The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Euroculture offers scholarships of €1,400 per month for 24 months, a full tuition fee waiver and health insurance for its 2027-2029 intake. Scholarship applicants must submit a complete application by 15 January 2027, and applicants of most nationalities are eligible. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the application, fee and scholarship pages and set out every rule below.
Euroculture at a Glance
🎓 Degree: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master, interdisciplinary, for a Humanities and Social Sciences background
⏱️ Length: two years (24 months)
📍 Partner cities: Groningen, Strasbourg, Olomouc, Uppsala, Udine, Kraków and Göttingen
💶 Scholarship: €1,400 per month, €33,600 in total
🧾 Tuition: fully waived for scholarship holders
🩺 Insurance: health insurance included
🚀 Applications opened: 15 October 2026
🗓️ Scholarship deadline: 15 January 2027
🆓 Application fee: none
What Makes an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are international master's programmes jointly designed and delivered by a group of higher education institutions. They involve at least 3 institutions from at least 3 different countries, along with multiple associated partners from the academic and non-academic world. Typically, they include periods of study, research, traineeship, thesis preparation and defence.
The Erasmus Mundus Programme supports European top-quality joint degrees and enhances the visibility and attractiveness of European higher education in third countries. Joint programmes must involve mobility between the institutions of the consortium and lead to the award of recognised joint, double or multiple degrees. For the wider picture, read our guide on how Erasmus Mundus joint masters work.
Euroculture's Funding History
📅 2005: selected by the European Commission among one of the first Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses, with funding from 2006 to 2011
🔁 2011: selected for a second time, covering scholarships for the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 intakes
🏆 2017: selected for a third time as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, covering the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 intakes
🥇 2021: selected for a fourth time, covering the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 intakes
🌟 2026: a successful grant application for a fifth round of funding, allowing scholarships for the 2027-2029, 2028-2030, 2029-2031 and 2030-2032 editions
What the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Covers
These EU-funded scholarships enable selected students from around the world to join the two-year programme with financial support for studies and living expenses. The scholarship provides:
💳 €1,400 per month for living expenses throughout the 24-month programme, which amounts to €33,600 over the full two-year period
🎟️ A full tuition fee waiver, covering the programme's participation costs
🏥 Health insurance during the programme
For scholarship holders, regardless of nationality, all participation fees are waived as part of the scholarship.
Who Can Apply for the Scholarship
Applicants must:
✅ Meet the admission requirements for the Euroculture programme
🏅 Have obtained a first higher education degree, or a recognised equivalent level of learning according to national rules and legislation, by the scholarship application deadline
📂 Submit a complete application within the scholarship application period
Applicants of most nationalities are eligible, with very few exceptions. Applicants must be able to enter the European Union and acquire a study visa with their chosen universities.
Previous Scholarships and Other EU Grants
🚫 You cannot receive this scholarship if you have previously received certain Erasmus Mundus or Erasmus+ scholarships at Joint Master or PhD level, specifically EMJM, EMJMD or PhD-level grants
🟩 Previous Erasmus+ mobility grants for bachelor's or master's studies do not prevent you from applying
🔒 Scholarship recipients cannot receive another EU grant while undertaking their Erasmus Mundus studies
Academic Background You Need
Euroculture is an interdisciplinary master's designed for students with a background in the Humanities and Social Sciences. You must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised and accredited higher education institution in a field relevant to the programme. The Euroculture Board of Admissions assesses your degree during the application stage to ensure it is equivalent in duration, level and quality to a European bachelor's degree.
Relevant academic fields include, but are not limited to:
🌍 International Relations
🇪🇺 European Studies
🏺 History
🎭 Cultural Studies
📖 Literary Studies
👥 Sociology
🗳️ Political Science
🗿 Anthropology
💭 Philosophy
🎨 Liberal Arts with a Humanities profile
📡 Communication and Media Studies
⚖️ International or European Law
📜 Theology
The list is indicative rather than exhaustive. Applicants from other disciplines may also be eligible if their prior studies provide a sufficient basis in arts or social sciences subjects, as the Board reviews the disciplinary content and theoretical foundations of your background rather than the degree title alone.
