Erasmus Mundus is one of the most prestigious opportunities in the whole Erasmus+ programme: a fully-funded international master's degree where you study in at least two countries, earn a joint or multiple degree, and receive a scholarship that covers your living costs, travel, and more. It is competitive, it is world-class, and it is open to students from anywhere on the planet. This complete guide explains exactly what Erasmus Mundus is, how the scholarship works, who can apply, and how to find and win a place, with every figure taken directly from the official Erasmus+ Programme Guide.
What Is Erasmus Mundus? A Quick Definition 🌍
Erasmus Mundus funds integrated, international master's programmes delivered jointly by a group of universities from different countries. Instead of studying your whole master's at one university, you study across several, following a single shared curriculum, and graduate with a degree recognised across all of them. Its purpose is to promote excellence and the international reach of European higher education, and to give talented students a genuinely European, multi-country study experience with a scholarship attached.
In short: it is a top-tier, multi-country master's degree with a full EU scholarship, not a semester exchange.
Where Erasmus Mundus Sits Within Erasmus+ 🧭
Erasmus Mundus is an action under Erasmus+ Key Action 2 (Cooperation among organisations and institutions). While most youth-focused parts of Erasmus+ deal with short mobilities and exchanges, Erasmus Mundus operates at master's-degree level and is managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). It is delivered by consortia of universities that apply for EU funding to run these joint programmes.
The Two Components: Joint Masters (EMJM) vs Design Measures (EMDM) 🔍
Erasmus Mundus has two parts, and only one of them concerns students directly:
🔹 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM): the student-facing one, a fully-funded joint master's programme with scholarships. This is what almost everyone means by "Erasmus Mundus"
🔹 Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM): funding for universities to design new joint master's programmes. It carries no student scholarships and students do not apply to it
The rest of this guide focuses on the EMJM, the one you can apply to as a student.
What Is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM)? 🎓
An EMJM is a master's programme delivered by an international consortium of at least three universities from three different countries, at least two of which are EU Member States or countries associated to the programme. The universities share one integrated curriculum, jointly select students, and jointly award the qualification. Because it is a genuine partnership rather than a single-university course, you experience different academic cultures and teaching styles as part of one coherent degree.
How an Erasmus Mundus Master Is Structured ⏳
The structure is fixed by the programme rules:
🔹 Duration: 12, 18, or 24 months, equal to 60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits (one to two academic years)
🔹 Mandatory mobility: every student studies in at least two different countries, so moving between partner universities is compulsory, not optional
🔹 The degree: you receive either a joint degree (a single diploma issued by two or more universities together) or multiple degrees (separate diplomas from universities in different countries)
Full-time enrolment is required, and the scholarship covers the whole programme.
The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship: What It Covers and How Much 💶
This is the part that makes Erasmus Mundus stand out. According to the official Erasmus+ Programme Guide, the student scholarship is:
🔹 1,400 EUR per month, for the full duration of the master's programme
This single monthly amount is designed to cover your travel, visa, installation, and subsistence (living) costs. It is one flat, all-inclusive figure paid to scholarship holders, regardless of nationality. Over a 24-month programme that adds up to a substantial amount of support. On top of the student scholarship, the EU pays the consortium a separate institutional contribution to run the programme, and provides full insurance coverage for enrolled students, plus extra support for students with disabilities or special needs.
⚠️ Note: this 1,400 EUR/month figure is the current rate in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide. You may still see older pages online quoting a lower monthly amount plus separate travel and installation payments, that was the pre-2021 scheme and no longer applies.
Scholarship-Holders vs Self-Funded Students 🎫
Not everyone admitted to an EMJM receives a scholarship. Consortia admit both:
🔹 Scholarship holders: the best-ranked applicants, who receive the full 1,400 EUR/month scholarship
🔹 Self-funded (fee-paying) students: admitted to the same programme but paying their own way
This is a crucial distinction: being admitted is not the same as being awarded a scholarship. The scholarships go to the top candidates in the selection, so a strong application matters enormously.
