The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Imaging and Light in Extended Reality (IMLEX) offers full scholarships of €1,400 per month, with no participation fee, to the best applicants of all nationalities in the 2027 intake. Applications are open from 2 December 2026 to 13 January 2027. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the programme's official pages so you can see what the scholarship covers, who can apply and exactly which documents to prepare.
IMLEX at a Glance
🎓 Degree: Master of Science in Imaging and Light in Extended Reality, an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM)
🏫 Graduation: you graduate from four universities
✈️ Mobility: you visit three European countries and Japan during your studies
💶 Scholarship: €1,400 per month for the entire study programme (24 months maximum), with no participation fee
🗓️ Application period: 2 December 2026 to 13 January 2027
🆓 Application fee: none is collected from IMLEX applicants
📍 Start of studies: beginning of September 2027 at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus
What IMLEX Teaches
IMLEX is a multidisciplinary programme that brings together image conversion, lighting and computer science. Its objective is to train experts who combine a solid theoretical understanding of virtual reality with strong practical skills in virtual reality applications.
Students benefit from European research expertise combined with Japanese expertise in research addressing virtual reality and robotics.
The Four Universities Behind the Degree
IMLEX is implemented by a consortium of four universities:
🇫🇮 University of Eastern Finland (Finland)
🇯🇵 Toyohashi University of Technology (Japan)
🇫🇷 University Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne (France)
🇧🇪 KU Leuven (Belgium)
Associate Academic and Industrial Partners
The associate academic partners are Utsunomiya University, Chiba University and the University of Ottawa. The associate industrial partners include leading virtual reality and lighting industry companies and research centres from Europe and Japan.
A Partnership Between Europe and Japan
IMLEX was one of the first Erasmus Mundus Master Joint Degree Partnerships with Japan. It is co-funded by the European Commission and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Accreditation and Quality Assurance
IMLEX passed the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes audit, conducted by the Hcéres agency in February 2026. As a result of the audit, IMLEX is fully accredited in the national framework of the participating countries, and the European Approach report is publicly available online.
A Long Record of Joint Education
The universities of the consortium have cooperated in Master's level education for a long time. The CIMET and COSI Master's Programmes have been running for more than 10 years, and the consortium reports that many graduates attribute their career success to those programmes.
The University of Eastern Finland and Toyohashi University of Technology have also launched a Double Degree Master's Programme in Computer Science and Engineering, which gave valuable experience in bringing together European and Japanese academic processes.
What the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Covers
If you are new to this type of funding, our guide on how Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters work explains the wider programme. For IMLEX, the scholarship covers:
🧪 Participation costs, including the tuition fees and library and laboratory costs
🛡️ Full insurance coverage
🧾 Any other mandatory costs related to your participation in the Master
🏦 A monthly subsistence allowance of €1,400 for the entire duration of the study programme, up to 24 months maximum
Scholarship holders do not pay any participation fee. The scholarships are available for both non-EU and EU students, and the total amount of the scholarship is the same for all students.
Extra Support for Students with Disabilities
Extra contributions to individual needs may be granted to enrolled students with disabilities, with or without a scholarship. This applies, for example, to long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, and the support can relate to:
🦽 The acquisition of special items or services
🤝 Assistance by third persons
🖥️ Adaptation of the work environment
🚌 Additional travel or transportation costs
Scholarship Limits to Check First
⛔ Individuals who have already benefited from an Erasmus Mundus Master's Course scholarship are not eligible for a second scholarship to follow the same or another Erasmus Mundus Master's Course.
🚫 Students benefiting from an Erasmus Mundus scholarship cannot benefit from another Community grant while pursuing their Erasmus Mundus Master's studies.
Consortium Fees Without a Scholarship
The consortium fees from student intake 2025 onwards are:
🧮 €9,000 per academic year for non-EU/EEA students
✅ No consortium fees for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland
🎟️ EMJM scholarship holders do not pay for tuition
The IMLEX consortium may also grant partial or full consortium fee waivers to the best applicants.
