Erasmus Mundus DENSYS 2.0 offers EMJM scholarships that cover the participation costs and pay a monthly allowance of €1,400 for the full 2-year Master's programme. Applications for 2027-2029 close on 27 January 2027 at 6 pm CEST, and the programme is open to applicants around the world. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the programme's home, application and funding pages and collected every rule and tip below.
DENSYS 2.0 at a Glance
🎓 Programme: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Decentralised smart ENergy SYStems
📚 Workload: two years, 120 ECTS
🏫 Consortium: Université de Lorraine (Nancy, France), Royal Institute of Technology KTH (Stockholm, Sweden), Politecnico di Torino (Torino, Italy) and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain)
💶 EMJM scholarship: participation costs covered, plus €1,400 per month for the full 2-year programme
🗓️ Application window for 2027-2029: 12 October 2026 at 8 am CEST to 27 January 2027 at 6 pm CEST
🏅 Double degree: two diplomas at the end of the programme
🎯 Sustainable Development Goals: strongly anchored in SDGs 7, 9 and 13
What Is DENSYS 2.0?
DENSYS 2.0 is a collaborative joint master degree that trains students in the inter-disciplinary field of decentralised smart energy systems, such as isolated villages, small cities, urban districts and rural areas, connected or not to the electric grid. These systems play an increasing role in the massive integration of renewable energy sources and the ongoing transition towards a low carbon society.
DENSYS had its first edition in 2020/2021 as an Erasmus Mundus Masters programme. It was refunded by Erasmus+ and became DENSYS 2.0 in July 2024 for 5 cohorts. In addition to self-paying seats, the programme can offer EMJM scholarships and opportunities for Reduced Participation Costs. If you are new to this type of degree, our guide on what Erasmus Mundus is explains how the joint masters work.
The Objectives of the Programme
🛠️ Top skilled engineers: to educate engineers with multiphysics approaches who can design, size, optimize and operate decentralised smart energy systems, with expertise in the mechanical, aeronautical, chemical and electrical engineering disciplines and a sufficient systemic overview to analyse complex interactions in energy systems.
🔬 Future researchers: to train researchers for both the public and private sectors, as decentralised energy systems still require strong R&D investments at the system scale, the component scale and the elementary mechanisms scale.
🧑 Human and social sciences: to offer a broad opening that gives students a holistic view of energy systems and addresses non-technical issues: impact in the territories, social acceptance, economical issues, new business models and the active role of the consumer/producer.
🤝 International network: to provide students with an international network, a genuine European learning experience and an integrated multicultural and language experience.
The Strategic Directions of DENSYS 2.0
📡 Continued and reinforced emphasis on decentralization of energy
💻 Reinforcing digital skills: twin green-digital transition
🏭 Addressing the Net-Zero target through carbon capture
🌱 Elevated environmental awareness
🧭 Strategic analysis and sustainable innovation pathways
How the Two Years Are Organised
🇫🇷 Semesters 1 and 2: all incoming students start at Université de Lorraine, where they receive the core part of their training.
🔀 Semester 3: carried out in one of the three other institutions (KTH, PoliTo or UPC), with specialization courses that enhance the interdisciplinarity of the degrees.
📝 Semester 4: an independent project reported in the Master's thesis.
The programme's associated partners add two activities. ESADE Business School in Spain organises a summer school dedicated to business and entrepreneurship in energy, and an immersive week at Liège Université (Montefiore Institute) in Belgium offers classes on AI and digitalization for the management of energy systems.
The Two Diplomas You Receive
At the end of the programme, you are awarded the Master Energie parcours "Decentralised Smart Energy System" from Université de Lorraine, France, and one of the following degrees depending on your 3rd semester track:
🇸🇪 Master of Science (Teknologie Masterexamen), KTH, Sweden
🇮🇹 MSc in Energy and Nuclear Engineering (Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Energetica e Nucleare), PoliTo, Italy
🇪🇸 Erasmus Mundus Master in Decentralised Smart Energy Systems, with Thermal Energy Engineering Specialization, UPC, Spain
Choosing Your 3rd Semester Track
The programme has to balance the cohort between the 3 tracks, and every year 3/4 of the applications are for KTH, so competition is noticeably higher for that track. Make your choice on the basis of the track content and be clear about your motivation.
