The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in International Law of Security, Peace and Sustainable Development (ILSPSD) offers scholarships of €1,400 per month for 24 months, with full exemption from tuition fees, for its 2027-2029 intake. Scholarship applications close on 4 January 2027 at 23:59 CET, and students from any region of the world can apply. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the programme, scholarship, application and fee pages and set out every rule below.
ILSPSD at a Glance
🎓 Degree: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master, on an LL.M. or M.A. study track
⏱️ Length: 24 months, full-time, October intake
🏛️ Partners: six European degree-awarding institutions and a global network of 30 associate partners
🚆 Mobility: study in three or more countries
💶 Scholarship: €1,400 per month for the entire 24 months, plus tuition exemption
🗓️ Scholarship deadline: 4 January 2027 (23:59 CET)
🧾 Self-funded deadline: 31 March 2027 (23:59 CEST)
Why This Programme Exists
The programme responds to what it calls a global "polycrisis", in which armed conflicts, terrorism, forced migration, climate change, biodiversity loss, hybrid threats and democratic backsliding intersect and undermine security, peace and sustainable development.
Its integrated curriculum combines international law with politics, sustainability and security studies, preparing graduates to understand and shape global governance in times of volatility and transformation.
Where You Study, Semester by Semester
🇩🇪 Start: International Law of Security, Peace and Sustainable Development, on an LL.M. or M.A. study track, at Leuphana University of Lüneburg.
🇪🇸 Next: Theories of International Security at the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI).
🔀 Specialisation: one of the four tracks listed below.
✍️ Final semester: a research dissertation and an optional work placement.
The Four Specialisation Tracks
🇬🇧 International Law and International Security: University of Glasgow
🇧🇪 Security and Conflict: Université libre de Bruxelles
🇵🇹 Globalization, Law and Security: Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
🇪🇪 International Law and Human Rights: University of Tartu
Meet the Partner Universities
🌳 Leuphana University of Lüneburg is described as a modern, innovative and growing university with an international orientation at the heart of Germany.
🔬 IBEI has achieved a high level of recognition as an academic and research centre at both European and international level.
🏰 University of Glasgow's international law school has a rich heritage. Founded in 1451, the university teaches students and staff from over 140 countries.
🌐 Université libre de Bruxelles is a multicultural university with one-third of students and researchers from abroad.
💡 Universidade NOVA de Lisboa is a young university that aims to teach and research creatively while creating value for society.
📜 University of Tartu, established in 1632, is Estonia's leading centre of research and training.
What Else the Programme Includes
The programme is enriched by summer schools, legal clinics, guest lectures and direct interaction with practitioners. Graduates gain multidisciplinary expertise, practical experience and an international network that can lead to careers in international courts and organisations, the EU, ministries and other governmental agencies, NGOs, think tanks and beyond.
What the Scholarship Pays
The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is awarded for full-time enrolment and covers the entire duration of the programme (24 months). The amount is €1,400 per month, as a contribution to travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs.
Scholarship recipients are exempt from tuition fees, and an insurance package covering the minimum health and accident requirements for EMJM students is included. If you are new to these programmes, our guide on what Erasmus Mundus is explains how the joint masters work.
How Many Scholarships Are Available
In total, 70 Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available across four intakes over the duration of the ILSPSD, with around 25% awarded to each intake. All regions of the world are covered, with these numbers per category:
🇪🇺 30 scholarships: EU Member States and Third Countries associated to the Erasmus Mundus programme (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Türkiye and Serbia).
🌎 20 scholarships: Third Countries not associated to the Erasmus Mundus programme.
🏔️ 2 additional scholarships: Third Countries not associated to the programme, funded by the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), including students from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro.
🌏 18 additional scholarships: targeted regions of the world, funded by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation – Global Europe Instrument (NDICI), for students from Regions 1, 3 and 5-11.
The 10% Nationality Rule
Scholarships can be offered to students from any region of the world. However, as a general rule, no more than 10% of the overall scholarships available in the ILSPSD will be awarded to students of the same nationality, with the exception of students from targeted regions of the world.
Who Cannot Receive the Scholarship
🚫 Students who have previously received an EMJM Student Scholarship are not eligible to apply for a scholarship.
🛑 Former Action 1 Erasmus Mundus Master/Doctoral Course scholarship holders are not eligible for an additional EMJMD scholarship.
🚧 Successful applicants cannot benefit from another EU grant while pursuing their EMJMD scholarship studies.
