ReSound, an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's in sound run across Ireland, Portugal and Lithuania, can award scholarships of €1,400 per month with no tuition fees on the basis of excellence. Applications for the 2027 intake close on Tuesday 12 January 2027 and are open to European and non-European students. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the programme and application pages and set out every requirement below.
ReSound at a Glance
🎓 Degree: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) in sound
⏱️ Length: two years, four semesters
🏛️ Partners: Institute of Art, Design and Technology (Ireland), Universidade Lusófona (Portugal), Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
🪑 Places: a maximum of 24 each year
💶 Scholarship: €1,400 per month and no tuition fees
🧾 Self-funded tuition: €15,000 for the whole study period
🗓️ Application deadline: 12 January 2027
A Master's That Treats Sound as a Discipline of Its Own
ReSound reimagines the role of sound in culture, society and the creative industries. The two-year, four-semester programme goes beyond the screen, elevating sound as a fully-fledged discipline and a starting point for exploring its connection to image, space and experience.
The programme is shaped by the needs of today's creative industries and the emerging paradigms of tomorrow. It is co-funded by the European Union.
The Three Institutions Behind ReSound
ReSound brings together three institutions within the FilmEU European University alliance:
🇮🇪 Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Ireland
🇵🇹 Universidade Lusófona (UL) in Portugal
🇱🇹 Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA)
Studying Across Three Parts of Europe
Through Erasmus+ mobility, students study across Northern, Western and Southern Europe while gaining access to an extensive network of trans-European partners. The programme describes this diversity as a way to broaden perspectives, foster cross-cultural collaboration and open doors to international opportunities.
What ReSound Prepares You to Do
The programme prepares specialists in sound design, production, composition and execution across the media arts, including:
🎬 Film
📺 Television
🎮 Gaming
🥽 Immersive media
🌐 Virtual environments
Graduates are equipped to work in industries that range from cinema and immersive media to video games and events. ReSound aims for them to leave not only as industry-ready professionals but also as advocates for the thoughtful integration of sound in society, reshaping how we "hear" the world around us.
Who Can Apply to ReSound
ReSound is open to both European and non-European students who hold a bachelor's degree in sound, music, film or media studies. Applicants with degrees in other fields may also be considered if they have relevant prior experience in areas such as sound, music, film or media studies.
What the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Pays
Students who are granted a scholarship pay no tuition fees and receive €1,400 per month. The scholarship contributes to travel, visa and a living allowance. If you are new to these programmes, our guide on how Erasmus Mundus joint masters work explains the wider scheme.
Who Is Eligible for the Scholarship
Candidates are eligible for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, which is awarded on the basis of excellence. These rules apply:
🏅 You must have obtained a primary higher-education degree or be able to demonstrate a recognised equivalent according to national legislation and practices of the degree-awarding country
🚫 Students who have already obtained an EMJM scholarship for an Erasmus Mundus Master Course or Joint Doctorate are not eligible for an additional scholarship under the EMJM action
🔒 Scholarship holders cannot benefit from another EU-funded scholarship scheme to follow the same EMJM course, for the entire period of the course
🛂 Students with a double nationality must specify the nationality under which they submit their scholarship application
How Many Places and Scholarships There Are
A maximum of 24 places are offered at ReSound each year. An Erasmus Mundus scholarship is available only to a percentage of those places.
Tuition for Students Without a Scholarship
For non-scholarship holders, participation costs and tuition fees for the whole study period of four semesters are €15,000, paid in two instalments:
1️⃣ €7,500 before the beginning of the first semester
2️⃣ €7,500 before the beginning of the third semester
Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders do not have to pay participation costs or tuition fees.
What the Fees Include
📚 Participation in all classes offered within the ReSound curriculum
🩺 Insurance according to the requirements of the Erasmus+ Programme, with cover provided for scholarship and self-pay students
🗂️ Support in administrative and organisational issues by the consortium partners
🏫 Costs for enrolment at the consortium partner institutions
📝 All examinations
📜 Issuing of the final diploma
What the Fees Do Not Include
✈️ Travel costs from the country of origin
🚆 Travel costs required for mobility
🛃 Travel documents such as passports and visas
🏠 Accommodation and living expenses
📖 Other costs such as study books, stationery and photocopies
What You Should Budget for Living Costs
ReSound estimates that students will need between €600 and €1,000 per month for living expenses.