JASSO Scholarships
In this Erasmus Mundus programme, Japanese students from the Toyohashi University of Technology can apply for scholarships from JASSO. For the IMLEX student cohorts 2020 to 2023, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) and JASSO scholarships were available on a competitive basis.
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Who Can Apply
IMLEX welcomes applications from people who hold a Bachelor's degree, for example in:
💻 Information Technology
🖱️ Computer Science
⚛️ Physics
➗ Mathematics
🔌 Electrical or Electronical Engineering
🔦 Photonics
🧭 A closely related field
The admission criteria and the selection procedure are published on separate programme pages. English language requirements have been updated from the year 2026 onwards, so check the current requirements in the admission criteria before you book a test or prepare a certificate.
Join the Webinar for Potential Applicants
IMLEX is holding a webinar for potential applicants on 10 November 2026, from 2 to 3 PM Helsinki time, with registration required. In the session you can:
🎧 Learn more about the curriculum and partner universities
💡 Get insights on the application process and EMJM scholarships
🙋 Ask questions to IMLEX staff and student representatives
Documents to Upload
All documents are submitted as electronic copies, and the enclosures must be attached in PDF format:
📝 Application form, filled in the Studyinfo system
📜 B.Sc. degree certificate or equivalent, with an English translation of it (see the admission requirements)
📊 An official transcript of academic records, with an English translation of it (see the admission requirements)
🗣️ English language certificate (see the admission requirements)
✉️ Two recommendation letters, with no specific template
🖊️ Motivation letter answering a set of specified questions
📄 Curriculum vitae in chronological order, with no gaps longer than 12 months during the recent five years
🛂 A copy of your passport or ID card
🎬 A motivation video answering a set of specified questions
Questions Your Motivation Letter Must Answer
Your motivation letter has to respond to the four points below. Our guide on writing a scholarship motivation letter can help you structure your answers.
🪞 Reflect on your present situation and background in relation to the IMLEX curriculum and prerequisites
🔍 Which IMLEX courses and/or semesters you find the most interesting, and why
🧠 Ideas of applied research related to IMLEX academic content
📈 Your professional development plan
Applicants are allowed to use generative AI when making the motivation letter. If you do, read about using AI without falling into the copy-paste trap first.
Requirements for the Motivation Video
Your video has to answer two questions:
🌟 How do your abilities help you to succeed in your studies in IMLEX?
🕶️ Why are you interested in studying Extended Reality?
The technical limits are:
⏱️ Maximum duration: 2 minutes
💾 Maximum file size: 1 GB
🎞️ Accepted formats: x-m4v, x-matroska, x-msvideo, mpeg, ogg, webm, 3gpp, 3gpp2, mp4, MP2T, quicktime, x-ms-wmv, x-ms-vob
How to Apply
You apply electronically via the Studyinfo service. The online application form is available during the application period. Fill in the form and attach the required enclosures in PDF format by the deadline. Only scanned enclosures uploaded to the application form are required at the application stage, and paper copies are not needed.
If a Third Party Mails Your Documents
If application documents are mailed in by a third party, such as your university officials, the admissions office forwards them to the programme coordinator for evaluation. These documents can be mailed to:
🏛️ University of Eastern Finland, Admissions Office, Joensuu campus
📮 IMLEX Programme, Yliopistokatu 2 / P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
It is always the applicant's responsibility to make sure the documents reach the University of Eastern Finland by the deadline. Documents that arrive after the deadline are not processed.
After You Apply
📧 The university carries out the student selection and informs applicants of their admission results by email in April 2027 at the latest.
⚖️ Non-admitted students are notified by email about the selection results and the appeal procedures.
⏰ Admitted EMJM scholarship holders must confirm their study place electronically via Studyinfo as soon as possible, within 14 days of receiving the notification of admission.
📆 Applicants must confirm their study place electronically in Studyinfo by 13 July 2027 at the latest.