Associated Partners
🏗️ ArcelorMittal, France
🔩 John Cockerill, Belgium
🛢️ snam
🧱 Sener
🌀 Thermofluid Software, Spain
🔆 Southern Light
🌸 Flower
🏛️ University of Liège, Belgium
💼 ESADE Business School, Spain
🗻 ETH Zurich
🧪 Eurac Research
🔗 EERA
How Funding Works: The Four Possible Outcomes
Applying for DENSYS implies two things: applying to the programme and applying for financial support (an EMJM Scholarship or a Reduction of Participation Costs). At the end of the admission board, an applicant is assigned one of these statuses, which can change in the following months depending on the feedback of other students:
🏆 Admitted with an EMJM scholarship, covering the participation costs and a monthly allowance of €1,400 for the full 2-year Master's programme
🎫 Admitted with a partial scholarship, reducing the participation costs, offered upon decision of the admission board for a few students per cohort
🧾 Admitted as a self-funded student
🚪 Not admitted
For EMJM scholarship holders, the participation costs are fully covered by the European Union. For partial scholarship holders and self-funded students, the participation costs to be covered by the student depend on citizenship and on the specialisation track selected. Their travel, housing and living expenses should be covered by the student, with or without the help of another type of scholarship, such as regional or national scholarships, scholarships awarded by the French government in some countries like India, or the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship.
What the Participation Costs Include
✅ Included for the 2 years: the institutional tuition fees, the health and accident insurance, and the participation in all teaching activities of the programme, including lab courses, excursions, visits, the summer schools (one per year) and the immersive week at the University of Liège, Belgium.
❌ Not included: travel, housing and living expenses.
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🌍 All opportunities in France →
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Scholarships for Targeted Regions of the World
EMJM scholarships are available for students from anywhere in the world. In addition, some scholarships are dedicated to students from targeted regions, so applications from the following countries are warmly appreciated (grouped according to the EACEA rules):
🏔️ Region 1, Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro
🌊 Region 3, Neighbourhood South: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia
🏯 Region 5, Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and potentially Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macao, Singapore and Taiwan
🐎 Region 6, Central Asia: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
🏜️ Region 7, Middle East: Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and potentially Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
🏝️ Region 8, Pacific: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and potentially Australia, New Zealand
🦁 Region 9, Sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Congo (Democratic Republic of the), Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
🦙 Region 10, Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela
⛵ Region 11, Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago
The Rule on Previous EMJM Scholarships
Anyone can apply for DENSYS, but an EMJM scholarship cannot be awarded to a candidate who has already received one. Those who have already benefited can still apply as a self-funded student or at a reduction of participation costs.
Degree Requirements
The programme is open to all applicants around the world, and the limited number of places makes admission highly competitive. You need a bachelor's degree or equivalent academic qualifications from an internationally recognized university:
🧲 Degree of bachelor in science
⚙️ Degree of bachelor in engineering
🛩️ Technical degree of bachelor in mechanical or aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering or electrical engineering
🔥 Technical degree of bachelor in energy engineering, where courses in fluid mechanics, applied thermodynamics and heat transfer are required
📐 Other corresponding technical or natural scientific degrees on the first level (180 credits) can also give eligibility, but they must include applied thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, mathematics and numerical methods
These requirements may be assessed as not fulfilled if your average grade (CGPA or equivalent) is lower than 3.0 / 4.0, or if the degree does not qualify for admission to an equivalent Master's level in the country where it is awarded. To convert your CGPA to a 4.0 scale, apply a linear conversion and give 2 numbers after the decimal point.
Bachelor's students in their last year are eligible: the application is open to any applicant holding a Bachelor's degree before enrolment at the University of Lorraine in early September.
English Language Requirements
Every candidate must provide documented knowledge of written and spoken English through one of these certificates:
🖥️ TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL iBT Paper Edition: a score of 92/120 with a minimum of 22 for writing or, for the updated score scale (January 2026), a score of 4.5/6 with a minimum of 4.5/6 for writing
🎧 IELTS Academic: overall band score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 on the writing criterion
📘 Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): minimum grade "C" (B2 First and FCE are not accepted)
Medium of instruction certificates and any other type of certificate, such as Duolingo, are not accepted.
Who Is Exempt From the English Test
A waiver is given to students who were instructed in English during their Bachelor (at least 60 ECTS) from an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the countries in list 1, and to students with a Bachelor's degree from the countries in list 2. In this situation, simply select "Exempt" in the application form, and no supporting document is required.
🗒️ List 1: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, English speaking parts of Canada, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, USA
📋 List 2: Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How Selection Works
The coordinating institution, Université de Lorraine, checks all submitted documents and whether applicants fulfil the admission requirements. Each application is then reviewed and rated by two reviewers from the four academic partners, for a maximum score of 100 points:
🥇 Degree, field of study, marks: maximum 45 points
✉️ Recommendation letters / self-presentation video: maximum 20 points
🚀 Motivation / work experience / professional and academic potential / awards: maximum 25 points
🔤 English language proficiency: maximum 10 points
The Admission Board then places each application on one of the lists: admitted with a conditional EMJM scholarship, admitted with a conditional participation fee reduction but no EMJM scholarship, admitted with a self-funded status, or not admitted. Students are informed by email in early March. Students who are admitted have to confirm their participation. In the previous application cycle, evaluation ran from 27 January to 6 March 2026, and information on admission and funding was issued on 9-11 March 2026.
