Erasmus Mundus is the Erasmus+ action whose Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) support high-level integrated transnational study programmes at Master level delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions (HEIs) from different countries worldwide and, where relevant, other educational and/or non-educational partners with specific expertise and interest in the concerned study areas and professional domains. The Erasmus Mundus action aims at fostering excellence and worldwide internationalisation of higher education institutions via study programmes at Master course level jointly delivered and jointly recognised by higher education institutions (HEIs) established in Europe, and open to institutions in other countries of the world. The EMJM aims to enhance the attractiveness and excellence of European higher education in the world and attract talent to Europe, through a combination of institutional academic cooperation to showcase European excellence in higher education, and individual mobility for all students taking part in the EMJM, with EU-funded scholarships for the best students applying. EMJMs are programmes of excellence and should contribute to the integration and internationalisation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and the specificity of EMJMs lies in the high degree of jointness and integration among the participating institutions and the excellence of their academic content. Our guide on what Erasmus+ is explains the wider programme, and how scholarships differ from Erasmus+ grants compares the two kinds of funding.
Last updated: October 2026.
What is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM)?
An EMJM is a high-level integrated transnational study programme at Master level delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions (HEIs) from different countries worldwide and, where relevant, other educational and/or non-educational partners with specific expertise and interest in the concerned study areas and professional domains. Master level in the EMJM means Level 7 of the International Standard Classification of Education ISCED 2011. An EMJM must include compulsory physical mobility for all enrolled students, EMJM scholarship-holders or not, consisting of a minimum of two study periods in two countries, of which at least one must be an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme. The successful completion of the joint EMJM programme must lead to the award of either a joint degree, or multiple degrees, or a combination.
Here is the expected impact at individual level for participating students.
💼 Employability: improve the employability of participating students.
🧠 Skills: improve key competences and skills of students.
🌍 New mind-sets: forge new mind-sets and approaches to academic studies through international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral and intercultural experience.
🤝 Networking: enhance networking and communication capacities of the students.
📚 Contribution to society: increase the individual contribution to the knowledge-based economy and society.
Our guide on Erasmus+ cooperation partnerships covers the other side of Erasmus+ institutional cooperation, and Erasmus+ compared with regular study abroad sets the two routes side by side.
Who can apply to an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master, and what do you need?
An EMJM enrols students at Master level who have obtained a first higher education degree or demonstrate a recognised equivalent level of learning according to national legislation and practices in the degree-awarding countries and institutions. The selection, recruitment and monitoring of individual students fall under the sole responsibility of the EMJM consortium, and student selection must be organised transparently, impartially and equitably. EMJM scholarships can be offered to students from all over the world. Among the students selected by the EMJM consortium, a number may benefit from an EMJM scholarship. In order to guarantee full transparency, and to define the rights and responsibilities of all enrolled students, the enrolled student and the EMJM consortium must sign a Student Agreement upon student enrolment in the programme, and the Student Agreement template must be published on the EMJM's website. Our guide on who can apply to Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps works through the conditions case by case, how to apply for Erasmus+ or ESC takes the steps one by one, and how to write a scholarship motivation letter helps with the part selection panels read first.
What does the Erasmus Mundus scholarship cover?
The scholarship will be a contribution to the costs incurred by the beneficiary students and shall cover travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs.
💶 Maximum scholarship: the maximum scholarship per student is calculated as 1 400 Euros per month for the duration of the Master programme.
🗓️ How it is calculated: the scholarship is calculated on the basis of a monthly unit cost for the entire period needed by the enrolled scholarship holder to complete the study programme, pro-rata of the actual number of days, and the period covers study, research, placement activities, thesis preparation and defence, in line with the requirement of the joint Master.
🎓 Duration: the scholarship is awarded for full-time enrolment, and will cover the entire duration of the Master programme, that is 12 months, 18 months or 24 months, while a reduced duration of the scholarship is applicable in case of recognition of prior learning, with a minimum scholarship duration of one academic year.
⏳ Full award only: during the period needed to complete the study programme, the scholarship can only be awarded in full, and to full-time students.
🚫 No fees: selected projects cannot charge student application fees, and projects cannot charge tuition fees or other mandatory costs related to student participation in the course to Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders.
🩺 Insurance: full insurance coverage for the enrolled students is part of the contribution to the institutional costs of the EMJM, which takes the form of a unit cost per enrolled student.
Our guide on scholarships compared with Erasmus+ grants explains how the two kinds of funding differ, what a fellowship is covers a third kind of award, and government scholarships in Europe lists the national schemes.
How does the mobility work in an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master?