Degrees Generally Not Considered Eligible
Degrees primarily focused on the following disciplines are generally not considered suitable for admission:
📈 Economics
🧠 Psychology
📋 Management
🍎 Education (teacher training)
🤝 Social Work
💼 Business Administration
🧮 Accounting
🔤 Translation and Interpretation
🧳 Tourism Studies
🔧 Engineering or the exact sciences, including Chemistry, Computer Science, Biology, Physics and Medicine
An exception may be made for multi- or interdisciplinary degrees that include substantial coursework in the Arts and Humanities relevant to Euroculture.
Common Questions About Your Degree
🌐 Is my degree of sufficient quality? The programme recommends consulting Nuffic's overview of international education systems, which shows how qualifications compare with the Dutch education system. The Admissions Board uses similar reference frameworks, but this is a guideline only and the final decision rests with the Board.
🎒 Must my bachelor's be finished? Scholarship applicants must upload proof that the degree has been completed by 15 January. The diploma itself is not required by this date, as an official document confirming completion is sufficient. Self-funded applicants may apply before completing their bachelor's and submit a provisional statement of expected graduation, provided they complete the degree before the programme starts.
🏢 Can work experience compensate for a non-listed degree? No. Professional experience strengthens your overall selection result but cannot compensate for a deficit in the compulsory admission requirements.
🔬 Can a master's degree be a basis for admission? A completed master's equivalent to a European master's in duration, level and quality, covering relevant fields, may provide a valid basis, even if your bachelor's is not directly relevant. A master's you are still enrolled in may not be considered a valid basis until completed.
🔢 Is there a minimum GPA? There is no fixed minimum. However, academic performance, grades and the quality of your academic writing are considered during selection.
────────────────────────────────────────
🌍 All opportunities in Netherlands →
────────────────────────────────────────
English Language Requirements
All applicants must demonstrate sufficient English through an accepted test or qualify for an exemption. Accepted results are:
📝 IELTS Academic: overall 6.5, with no section below 6.5
💻 TOEFL iBT before 2026: overall 93. Internet-based tests, such as TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, are also accepted.
🖥️ TOEFL iBT after 2026: no section below 5.0
🏵️ Cambridge CAE or CPE: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, with results no older than 5 years. Only CAE and CPE are accepted.
🧪 Pearson PTE Academic: minimum overall 71 with no less than 61 for writing, with results no older than two years
🔖 LanguageCert Academic: minimum overall 75, with results no older than two years. This test is not recognised at Uppsala Universitet.
Exemptions From the English Test
You may be exempt if you completed a bachelor's or master's degree taught entirely in English, or one full year of continuous university-level study (60 ECTS or equivalent) in a country where English is the primary official language. You must upload documentary proof, such as a statement on the medium of instruction (MOI), or a transcript, diploma or other statement from a faculty official explicitly stating the language of instruction. Additional requirements may apply depending on your first-choice university and the country where your degree was awarded.
The programme is strict on these points:
🛑 Results from providers not listed are not accepted, and the dossier is then considered incomplete
🗣️ Native speakers also need a test result or a study-based exemption, because nationality alone does not qualify you
🪙 The test requirement cannot be waived for financial reasons
Proving You Are Ready for Academic Writing
You must show readiness for academic writing at master's level, meaning your ability to develop a scholarly argument, engage with sources and present ideas in a clear, structured way. You must have completed an academic writing assignment during your previous studies, and you may submit an existing piece of work such as a bachelor's thesis, seminar paper or research essay of at least 2,000 words.
