The scholarship pays 1,400 euros a month for the whole program (12, 18 or 24 months).
🎓 Tuition, called participation costs, is covered on top of the monthly allowance.
📩 You apply directly to the joint program, not to a central EU office.
⏱️ Most programs open applications between October and January for the next intake.
🏠 You must study in at least two different countries within the consortium.
What an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree is
An Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) is a single master's program built and taught by universities in different European countries working together as a consortium. You enroll once but study in at least two of the partner countries, earning one joint degree or several linked degrees instead of a certificate from just one school.
The European Commission funds these programs through Erasmus+, and each one runs its own catalogue entry, application form and deadline. Browse live programs on the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue before you apply.
What the scholarship pays for
Full EMJMD scholarships cover two separate things: your living costs and your tuition.
| Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Monthly allowance | 1,400 euros a month for the full length of your program |
| Participation costs | Full tuition, so you pay nothing extra to the consortium |
| Travel and installation | A contribution toward moving between study countries and settling in |
| Insurance and visa | Health insurance and visa costs for the program |
Programs run 12, 18 or 24 months depending on the field, and your allowance covers the entire enrolled period, set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide . A two-year program adds up to 33,600 euros in living costs alone.
Who qualifies
You hold a first higher education degree, a bachelor's or recognized equivalent, before the program starts.
You enroll as a full-time student for the whole program.
You have not received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship before.
You commit to studying in at least two different countries within the consortium, normally a minimum of two semesters.
The EU also applies a geographic balance rule: no more than 10 percent of scholarships in a program can go to students of the same nationality, so admission competes across a mixed pool of applicants worldwide.
How to apply
Search the Erasmus Mundus catalogue and shortlist programs in your field.
Check each program's own entry requirements. They differ by consortium, unlike a single national admissions system.
Submit your application directly on the program's website. Most open between October and January for the next academic year.
Tick the scholarship option on the same application. You do not apply separately to the EU.
If selected, sign the Student Agreement that sets out your rights, mobility plan and responsibilities before you enroll.
How selection works
Each consortium runs its own selection committee and reviews applications against its own academic criteria. The Erasmus+ rules require the process to stay transparent, impartial and fair, but grade thresholds, interviews and required documents vary by program. Build in time to gather transcripts, references and a motivation letter tailored to each consortium.
Picking the right consortium
Look past the ranking of the lead university. The strength of an EMJMD comes from its full partner list: which countries you study in, which staff teach each module and what the final joint or double degree certificate says. Read the mobility plan closely, since some programs fix your country order while others let you choose electives that shift where you study in year two.