Degree Status When You Apply
Scholarship candidates must already have obtained a first higher education degree, or demonstrate a recognised equivalent level of learning according to national rules and legislation.
The programme's Step-by-Step Application Guide states that applicants for an EMJM Student Scholarship must have finished their undergraduate studies by the time of application. The General Principles on the scholarship page also mention that candidates who obtain their first degree at the end of the academic year preceding the intake can apply, on condition that they obtain the degree before the Master course begins. Read both pages carefully before applying if you have not yet graduated.
Mobility Rules for Scholarship Holders
🚌 Holders must spend at least two complete mobility periods in at least two of the Consortium's full Higher Education Institution partners, located in different Programme Countries.
📐 Each mandatory mobility period must include a volume of study, research or equivalent corresponding to at least 30 ECTS.
🖥️ The mandatory mobility periods cannot be replaced by virtual mobility and cannot take place in institutions outside the Consortium.
🧪 Additional study, research, thesis preparation or placement periods can take place in other participating organisations in the Consortium, partner or associated partner, if the activities are under the direct supervision of the Consortium partner.
When Subsistence Costs Are Not Paid
🛫 Contribution to subsistence costs will not be given to scholarship holders from a Partner Country for periods exceeding three months of the EMJMD spent in any Partner Country.
🏠 Contribution to subsistence costs will not be given to scholarship holders for periods of the EMJMD spent in their country of residence.
Nationality, Residency and the 12-Month Rule
Scholarships depend on both nationality and residency. Students with a double nationality, of a Partner and of a Programme Country, must specify the nationality under which they submit their scholarship application. When determining the contribution to participation costs, the Consortium defines each student as either a Programme Country or a Partner Country student.
🛂 Students whose nationality is one of the Erasmus+ Programme Countries count as Programme Country students.
🧭 Students with Erasmus+ Partner Country nationality who are not residents of a Programme Country, and have not carried out their main activity (studies, training or work) there for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years, are Partner Country students. The five-year period is calculated backwards from the submission deadline.
🔁 Students with Erasmus+ Partner Country nationality who do not fulfil these criteria count as Programme Country students.
🧩 Example from the programme: a Serbian student who lived in Germany for 13 months, 3 years before the deadline date should apply as a Programme Country student. A Mexican student who has been living in Spain for 11 months as of the deadline date, and never before in the 5-year period, should apply as a Partner Country student.
✈️ The contribution to travel and installation costs takes into account only the residence of the scholarship holder as of the deadline date, regardless of the category under which the student has applied.
Proof of Residency if You Are Offered a Scholarship
📃 A residence certificate issued in accordance with your municipality's normal registration rules.
🏢 A certificate from your place of work, study or training, issued by the employer or institution in question.
Both documents must have been issued within 12 months before the scholarship submission deadline.
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Eligibility Check and Scholarship Competition
All applications undergo an eligibility check covering the application deadline, the completeness of the application file and the candidate's eligibility under the Erasmus Mundus criteria. Applicants who fail to provide necessary documentation by the appropriate deadline will be excluded and informed of the specific reason for ineligibility.
To be considered for a scholarship, you must first have secured a place on the degree programme, conditional or unconditional. The admissions office of Leuphana University of Lüneburg assesses all applications and replies directly to applicants. Those who receive an offer of a place, and who submitted the scholarship application on time, are put forward to the scholarship competition.
Reserve List
When a main list scholarship student withdraws, they are replaced by the first eligible candidate on the reserve list, according to the 10% rule.
Selection Timetable
🟢 1 October 2026: online application form becomes available
📌 4 January 2027: deadline for scholarship applications
🎙️ February/March 2027: interviews with shortlisted candidates (to be confirmed)
🔔 March/April 2027: preliminary notification of results
🗂️ 31 March 2027: deadline for self-funded applications
📡 April 2027: selected scholarship candidates' data submitted to the European Union
📬 April/May: final results sent to applicants (acceptances and rejections)
🏦 31 May: deposit of €500 to be paid by self-funded students
🌤️ June: possible late admission of self-funded students
Choosing Your Study Track
Choose the study track that best fits your academic background and interests, and check each track's additional entry requirements before applying, as the partner universities' requirements for Semester 3 sometimes deviate.
Select your 1st, 2nd and 3rd track preference. If you are only eligible for one study track, select it twice.
Documents to Upload
Gathering everything in advance makes the form much easier to complete:
🏫 University entrance qualification / school leaving certificate: for example a High School Diploma, Baccalauréat Général or Abitur.