🚀 Studies begin at the beginning of September 2027 at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus.
Conditional Admission
Admission is conditional in two situations:
🎯 You apply with a degree that is not completed during the application period
🔐 Your degree cannot be electronically authenticated (verified) at the time of application
In these cases, you must submit officially certified copies of the final degree certificate and transcript of records by the deadlines specified by the University of Eastern Finland. You remain conditionally admitted until the required certified documents have been provided.
Document Verification Deadlines
Electronic verification of educational documents is strongly recommended, and paper documents by post are also accepted. You must use the document submission methods specified by the university.
📌 Verified educational documents must be submitted by 31 May 2027.
🎒 Graduating students must submit their final educational documents by 30 July 2027.
❗ If you do not deliver your documents by the given deadline, your study right will be cancelled.
Registration Conditions
All accepted students must sign the IMLEX student agreement. Non-EU/EEA students without an EMJM scholarship or a full consortium fee waiver must pay the required consortium fees before they can register as a student.
Finland's One Study Place Rule
Under the one study place per term provision, a student may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term. This rule applies to all higher education.
A student also cannot be granted a new right to study resulting in a Master of Science degree in Computer Science if they already have a valid right to study in the degree programme resulting in a Master of Science degree in Computer Science at the University of Eastern Finland.
Find more fully funded study opportunities and scholarships on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the IMLEX Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The scholarship provides €1,400 per month for the entire duration of the study programme, up to 24 months maximum. It also covers participation costs including tuition, library and laboratory costs, full insurance coverage and any other mandatory costs related to participation.
Can students from any country apply for the IMLEX scholarship?
Yes. IMLEX offers full scholarships with a monthly allowance for all nationalities. The scholarships are available for non-EU and EU students, and the total amount is the same for all students.
Is there an application fee for IMLEX?
No. Application fees are not collected from IMLEX applicants, and you submit your application electronically via Studyinfo.
What Bachelor's degrees are accepted for IMLEX?
IMLEX welcomes applicants with a Bachelor's degree, for example in Information Technology, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Electrical or Electronical Engineering, Photonics or a closely related field. The full admission requirements are published on the programme's admission criteria page.
Can I use AI to write my IMLEX motivation letter?
Yes. The programme states that applicants are allowed to use generative AI when making the motivation letter. The letter must still answer the set of questions specified in the admission requirements.
How long can the IMLEX motivation video be?
The motivation video can last a maximum of 2 minutes, and the file can be a maximum of 1 GB. It must answer why you are interested in studying Extended Reality and how your abilities help you to succeed in IMLEX.
What happens if I have not finished my Bachelor's degree yet?
Your admission is conditional if your degree is not completed during the application period. Graduating students must submit their final educational documents by 30 July 2027, or their study right will be cancelled.
How much do students without a scholarship pay?
Non-EU/EEA students without an EMJM scholarship pay a consortium fee of €9,000 per academic year, and the consortium may grant partial or full fee waivers to the best applicants. Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland pay no consortium fees.
When will I know the selection result?
The university informs applicants of their admission results by email in April 2027 at the latest. Admitted EMJM scholarship holders must then confirm their study place within 14 days of receiving the notification.
Deadline
⏳ 13 January 2027
Links
🔗 Apply via Studyinfo: https://opintopolku.fi/konfo/en/koulutus/1.2.246.562.13.00000000000000000777
🖇️ Programme website: https://imlex.org/
🪜 How to apply: https://imlex.org/how-to-apply/
🏷️ Admission criteria: https://imlex.org/how-to-apply/admission-criteria/
🏵️ Student selection: https://imlex.org/how-to-apply/student-selection/
🪙 Fees and scholarships: https://imlex.org/fees-and-scholarships/
📹 Webinar registration: https://uef.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Cpx79cELRuij4UPsbhnzdw#/registration
📑 European Approach report: https://data.deqar.eu/report/140468