What the Writing Sample Must Contain
❓ A research question or central claim
🧱 A clearly structured argument
🔎 An explanation of sources and methods
🏁 A conclusion summarising findings
📚 A bibliography
Rules for the Writing Sample
🗃️ Submit the work exactly as it was at the time of assessment, without revisions made afterwards
🌐 Submissions in any language are accepted, preferably the language used for your bachelor's instruction
👫 For group projects, clearly identify which sections you personally wrote
🤖 Declare any AI tools you used when preparing the original work
🇬🇧 If the work is not in English, also include a structured English summary, the original table of contents and the original bibliography
⚠️ Without a document in this category, your application may not be considered
How to Strengthen Your Application
These are additional selection criteria, not compulsory requirements:
✈️ International study, work or mobility experience
🛠️ Relevant professional experience or internships
🈯 Knowledge of languages other than English
🎪 Extracurricular activities and engagement
🧭 Proof of your ability to work in international, interdisciplinary and intercultural environments
Online activities, such as summer or winter schools and conferences, are also accepted if you can provide proof of participation. There are no fixed criteria for qualifying internships or experiences, as the Board is particularly interested in how they relate to your motivation for studying Euroculture. Without extracurricular experience you may still be admitted if you meet the minimum criteria and spaces are available, although your overall ranking may be affected.
Documents You Must Prepare
All applicants follow the same procedure and need:
🎓 Bachelor's degree certificate and any additional degree certificates (.pdf). Documents not in English require certified English translations.
🧾 Academic transcripts: official records of courses and grades, including the duration of your studies, as complete as possible at the time of application (.pdf)
🗨️ Proof of English: an accepted test result or evidence of exemption (.pdf)
✏️ Academic writing sample (.pdf)
📇 Curriculum vitae: an English-language overview of your education, work experience and relevant activities (.pdf). It can follow the Europass format, but other clear and concise formats are acceptable, and the CV should focus on experiences relevant to the programme.
🛂 Passport or national identity card: a clear scan of a valid document (.png or .jpeg)
📸 Passport-sized photograph: a recent digital photo (.png or .jpeg)
👤 Two references: contact details only, with no upload needed
The identification image and photograph are not used for promotional purposes or shared with third parties.
How References Work
You provide the contact details of two referees in your online application:
🏫 First referee: an academic referee, such as a professor or lecturer who supervised your university-level work
🗂️ Second referee: another academic referee or a professional referee, such as an employer, supervisor or placement coordinator
After you submit, the Euroculture Secretariat invites your referees to complete a short online questionnaire about your academic, professional and personal competencies. They must respond within two working weeks of your submission. You do not need to upload signed recommendation letters.
Two academic references are fine, but two professional references are not, as at least one reflection from a university context is required. A referee who no longer works at the organisation can still be submitted. Verify the email addresses you enter, inform your referees beforehand and follow up with reminders, because your application remains incomplete until both have responded.
Key Dates for the 2027-2029 Intake
🟢 15 October 2026: applications open
🔴 15 January 2027: Erasmus Mundus scholarship application deadline
📣 End of March 2027: scholarship results communicated
🔄 End of March 2027: self-funded application evaluations begin
🛫 1 May 2027: recommended deadline for self-funded non-EU/EEA passport holders, with rolling assessment for later submissions
🗺️ 1 June 2027: recommended deadline for self-funded EU/EEA passport holders, with rolling assessment for later submissions
Why Applying Early Matters
Applying before 1 May 2027 gives you sufficient time to enrol at any university in the consortium. After that date, EU/EEA passport holders should apply at least two months before the semester starts, and non-EU/EEA passport holders at least five months before, to register and arrange a study visa. Your chosen university will assist you with this process.
EU/EEA passport holders should also apply early for the best chance of being placed with their most-preferred university. After 1 June 2027 you can still apply, but it can no longer be guaranteed that your chosen university will register you in time, and the Consortium Secretariat can tell you which universities are still available.