An EMJM must include compulsory physical mobility for all enrolled students, EMJM scholarship-holders or not, consisting of a minimum of two study periods in two countries, of which at least one must be an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme. The two mandatory countries must be different from the country of residence of the student at enrolment stage. Each of the two mandatory study periods must correspond to a workload of at least one academic semester, that is 30 ECTS credits or equivalent. Exceptionally, for study programmes of 60 ECTS credits each of the mandatory study periods can correspond to at least 20 ECTS or equivalent. The rest of the study periods can be freely organised, and all Master programme study periods must take place in full partner HEIs, or under their direct supervision. Compulsory mobility periods cannot be replaced by virtual mobility, that is distance learning. Our guide on getting your learning recognised through ECTS and Youthpass explains how credits travel with you, and Erasmus+ compared with regular study abroad shows what changes when the mobility is built into the degree.
What degree do you get at the end of an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master?
The successful completion of the joint EMJM programme must lead to the award of either a joint degree, or multiple degrees, or a combination.
🎓 Joint degree: one single diploma awarded by at least two HEIs from different countries, of which at least one must be an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme.
📜 Multiple degrees: at least two diplomas awarded by two higher education institutions from different countries, of which at least one must be an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme.
The degrees awarded to graduates must belong to the higher education degree systems of the countries in which the HEIs are based, and the degrees must be mutually recognised by all the awarding full partner HEIs. Consortia should provide students with a joint Diploma Supplement at the end of their studies, covering the entire content of the Master programme. Our guide on getting your learning recognised through ECTS and Youthpass explains how that recognition works, and how to prepare your Europass CVhelps you put the degree to work.
What support is there if you have a disability?
Contribution for individual needs will be used for enrolled students, with or without scholarship, with disabilities, such as long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, and covers needs such as those related to the acquisition of special items or services, for example assistance by third persons, adaptation of work environment, and additional travel and transportation costs. Contribution for individual needs is eligible if it fulfils the general eligibility conditions set in the grant agreement. The support to cover such individual needs of enrolled students will take the form of the following special needs unit costs: EUR 3 000, EUR 4 500, EUR 6 000, EUR 9 500, EUR 13 000, EUR 18 500, EUR 27 500, EUR 35 500, EUR 47 500 and EUR 60 000. Enrolled students will declare what type of items or services are needed and their cost, the applicable unit cost will be identified as the rate corresponding to or immediately lower than the estimated expenses, and the unit cost is a contribution, and is not intended to fully cover the actual costs. Costs below the lowest rate, that is less than EUR 3 000, will not be eligible for additional support and will have to be covered by the contribution to the institutional costs of the EMJM or by other funding sources of the beneficiary institutions. Our guide on inclusion support in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corpsexplains the equivalent support in the youth programmes.
Are there extra Erasmus Mundus scholarships for students from targeted regions of the world?
EMJMs proposed for funding may receive up to 18 additional scholarships, including the corresponding institutional costs, funded by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Global Europe Instrument (NDICI), and up to 2 additional scholarships, including the corresponding institutional costs, funded by the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) for the entire duration of the Master course. The additional scholarships will be allocated to the EMJMs selected for funding according to their ranking in descending order, taking into account the available budget and the Global Gateway priorities for regions 5 and 6 and regions 8 to 11. The funds will have to be used in a geographically balanced way and institutions are encouraged to recruit students in the poorest and least developed third countries not associated to the Programme. In addition, for proposals requesting additional scholarships under Heading 6 for regions 5 and 6 and regions 8 to 11, priority will be given to those addressing at least one of the Global Gateway priorities, namely in the fields of digital, climate and energy, transport, and health. Our guide on opportunities for partner-country and non-EU participants collects the openings outside the EU, and which countries can take part lists the eligible countries.
Frequently asked questions
Can students who have previously obtained an EMJM scholarship apply again?
No, students who have previously obtained an EMJM scholarship are not eligible to apply for an additional scholarship under the EMJM.
Do you pay tuition fees with an Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
No, projects cannot charge tuition fees or other mandatory costs related to student participation in the course to Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders, and selected projects cannot charge student application fees.
Can all the study periods take place in one country?
No, an EMJM must include compulsory physical mobility for all enrolled students, consisting of a minimum of two study periods in two countries, of which at least one must be an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme. The two mandatory countries must be different from the country of residence of the student at enrolment stage.
Can the compulsory mobility be done online?
No, compulsory mobility periods cannot be replaced by virtual mobility, that is distance learning.
What duration does the scholarship cover?
The scholarship is awarded for full-time enrolment, and will cover the entire duration of the Master programme, that is 12 months, 18 months or 24 months. A reduced duration of the scholarship is applicable in case of recognition of prior learning, with a minimum scholarship duration of one academic year.
Can all the scholarships go to candidates of the same nationality?
No, consortia should ensure geographical balance, so no more than 10% of the total number of scholarships awarded during project implementation should be awarded to candidates from the same nationality, and this rule does not apply to top up scholarships for targeted regions of the world, if applicable.
Youth Works Hub links each of these topics to its own page below.
Related pages: scholarships compared with Erasmus+ grants · government scholarships in Europe · how to write a scholarship motivation letter · Erasmus+ compared with regular study abroad · opportunities for partner-country and non-EU participants
👉 Scholarships: youthworkshub.org/category/others
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/category/erasmus-projects