Extra Scholarships for Students From Specific World Regions 🌐
Beyond the standard scholarships, some EMJMs receive additional scholarships targeted at students from specific regions of the world, funded through the EU's external cooperation instruments. These are designed to widen access for candidates from particular parts of the globe, and they are not subject to the usual nationality-balance limit. Whether a programme offers them depends on the individual EMJM, so always check each programme's scholarship details.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Explained 👥
Erasmus Mundus is genuinely global and open:
🔹 Open to students worldwide, from both EU and non-EU countries
🔹 You must hold a first higher-education (Bachelor's) degree, or be in your final year and graduate before the master's begins
🔹 No age limit applies
🔹 You cannot have already received an EMJM scholarship before
🔹 Consortia keep geographical balance, so no more than 10% of scholarships go to candidates of the same nationality (this does not apply to the targeted-region scholarships)
🔹 Language requirements are set by each programme, usually proof of English, sometimes another language
For a wider view of eligibility across EU programmes, see who can apply, and check where you can study in our eligible countries guide.
How to Apply: The Catalogue and Consortium Applications 📝
There is no single, central EU application for Erasmus Mundus. Instead:
🔹 You browse programmes in the official Erasmus Mundus Catalogue and choose the ones that fit your field
🔹 You apply directly to each programme's consortium, following its own admission process
🔹 Each programme sets its own criteria, its own required documents, and its own deadline
Typical documents include your transcripts and degree, a CV, a motivation letter, recommendation letters, a language certificate, and your passport. A polished, recognised CV helps, and our guide on how to prepare your Europass CV walks you through it, while our application tips help your whole application stand out.
Deadlines and the Application Timeline 📅
Because each consortium runs its own admissions, deadlines vary from programme to programme. As a general pattern, applications for programmes starting the following academic year typically open in autumn and close over winter (often around October to January), well ahead of the start date. Apply early, and never rely on a single programme, check each one's exact deadline and give yourself time to gather documents and references.
How Competitive Is It? Admission vs Winning a Scholarship 🏆
Erasmus Mundus is highly competitive and merit-based. Popular programmes attract far more applicants than there are places, and even more than there are scholarships. Remember the two-step reality: first you must be admitted to the programme, then you compete to be awarded a scholarship among those admitted. The number of scholarships per programme is capped, so a focused, high-quality application, with a motivation letter that shows exactly why you fit that specific programme, is what makes the difference.
Benefits, Recognition, and the Alumni Network 🌟
An Erasmus Mundus master is more than a funded degree:
🔹 A jointly recognised qualification from top universities across several countries
🔹 A genuinely international network of classmates and academics
🔹 A strong signal to employers of independence, adaptability, and academic excellence
🔹 Access to the Erasmus Mundus Association, a global alumni community that supports graduates long after they finish
For many students it is a launchpad into international careers and research.
Common Confusions Cleared Up 💡
A few things trip people up:
🔹 Erasmus Mundus vs a regular Erasmus+ exchange: Erasmus Mundus is a full master's degree with a scholarship, not a semester abroad within your home degree
🔹 Joint degree vs multiple degree: a joint degree is one diploma issued by several universities together, while multiple degrees are separate diplomas from each
🔹 Admission vs scholarship: getting into a programme does not automatically mean you get the money, they are two separate outcomes
🔹 EMJM vs EMDM: students apply to Joint Masters (EMJM), not to Design Measures (EMDM), which is only for universities
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
What is Erasmus Mundus?
Erasmus Mundus is an Erasmus+ action that funds prestigious, international joint master's programmes delivered by consortia of universities in different countries. Students study in at least two countries, earn a joint or multiple degree, and the best-ranked applicants receive a full scholarship.
How much is the Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The scholarship is 1,400 EUR per month for the full duration of the master's, which covers travel, visa, installation, and living costs. There is also full insurance coverage, and extra support for students with special needs.
Who can apply for Erasmus Mundus?
Students from anywhere in the world who hold a Bachelor's degree (or will finish it before the master's starts). There is no age limit, but you cannot have already received an EMJM scholarship.
How do I apply?
There is no central application. You find programmes in the official Erasmus Mundus Catalogue and apply directly to each consortium, following its own criteria and deadline.
Is it hard to get?
Yes, it is highly competitive and merit-based. You must first be admitted to the programme, then compete for a limited number of scholarships among those admitted, so a strong, tailored application is essential.
How long does an Erasmus Mundus master last?
It lasts 12, 18, or 24 months, equal to 60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits, with mandatory study in at least two different countries.
In Short 💙
Erasmus Mundus is the EU's flagship, fully-funded joint master's scheme: study across several countries, earn an internationally recognised degree, and receive a 1,400 EUR per month scholarship covering your travel and living costs. It is open to students worldwide with a Bachelor's degree and no age limit, but it is highly competitive, and being admitted is not the same as winning a scholarship. Find your programme in the official catalogue, apply directly, and put everything into a standout application.
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