📑 Diploma and transcript of records: of the university that issued your first degree. If applicable, also diplomas or transcripts of additional studies you are pursuing, have completed or have undertaken beyond your first degree.
📝 Personal statement: ideally less than 1,000 words, covering your motivation for choosing ILSPSD, why you are a suitable candidate, your research interests and placement/practice aims, and your preferred Semester 3 study track with the reasons for your choice.
🤝 Two reference letters: preferably on official letterhead, with contact details for further inquiries, and dated within two years prior to application submission.
📄 Curriculum Vitae: for example in Europass format, with your photo on the first page, which is mandatory for application purposes. Our Europass CV guide explains how to create one.
🔤 Proof of English proficiency: a test result (IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or Cambridge), a signed declaration of native language proficiency, or a certificate, transcript or official confirmation letter proving an undergraduate degree (or a master's degree of at least 9 months) taught entirely in English in one of the listed countries with English as an official language and language of instruction in higher education.
🥐 Proof of French, if you select the Université libre de Bruxelles track: a diploma or transcript for a degree awarded by a higher education institution in a French-speaking community, or French at B2 level (CEFR).
Detailed information on accepted language proof is on the programme's Entry Requirements page.
If You Have Not Graduated Yet
The document (transcript of records or official declaration from your university) must state that you will be able to finish your degree in the year of the start of your ILSPSD studies and hand in the official degree certificate by 31 August of that year. Up-to-date transcripts are then accepted in place of the diploma. The scholarship condition described in the degree status section above still applies to EMJM applicants.
Rules for Your Reference Letters
🎒 At least one letter must be academic; the second may be professional.
🔍 Referees must indicate how and where they got to know the applicant and why they are qualified and suitable to write a reference.
📤 Letters must be uploaded in the application form.
📧 A referee who prefers to send a letter directly must send it to the programme's email address, listed in the Links section, before the deadline, stating your full name, application ID and email address. In that case, upload instead a document with the referee's full name, email contact and the information that they send their letter by email.
Tips for an Excellent Personal Statement
🎯 Give clear reasons for applying, explaining how the programme relates to your previous studies, career goals and academic interests.
🗺️ Explain your choice of study track and partner institution.
📚 Mention relevant academic or professional experience, such as projects, dissertations or internships.
🧠 Provide evidence of key skills such as research, critical thinking, communication, organisation and time management.
🎤 Highlight participation in conferences, NGOs, summer schools or awards received.
🔭 Outline your career aspirations and how the ILSPSD programme will help you achieve them.
For wider advice, see our guide on how to write a scholarship motivation letter.
Language and Translation Rules for Documents
🗣️ All official documents and certificates must be uploaded in English or one of the consortium universities' languages: Estonian, French, German, Portuguese or Spanish.
🖊️ If the original was not issued in one of these languages, it must be translated into English by a certified translator. An English translation of your diploma and transcript issued by your degree-awarding institution is also accepted.
🔠 The personal statement, reference letters and CV must be written in English.
🗃️ Original documents, such as your degree certificate and language certificate, must be shown at enrolment stage.
🔖 Documents and translations do not need to be apostilled.
✅ Translations from an official translator are accepted if they contain a confirmation that the translation is accurate, the date of the translation, the full name and signature of the translator or an authorised official of the translation company, and the translator's or company's contact details.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted through Leuphana University of Lüneburg's online application portal, and all supporting documents must be uploaded by the stated deadlines. The programme recommends reading the Step-by-Step Application Guide first and saving the link to your application. It also warns that technical problems, such as delays in the final upload of documents, can never be completely avoided, so try not to submit shortly before the deadline.
If You Do Not Win a Scholarship: Appeals
All candidates are notified of the selection committee's decision by email only, by the end of April.
⏰ An appeal must be made in writing by email within two weeks (14 days) of notification.
📮 The email goes to the ILSPSD Consortium at the address in the Links section, with a subject heading containing the words "ILSPSD scholarship appeal".
🧐 The reasons for the appeal must be clearly stated.
⚠️ A candidate may appeal only on the grounds of defective or unfair procedure by the scholarship selection committee.
Tuition Fees for Self-Funded Students
Tuition fees (2026-2028) are €24,000 in total, or €12,000 per year. The fee is identical for UK/EU/EEA/Erasmus-associated country students and international students, and is set annually in euro and maintained for each student cohort.
Fees cover tuition only. All students, funded and self-funded, must cover their own accommodation and transportation costs between consortium partner universities. An insurance package covering the minimum health and accident requirements is included for scholarship recipients and self-funded students alike.