When Each Partner Starts the Semester
Dates are approximate and differ from year to year:
🌷 Groningen: 1 September
🥨 Strasbourg: 1 September
🏰 Olomouc: 1 September
❄️ Uppsala: 1 September
🍝 Udine: 15 September
🐉 Kraków: 1 October
🌆 Göttingen: 15 October
Participation Fees for Self-Funded Students
Students pay fees directly to the Euroculture Consortium, and the same fees apply regardless of which universities they attend. For the 2027-2029 intake:
🇪🇺 EU/EEA passport holders with the standard Consortium Waiver: €1,875 per semester (€7,500 for the entire programme)
🏷️ EU/EEA passport holders without the waiver: €2,000 per semester (€10,000 for the entire programme)
🌏 Non-EU/EEA passport holders: €5,000 per semester, including health insurance (€20,000 for the entire programme). Non-EU/EEA nationals cannot apply for the Consortium Waiver.
AON ICS Complete insurance is included for all students. The waiver reduces the overall fee by €2,500 and is applied by default to EU/EEA students, except those receiving a full scholarship covering living costs from sources other than Erasmus Mundus. Study loans are not considered a scholarship, and partial subsidies or government grants do not disqualify you.
What the Participation Fees Include
🪪 All registration fees and administrative costs at attended universities, with registration matters handled by the consortium
🏫 Full access to study facilities, including libraries, study support services and other student benefits
🏘️ Additional support from the Consortium Secretariat with housing, registration and practical matters
📃 Joint diploma recognition from your chosen combination of degree-awarding universities, expressed as one Joint Degree or two separate certificates depending on EU member state legislation
🖊️ Joint thesis supervision, with a supervisor assigned by each of your two universities
🎯 The Euroculture Intensive Programme, including organisational costs, activities and some meals, although travel to it is not covered
🛡️ Insurance, as health insurance offered by the consortium is obligatory for all students under EMJM regulations
What the Fees Do Not Include
Required literature, accommodation at any Euroculture university, travel costs and fieldwork-related costs are not included. No support payments for month-to-month living are provided to non-scholarship holders.
Alternative Funding for Students Without the Scholarship
The programme highlights these sources, noting that the list is not exhaustive and that exceptions, deadlines and conditions may apply. Other resources might be available depending on your personal circumstances, and the programme advises contacting the coordinator of your preferred university about living costs, programme costs and additional financing. Our guide on how an Erasmus+ study grant differs from a scholarship explains the difference.
🎫 Tuition fee waiver: €2,500, by default for EU/EEA passport holders without a full scholarship from another source
🚌 Erasmus+ mobility grant: approximately €1,000, offered through your chosen university, even if you already took part in Erasmus+ during your bachelor's
🏗️ Erasmus+ placement grant: approximately €1,500, offered through your chosen university, and possible in addition to the Erasmus+ grant in the second semester
🌐 Consortium third country mobility grant: around €1,000, varying by chosen university
Student Loans
The Erasmus+ Master Loan is a loan system with very good conditions for EU students, provided by the European Commission. It is available only in some banks, with limits on the destination country or country of nationality:
🇪🇸 MicroBank: outgoing and incoming students from Spain
🇫🇷 Banque Populaire / Caisse d'Epargne: outgoing and incoming students from or to France
🇬🇧 Future Finance: outgoing and incoming students from or to the UK
🇹🇷 Finansbank: outgoing students from Türkiye only
A scholarship portal also finds funding based on your nationality and the country of the university that accepted you.
Erasmus Mundus Mobility Grants for Scholars
Mobility grants may, in select cases, be awarded to (PhD) scholars enrolled in third-country institutions selected by the consortium to contribute to the joint programme. The consortium asks people not to send unsolicited funding requests.
How to Apply, Step by Step
There is one procedure for everyone, whether you are applying for the scholarship or as a self-funded candidate. The steps are:
1️⃣ Check your deadline: 15 January 2027 for scholarship applicants
2️⃣ Prepare your documents in the file formats listed above
3️⃣ Identify your two references and inform them
4️⃣ Submit through the Euroculture Online Application Tool (OAT). Create an account, which allows you to save your application and return later to make updates, and upload all required documents through the platform.
