The European Master's in Clinical Linguistics (EMCL-25) is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree offering a full tuition waiver and a monthly allowance of โฌ1,400 to selected students. The 24-month, 120 ECTS, full-time research master's programme is offered by the universities of Eastern Finland (Finland), Ghent (Belgium) and Groningen (Netherlands), and trains students in clinical linguistics, neurolinguistics and psycholinguistics. The application portal for the 2027-2029 intake is open from 1 October to 1 December 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the programme, admission and fees pages and gathered every requirement, document and funding rule below.
EMCL-25 at a Glance
๐ Degree: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD), research master's
โฑ๏ธ Length: 24 months, 120 ECTS, full-time
๐๏ธ Universities: University of Eastern Finland, Ghent University and University of Groningen
๐ค Associated partners: 23 partners from research and industry
๐ง Fields: clinical linguistics, neurolinguistics and psycholinguistics
๐ฃ๏ธ Language of instruction: English
๐ถ Scholarship: full tuition waiver plus โฌ1,400 per month, for a maximum of two years
๐๏ธ Intake: 2027-2029
A Programme With More Than 20 Years of History
EMCL has been running for over 20 years. The newest edition is offered by the universities of Eastern Finland, Ghent and Groningen, in collaboration with 23 excellent associated partners. The programme funds and prepares very talented and motivated students to carry out original research and to be widely employable in academia (PhD) and/or industry, for example in neurotechnology or the clinical sector.
What the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Covers
๐ถ A full tuition waiver
๐ณ A monthly allowance of โฌ1,400 to cover travel, visa, installation, insurance and subsistence costs
โณ Funding for a maximum of two years, the nominal duration of the research master
Scholarship Rules to Know
๐ข There is a limited number of EMJM scholarships, reserved for the most outstanding applicants.
๐ซ Students who have already obtained an Erasmus+, EMJM scholarship or an Erasmus Mundus Master/Doctoral scholarship are not eligible.
๐งพ Scholarship holders cannot benefit from another EU grant while pursuing their EMCL studies.
๐ Scholarships are awarded based on the ranking of students in the application and selection procedure.
โ๏ธ On the EMCL application form, you indicate whether you want to be considered for a scholarship; the deadline for scholarship applications is 1 December.
๐ฌ After selection, each applicant is informed from mid-February whether they are offered a place with or without a scholarship.
๐ If a student offered a place (and a scholarship) withdraws, the next student in the ranking receives the offer.
๐ Several scholarships are specifically allocated to students from selected countries listed among the Erasmus+ eligible countries, and applicants from those countries are highly encouraged to apply.
๐ The programme recommends also looking into other funding opportunities that may be available to you.
Self-Paying Places and Consortium Fees
A limited number of students can be admitted as self-payers. For them, the consortium fee for the entire programme is:
๐ช๐บ Programme country students (passport from an EU or EEA country): โฌ9,000
๐ Partner country students (passport from outside the EU and EEA): โฌ18,000
The consortium fee covers:
๐งพ Registration costs at each consortium partner
๐๏ธ University administration and diploma costs
๐ก๏ธ Insurance
๐ Excursions
๐ฌ Lab costs
๐ค Participation in one edition of the Science of Aphasia conference, including accommodation
๐ Required literature, accommodation, travel costs and other study-related costs are not included.
Insurance for All Students
The programme offers a full insurance policy for the two-year research master for all students, complying with all EACEA requirements:
๐งณ Travel insurance, covering loss or damage to luggage
โ๏ธ Third-party liability, including professional indemnity if needed
๐ฅ Accident and serious illness, covering permanent or temporary incapacity
๐๏ธ Death, including repatriation during EMCL activities abroad
Individual Support and Special Needs
EMCL considers individual support and special needs students for equal access to education. Students with disabilities (for example long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments) may apply for special items or services, such as:
๐ Assistance by third persons
๐ ๏ธ Adaptation of the work environment
๐ Additional travel or transportation costs
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๐ All opportunities in Finland โ
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Required Qualifications
You need at least three years of higher education (BA, BSc or equivalent) with an emphasis on one or more of these fields:
๐ฃ๏ธ Speech and language pathology
๐ Linguistics, with at least 60 ECTS of general linguistics courses such as Syntax, Semantics, Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology and Pragmatics
๐งฌ Biomedical sciences
๐ง Psychology
๐งฉ Special education
You must also have high proficiency in English, as the programme is taught in English.