Self-funded students must pay a non-refundable deposit of €500 by 31 May of their intake year, which is deducted from their first tuition payment. Students with ILSPSD tuition fee only scholarships (fee waivers) pay 50% of the amounts below, and the €500 deposit applies to them as well.
Payment Options
Payment must be received by the dates listed.
1️⃣ Option I, one instalment of €12,000 per year (bank transfer): Year 1: €11,500 on 1 September, plus the €500 deposit. Year 2: €12,000 on 1 September.
2️⃣ Option II, two instalments of €6,000 per year (bank transfer or direct debit): Year 1: €5,500 on 1 September, plus the deposit, and €6,000 on 1 March. Year 2: €6,000 on 1 September and €6,000 on 1 March.
3️⃣ Option III, four instalments of €3,000 per year (bank transfer or direct debit): Year 1: €2,500 on 1 September, plus the deposit, then €3,000 on 1 December, 1 March and 1 June. Year 2: €3,000 on 1 September, 1 December, 1 March and 1 June.
4️⃣ Option IV, six instalments of €2,000 per year (direct debit): Year 1: €1,500 on 1 September, plus the deposit, then €2,000 on 1 November, 1 January, 1 March, 1 May and 1 July. Year 2: €2,000 on 1 September, 1 November, 1 January, 1 March, 1 May and 1 July.
5️⃣ Option V, twelve instalments of €1,000 per year (direct debit): Year 1: €500 on 1 September, plus the deposit, then €1,000 on the first of each month from 1 October to 1 August. Year 2: €1,000 on the first of each month from 1 September to 1 August.
Payment by direct debit authorisation is only possible with a European bank account (with IBAN and BIC) that allows SEPA-compliant transactions.
How Your Personal Data Is Used
The data you provide is shared with the ILSPSD Consortium partners as part of the scholarship review. Personal data is also sent to the Educational, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), and may be used to evaluate the programme, manage the project efficiently and produce statistics. It could be made available to the EACEA, the European Commission, European External Action Service staff, and other Erasmus+ stakeholders such as National Agencies, National Erasmus+ Offices and the Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association.
Find more funded master's programmes in the scholarships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the ILSPSD Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The scholarship is €1,400 per month for the entire 24 months of the programme, as a contribution to travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs. Recipients are also exempt from tuition fees, and an insurance package is included.
Who can apply for the ILSPSD scholarship?
Students from any region of the world can be offered a scholarship. As a general rule, no more than 10% of the overall scholarships go to students of the same nationality, except for students from targeted regions of the world.
When is the scholarship deadline?
Scholarship applications close on 4 January 2027 at 23:59 CET. Self-funded students can apply until 31 March 2027 at 23:59 CEST.
How many scholarships are offered per intake?
There are 70 scholarships across four intakes, with around 25% awarded to each intake. They are split between EU and associated countries, non-associated Third Countries, and additional places funded by IPA III and NDICI.
Do I need a place on the programme before competing for the scholarship?
Yes. You must first have secured a place on the degree programme, conditional or unconditional. Applicants who receive an offer and submitted the scholarship application on time are put forward to the scholarship competition.
Do I need French for this master's?
French proof is only required if you select the study track at the Université libre de Bruxelles. In that case, you need a degree from a higher education institution in a French-speaking community, or French at B2 level (CEFR).
Do my documents need an apostille?
No. Applicants do not need their documents or translations to be apostilled. Translations from an official translator are accepted as long as they include the confirmation of accuracy, date, translator's name and signature, and contact details.
Can I appeal if I do not get a scholarship?
Yes, in writing by email within 14 days of being notified, but only on the grounds of defective or unfair procedure by the scholarship selection committee. The subject heading must contain the words "ILSPSD scholarship appeal".
Deadline
⏳ 04 January 2027
Links
🔗 Apply with scholarship: https://awards.leuphana.de/datenabfrage/ilspsd2027-scholarship
🖇️ Programme website: https://master-international-law-erasmusmundus.eu/
🏵️ Erasmus Mundus Scholarships page: https://master-international-law-erasmusmundus.eu/erasmus-mundus-scholarships/
🪜 Step-by-Step Application Guide: https://master-international-law-erasmusmundus.eu/step-by-step-application-guide/
🏷️ Tuition fees: https://master-international-law-erasmusmundus.eu/tuition-fees/
📩 ILSPSD Consortium email: ilspsd@leuphana.de