How Competitive Is DENSYS?
📊 2020: about 300 applications; 21 students enrolled from 11 countries, with CGPAs between 3.4 and 4.0 (average 3.7).
📈 2021: almost 400 applications; 24 students enrolled from 17 countries, with CGPAs between 3.0 and 3.9 (average 3.6).
🔢 2022: about 650 applications; 23 students enrolled from 17 countries.
🧮 2023: about 500 applications; 24 students enrolled from 20 countries.
📉 2024: about 450 applications; 23 students enrolled from 17 countries, with CGPAs between 3.2 and 3.96, including 16 EMJM scholarships and 7 Reductions of Participation Costs.
🏁 2025: about 750 applications; 21 students enrolled from 16 countries with a CGPA higher than 3.3, including 16 EMJM scholarships, 2 Eiffel Scholarships and 3 Reductions of Participation Costs.
Gender Balance in the Admission Process
Since September 2021, the programme has committed to fostering gender balance, to promote equal access to higher education in science and technology and to close the gap in women's participation in the energy transition. The admission process aims to reach the target of 40% of women on the main list. All selected candidates on the main and reserve lists need to pass the selection criteria, and some candidates may be removed from the main list and replaced by the next ranked candidates on the reserve list to comply with the gender ratio target.
The programme also cites International Renewable Energy Agency figures showing that women account for 32% of jobs in renewables, compared with 22% in oil and gas, and its page features testimonies from women students of past cohorts encouraging others to apply.
Documents You Need to Prepare
This list is for information, and the application platform has the final say. You cannot submit if your application is incomplete by the deadline, including the reference letters.
📄 CV in pdf, created with Europass. Our Europass CV guide walks you through it.
💌 Motivation letter, maximum 1 page, font 11pt.
🎥 Self-introduction video of 3 to 5 minutes.
🖋️ Notarised copy of your degree and transcripts from the Bachelor's level. If you have not graduated at application time, a proof of registration in an education programme and the transcripts you already have are sufficient.
🏢 Proof of employment, if relevant.
🗣️ Two reference letters, uploaded by your referees themselves.
🪪 Copy of your ID card or passport.
🏵️ Copy of your English test certificate.
📷 ID or passport photo, meaning a picture you could put on a CV. There are no requirements of any kind on background, color or glasses.
Tips for a Successful Application
💬 Join the Discord server to chat with DENSYS staff and other applicants.
🕰️ Submit early: the application can be completed progressively and submitted far before the deadline. Even after submission, any field or document can be modified, except the contact information of your referees.
🖊️ Motivation letter: address it "To whom it may concern" or to the DENSYS program chair, Prof. Lemoine, and state your motivations and why the Admission Board should select you. Our guide on how to write a scholarship motivation letter can help you structure it.
🎬 Video: explain your goals and motivations for applying. You can be creative, but first make sure you can be heard properly. Share it via a link on the platform of your choice and keep it available with no connection request up to the end of March.
📨 Reference letters: referees can be teachers or work managers, must know you personally and should take time to understand the programme. They receive a link by email from the application platform, so inform them about the process and ask them to check their spam folders. You cannot submit without these letters, and they are the main "last-minute issue" for applicants.
🌐 Language of documents: all documents have to be submitted in English. Degrees and transcripts not in English have to be translated and certified by a notary public or equivalent.
🌟 Experience: mention any valuable experience related to the energy sector, or one that helped you develop technical, communication, leadership or management skills, in the video or motivation letter. You can attach documents to your application.
🗺️ Your nationality: being a national of one of the targeted countries increases your chance to be selected, and due to EACEA regulation, being a national of a Programme country also increases your chance.
📖 Past theses: one of the best ways to know if DENSYS is for you is to look at the Master's thesis booklets, published for 2022 to 2026.
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship Route
In parallel, applications for a France Excellence Eiffel scholarship are open. You can read more about this type of funding in our guide to government scholarships in Europe. To apply through DENSYS:
🖱️ Create an account and an application for DENSYS on eMundus. There is no need to complete it.
🗜️ Send a compressed folder (zip) of pdf documents by email to the DENSYS contact address in the Links section by 27 November 2026 at 6 pm CEST. An acknowledgement will be sent after reception.
🛂 Include a copy of your passport or ID card.
🧷 Include a CV in English, free format, 2 pages max.
🎖️ Include a copy of your degree and a separate certificate of ranking and awards, if any.
🗃️ Include a copy of your transcript for the last 3 years.
📜 Include an English certificate, under the same rules as for DENSYS.