Accepted English Tests and Minimum Scores
Only native speakers (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA) do not need to hand in proof. A statement such as an MOI or EMI is not accepted. Only these tests count:
๐ IELTS (Academic): overall at least 7.0, each sub-score at least 6.0
๐ป TOEFL iBT (since 2026): overall at least 5/6, each sub-score at least 4
๐ฅ๏ธ TOEFL iBT (before 2026): overall at least 100, each sub-score at least 21
๐ Pearson Academic: overall at least 71, each sub-score at least 62
๐ LanguageCert Academic: overall at least 75, each sub-score at least 65
๐ Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency Certificate
๐ Linguaskill: overall at least 185, each sub-score at least 176
โฐ Your proof of English may not be older than 2 years and must be submitted with the other documents; it is not possible to submit it after the 1 December 2026 deadline.
Required Documents
๐ Completed application form (.doc template)
โ๏ธ Letter of motivation for applying to the EMCL-25 programme
๐ Copies of your official transcripts and university degree certificate, plus translations if they are not in English, Dutch, German or Finnish
๐ผ๏ธ Curriculum vitae in EuroPass format, with your photo on the first page
๐ชช Copy of your passport or official ID card
๐ฃ๏ธ Language test results or other proof of the required English skills
๐ฅ Names and email addresses of two referees, who will answer some questions in the portal; only referees of eligible applicants selected by the selection board are contacted
๐ Linguistics graduates only: a PDF transcript of records showing at least 60 ECTS of (general) linguistics courses (1 ECTS = 28 study hours; 60 ECTS = one study year)
Translations and Upload Rules
๐ Translations of diplomas and transcripts made by the student are accepted, for example with Google Translate; authorised translations are no longer required for certified documents.
๐ค All documents must be submitted through the portal at the same time; missing documents cannot be added later.
How to Apply
1๏ธโฃ Register in the EMCL online application portal, active from 1 October to 1 December 2026.
2๏ธโฃ Download and complete the application form (Microsoft Word format), indicating whether you want to be considered for a scholarship.
3๏ธโฃ Upload all documents in the portal in one go.
4๏ธโฃ Submit your application no later than 1 December 2026.
Check the programme's FAQs if you have questions about the application or admission process. The team receives many emails, so be patient waiting for a response and do not resend your message.
Residence Permits for Finland
๐ต๐ฐ Applicants from Pakistan: Finland does not currently process residence permits within Pakistan. If accepted, you will need to travel to a designated third country (such as Qatar or the UAE) for your mandatory biometric appointment, which requires additional travel visas, expenses and early planning.
๐ Other non-EU applicants: it is not always possible to process a residence permit for Finland (necessary for enrolment) in your own country, so you might also need additional travel visas, expenses and early planning.
๐ All non-EU applicants are highly encouraged to review the logistics and financial requirements on the Finnish Immigration Service website as soon as they apply.
Career Prospects
According to Youth Works Hub's review of the programme page, EMCL graduates are prepared for:
๐ฌ Academia, including continuing to a PhD
๐ง Industry, for example neurotechnology
๐ฅ The clinical sector
New to joint master's degrees? Our guide to Erasmus Mundus scholarships and how the joint programmes work explains the basics. More funded study offers are waiting in the Scholarships section on Youth Works Hub โ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the EMCL Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
Selected students receive a full tuition waiver and a monthly allowance of โฌ1,400 to cover travel, visa, installation, insurance and subsistence costs, for a maximum of two years.
Where will I study in EMCL-25?
The programme is offered by the University of Eastern Finland, Ghent University in Belgium and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, together with 23 associated partners.
What is the deadline for the 2027-2029 intake?
The application portal is open from 1 October to 1 December 2026. The scholarship application deadline is also 1 December.
Which bachelor's degrees are accepted?
You need at least three years of higher education with an emphasis on speech and language pathology, linguistics (with at least 60 ECTS of general linguistics), biomedical sciences, psychology or special education.
Is an MOI letter enough to prove English?
No. MOI and EMI statements are not accepted. You need one of the listed tests, such as IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with each sub-score at least 6.0, no older than 2 years.
How much do self-payers pay?
The consortium fee for the entire programme is โฌ9,000 for students with an EU or EEA passport and โฌ18,000 for students without one. Accommodation, travel and literature are not included.
Can I apply if I already had an Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
No. Students who have already obtained an Erasmus+, EMJM or Erasmus Mundus Master/Doctoral scholarship are not eligible for the EMJM scholarship.
When will I know the result?
The selection board informs each applicant from mid-February whether they are offered a place with or without a scholarship.
Deadline
โณ 01 December 2026
Links
๐ Application portal: https://www.formdesk.com/rug/LET-EMCL-portal
๐ EMCL website: https://www.emcl.eu/
๐ Admission information: https://www.emcl.eu/admission
๐ถ Fees and scholarships: https://www.emcl.eu/fees
๐ Erasmus+ eligible countries: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-a/eligible-countries
๐ง Contact: emcl@rug.nl