5️⃣ Complete your interview if shortlisted. It lasts approximately 10 minutes with a representative of the Board of Admissions and covers your motivation, academic work, and personal and professional competencies. Successful completion is required before admission or selection for a scholarship.
6️⃣ Receive your results: scholarship results are expected by the end of March 2027, and self-funded applications are considered on a rolling basis from the end of March 2027
How Selection Works
The Euroculture Board of Admissions is made up of representatives from all degree-awarding institutions in the programme. It decides whether you are eligible for admission and whether you will be awarded a scholarship, if you applied before the deadline, based on jointly approved selection criteria. Eligible applications are evaluated on your academic background, application materials, references and an interview for shortlisted candidates.
Before You Contact the Secretariat, and Using AI
You are expected to read the published information, including deadlines, eligibility criteria, required documents and language requirements, before sending enquiries. The team clarifies genuine uncertainties not addressed by that information, but cannot individually confirm what is already clearly stated.
AI tools can help you navigate information, but they may misinterpret, overlook or reproduce outdated details. If you use AI to prepare your application, you remain responsible for consulting the official website and guidelines and ensuring that your understanding is accurate.
How Your Data May Be Used
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 Erasmus programmes, managing projects and producing statistics. It could be made available to the Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the European Commission, European External Action Service staff, and other stakeholders such as Erasmus+ National Agencies, National Erasmus+ Offices and the Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association.
Find more funded master's programmes like this one in the scholarships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Euroculture Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The scholarship pays €1,400 per month for the 24 months of the programme, which amounts to €33,600. It also includes a full tuition fee waiver and health insurance.
What is the Euroculture scholarship deadline?
A complete application must be submitted by 15 January 2027 to be considered for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship. Results are expected by the end of March 2027.
Which nationalities can apply?
Applicants of most nationalities are eligible, with very few exceptions. You must also be able to enter the European Union and acquire a study visa with your chosen universities.
Can I apply before finishing my bachelor's degree?
Scholarship applicants must upload proof by 15 January that the degree has been completed, although the diploma itself is not required by then. Self-funded applicants may apply before graduating with a provisional statement, provided they graduate before the programme starts.
Does Euroculture accept an economics or psychology degree?
Degrees primarily focused on economics, psychology and similar listed disciplines are generally not considered suitable. An exception may be made for multi- or interdisciplinary degrees with substantial relevant coursework in the Arts and Humanities.
Which English score do I need for Euroculture?
You need IELTS Academic 6.5 with no section below 6.5, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT 93 for tests before 2026, Cambridge CAE or CPE, PTE Academic 71 with at least 61 in writing, or LanguageCert Academic 75. An exemption is possible if you studied entirely in English or completed a full year of study in a mainly English-speaking country.
Do I need recommendation letters?
No signed letters are needed. You provide the contact details of two referees, at least one of them academic, and they complete a short online questionnaire within two working weeks of your submission.
Is there an application fee?
No. Euroculture does not charge any application fees.
Is there an interview?
Shortlisted applicants have an interview of approximately 10 minutes with a representative of the Board of Admissions. Successful completion is required before admission or selection for a scholarship.
Can I join Euroculture without the scholarship?
Yes. Applicants without Erasmus Mundus funding may join as self-funded students, subject to admission and the applicable deadlines. Fees for the entire programme are €7,500 with the Consortium Waiver for EU/EEA passport holders and €20,000 for non-EU/EEA passport holders.
Deadline
⏳ 15 January 2027
Links
🔗 Euroculture Online Application Tool: https://fd13.formdesk.com/rug/oat_main
🖇️ How to apply: https://www.euroculturemaster.eu/how-to-apply-1
🏵️ Erasmus Mundus scholarship: https://www.euroculturemaster.eu/erasmus-mundus-scholarship
🏷️ Tuition fees and funding: https://www.euroculturemaster.eu/tuition-fees
🖱️ Online application tool page: https://www.euroculturemaster.eu/online-application-tool
📩 Euroculture Consortium Secretariat email: euroculture@rug.nl