🧳 Include a letter of 1 to 2 pages in English detailing your professional project, explaining your choice to study in France in relation to your previous studies and future professional career.
✒️ Include the signed letter of engagement for the scholarship. An English translation is provided for reference only, and only the French version is accepted.
🌠 Optionally, but recommended, include a free-format letter of recommendation from people outside the institution, such as a company supporting your professional project.
Applications are then reviewed by Université de Lorraine and the DENSYS consortium, and results should be distributed in early April 2027.
Part-Time Work and Living Costs
Part-time work is not forbidden, but during the first year at Université de Lorraine it is in practice not possible: the programme is really demanding, the class schedule changes every week, and it is hard to find a job without speaking French. Student feedback is almost the same for the 3rd semester at PoliTo and UPC, and KTH could be the only exception, although the programme has very little experience on which to base this.
The programme's clear advice is not to rely on a part-time job and to make sure you can afford the programme, including participation costs and other expenses, on your own. Its funding page also publishes a breakdown of the minimal monthly cost of living in each country of the programme, updated in March 2026 based on students' feedback.
Student Agreement, Personal Data and Appeals
📑 Student Agreement: it is signed by the student, the program chair Prof. Fabrice Lemoine and a legal representative of the coordinating institution, Université de Lorraine.
🔒 Personal data: the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), in the context of managing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, collects and processes the personal data of some candidates, including certain data of scholarship holders and non-scholarship holders.
🏷️ Appeals: if you want to appeal the decision of the admission board, a dedicated form is available on the application page.
❓ Other questions: if you cannot find an answer on the website or application platform, double-check and then write through the contact form in the footer of the programme's website.
You can browse more funded master's routes in the scholarships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the DENSYS 2.0 Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The EMJM scholarship covers the participation costs and pays a monthly allowance of €1,400 for the full 2-year Master's programme. The participation costs are fully covered by the European Union for scholarship holders.
When is the DENSYS application deadline?
The application campaign for 2027-2029 opens on 12 October 2026 at 8 am CEST and closes on 27 January 2027 at 6 pm CEST. Your application, including the reference letters, must be complete by the deadline to be submitted.
Is DENSYS open to students from any country?
Yes. The programme is open to all applicants around the world, and EMJM scholarships are available for students from anywhere. Additional scholarships are dedicated to students from targeted regions.
What minimum grade do I need for DENSYS?
The degree requirements may be assessed as not fulfilled if your average grade is lower than 3.0 out of 4.0. Enrolled students in recent cohorts had CGPAs between 3.2 and 3.96 in 2024 and higher than 3.3 in 2025.
Can I apply in the last year of my Bachelor's?
Yes. The application is open to any applicant holding a Bachelor's degree before enrolment at the University of Lorraine in early September. If you have not graduated yet, a proof of registration and the transcripts you already have are sufficient.
Which English tests does DENSYS accept?
The programme accepts TOEFL iBT at 92/120 with at least 22 in writing (or 4.5/6 on the updated scale), IELTS Academic 6.5 with at least 5.5 in writing, and Cambridge CAE or CPE at minimum grade C. Duolingo and medium of instruction certificates are not accepted.
Where will I study on the DENSYS programme?
All students spend the first two semesters at Université de Lorraine in Nancy, France. The third semester takes place at KTH in Sweden, Politecnico di Torino in Italy or UPC in Spain, and the fourth semester is devoted to the Master's thesis project.
Can I apply if I already had an Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
You can apply, but an EMJM scholarship cannot be awarded to a candidate who has already received one. You can still join as a self-funded student or at a reduction of participation costs.
Who uploads the reference letters?
Your two referees upload the letters themselves, using a link sent by email from the application platform. You cannot submit your application without those letters, so inform your referees early and ask them to check their spam folders.
Can I also apply for an Eiffel scholarship through DENSYS?
Yes. Create an account and an application for DENSYS on eMundus, then send the required documents by email by 27 November 2026 at 6 pm CEST. Results should be distributed in early April 2027.
Deadline
⏳ 27 January 2027
Links
🪄 Application platform: https://densys-app.univ-lorraine.fr/
🏠 Programme website: https://densys.univ-lorraine.fr/
📰 Application information: https://densys.univ-lorraine.fr/application/
💳 Fees and scholarships: https://densys.univ-lorraine.fr/fees-and-scholarships/
📧 DENSYS contact (Eiffel applications): densys-contact@univ-lorraine.fr
🔔 Referee emails are sent from: noreply-densys at tchooz dot app
🗞️ Europass CV: https://europa.eu/europass/en/create-europass-cv
🎮 DENSYS Discord server: https://discord.gg/CpYJ38jVqn
🗼 France Excellence Eiffel scholarship: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/the-france-excellence-eiffel-scholarship-program