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Other Funding Besides the Scholarship
As a limited number of scholarships are available, ReSound invites applicants to look at local scholarships and other possibilities. It also points to the EU's Skills and Education Guarantee, which allows students to apply for support for their master's studies abroad.
Under this scheme, loans are offered by participating banks and student loan agencies on favourable conditions to mobile students. These include better-than-market interest rates and up to two years to allow graduates to get into a job before beginning repayment.
The Documents Every Applicant Must Submit
All applicants must fulfil the following requirements:
💻 Application form: completed online and within the deadlines. No applications sent by regular mail are accepted.
🛂 Passport or identification card: an official identification document including a photograph and personal data such as first name, surname, and date and place of birth. This data should be described in English, as in passports. It is recommended that the expiration date covers the duration of the entire master plus six months.
🖼️ Photograph: a recent headshot.
🏫 University documentation: stamped documentation for previous degree(s) and the transcripts of record, for a Bachelor or Master at minimum European Qualifications Framework level 6 or equivalent. If the degree or transcript is in another language than English, a certified translation must be supplied.
📇 Curriculum vitae: as part of the application form, a CV of professional qualifications, experience, pieces of work, jobs, tasks and professional skills in sound, music and/or media industries.
✉️ Two letters of recommendation: see the details below.
🖋️ Letter of motivation: a maximum of 1,000 characters.
💡 Final thesis project idea: 500 characters.
🎵 Portfolio: previous sound or media-related work.
🗣️ Proof of proficiency in English: see the language requirements below.
How the Letters of Recommendation Should Look
You need two letters, and at least one must be academic. The letters should not follow a template. The only requirement is that the contact details of the person providing the reference are clearly typed and, if possible, contain a business email address and a telephone number.
What to Write in the Letter of Motivation
The letter expresses your interest in studying at ReSound in a maximum of 1,000 characters. It must cover:
🎯 What you hope to get out of the programme
❤️ Why a career in sound is meaningful to you personally and to society
ReSound asks you to make it personal and not to use AI or Large Language Models. Our guides on writing a scholarship motivation letter and on why AI-written letters are easy to spot can help you start from your own words.
Describing Your Final Thesis Project
You are asked to imagine and describe, in 500 characters, a final thesis project you would like to undertake. Describe the project, your motivations and the anticipated results.
How to Build Your Portfolio
🎚️ Include previous sound or media-related work, with no more than 3 examples
🧠 Add a short reflective paragraph on each piece, explicitly stating your role in the work
🔗 You can supply a single hyperlink to a portfolio website or a compilation audio or video file
⏲️ The team can realistically listen to or watch 10-15 minutes of material per application, so select your best work
English Language Requirements
All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency before an offer can be made. Certificates must be submitted with your application. Provide one of the following:
📄 IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, with no component less than 6.0. Other accepted tests, with equivalent scores, are TOEFL iBT 79, Duolingo 110, Cambridge B2 and LanguageCert ESOL. Tests must have been taken within the last two years.
🏅 Evidence of completing a full qualification of minimum Level 4 on the European Qualifications Framework and a minimum duration of one academic year, through the instruction of English.
How Applicants Are Assessed
All eligible applicants are assessed by members of the consortium, taking into account:
📊 Academic quality, judged primarily from the results of prior university studies
🔥 Motivation and justification of the application in relation to prior studies, work experience (if applicable) and future career plans towards the aims of ReSound, judged from the CV in combination with the letter of motivation, expectations and portfolio
💬 English language skills, judged from the certificate provided and from the interview
The Online Interview Stage
Applicants with the highest scores resulting from the application package, which includes the portfolio, are called for an online interview on a date settled by the selection committee. Applicants who do not qualify for the interview are informed as soon as possible.
When You Can Appeal
There is no possibility of appeal against the final list of selected applicants, except on the basis of a specific procedural error by the ReSound consortium in the application process.
📑 Read the selection criteria and the application procedure carefully before submitting an appeal
⚖️ Candidates who followed the application procedure and respected the deadlines but were denied selection due to unmet selection criteria, and who have reasons to believe a mistake was made during the selection procedure, have the right to appeal the Selection Board's decision
⛔ Candidates who fail to provide the required documents within the established timeframes should not submit an appeal
🔍 The appeal procedure concerns how your proposal was handled in the evaluation and eligibility-checking process, and it is not an automatic re-evaluation
🧩 New information or clarifications not in the application are not taken into consideration
📧 Appeals are sent by email to the address in the Links section with all the necessary information, and must be submitted by the date notified to you
📬 Provide a correct email address so that you can receive notifications on the status of your appeal, and you will be contacted as soon as a decision has been made
Support for Students With Special Needs
ReSound aims to guarantee the principle of equal opportunities for all and to strengthen the universities' social commitment and respect for diversity. The programme is open to applicants with special needs.
In case of selection, the consortium can give support to students with disabilities, such as long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, by acquiring special items or services. Examples are assistance by third persons, medical attendance, supportive equipment and travel or transportation assistance. This offer is available to all enrolled students, both Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders and self-funded students.
How the Additional Support Is Calculated
🧮 The additional support allocated under the Erasmus Mundus grant covers the individual needs of enrolled students up to a certain maximum, if they fulfil the general eligibility conditions and according to the unit costs established by the EACEA
📅 The amounts are calculated for the duration of the two years of the programme
📐 The applicable unit cost is the rate corresponding to or immediately lower than the estimated expenses
🧾 This unit cost is a contribution and may not cover the total amount of actual costs
How to Request Special Needs Funding
Applicants who believe they may be eligible for these funds must contact the ReSound coordination team during the application stage, using the email address in the Links section. In case of selection, these documents are needed:
🏥 Certification by a competent authority of the long-term impairment
✍️ A signed declaration stating that special needs funding costs are needed, that participation in the programme would not be possible without this support, and that the special needs items or services were not already covered by another source
📋 A signed funding request with a list of special needs items and/or services and their estimated costs, such as medication, equipment and additional services
Student Agreement and Use of Your Data
ReSound publishes a sample Student Agreement, which is periodically updated.
If you are selected, proposed for a scholarship, put on the reserve list or enrolled on a self-paying basis, your data may be used for evaluating the programmes, efficiently managing the projects and producing statistics. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) collects and processes the personal data of some candidates in the context of managing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters. Certain data of scholarship holders and non-scholarship holders is shared with the Agency.
How to Apply
Applications are made through the online application form only, and regular mail is not accepted. Prepare the passport or ID copy, headshot, stamped degree documents and transcripts, CV, two letters of recommendation, letter of motivation, thesis project description, portfolio and English proof before you start, then submit the form before the deadline.
You can browse more funded master's programmes in the scholarships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the ReSound Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
Scholarship holders receive €1,400 per month and pay no tuition fees. The scholarship contributes to travel, visa and a living allowance.
When is the ReSound application deadline?
Applications for ReSound 2027 close on Tuesday 12 January 2027. Applications must be submitted online, as regular mail is not accepted.
Which degree do I need to apply?
ReSound asks for a bachelor's degree in sound, music, film or media studies. Applicants with degrees in other fields may also be considered if they have relevant prior experience in those areas.
Can I use AI to write my ReSound motivation letter?
No. ReSound asks applicants to make the letter personal and not to use AI or Large Language Models. The letter is limited to 1,000 characters.
How many portfolio pieces can I send?
You can supply no more than three examples, each with a short reflective paragraph stating your role. The team can realistically listen to or watch 10-15 minutes of material per application.
Which English test score does ReSound accept?
ReSound accepts IELTS 6.0 with no component below 6.0, or equivalent scores in TOEFL iBT 79, Duolingo 110, Cambridge B2 or LanguageCert ESOL, taken within the last two years. Evidence of a full qualification of at least one academic year at minimum EQF Level 4, taught through English, is also accepted.
How much does ReSound cost without a scholarship?
Non-scholarship holders pay €15,000 for the four semesters, in two instalments of €7,500. The fee does not cover travel, travel documents, accommodation or living expenses, and ReSound estimates €600 to €1,000 per month for living costs.
Can I hold another EU scholarship at the same time?
No. Scholarship holders cannot benefit from another EU-funded scholarship scheme to follow the same course, for the entire period of the course. Students who have already obtained an EMJM scholarship are also not eligible for an additional one.
Is there an interview?
Yes. Applicants with the highest scores from the application package, which includes the portfolio, are called for an online interview on a date settled by the selection committee.
Deadline
⏳ 12 January 2027
Links
🔗 Apply online: https://mundus.ulusofona.pt/
🖇️ Programme website: https://resound-ma.eu/
🗒️ Application requirements: https://resound-ma.eu/application/
📩 ReSound contact email: info@resound-ma.eu
