Erasmus Mundus Scholarships: Amount, Eligibility and How to Apply for 2027

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) are master's programmes run by consortia of at least three universities in different countries, and students study in at least two of them. The EU funds full scholarships for the best-ranked applicants: no tuition fees are charged, and €1,400 (about $1,582) a month is paid for the whole programme to cover travel, visa, installation and living costs — up to €33,600 (about $37,960) for two years. Russian and Kazakh citizens can apply: the scholarships are open to students from any country, and the Russia-related restriction applies only to organisations, which means Russian universities cannot be consortium members. You apply directly to the consortium, usually between October and January in the year before the course starts; for programmes beginning in September 2027, applications run from autumn 2026 to winter 2027.

Erasmus Mundus versus an Erasmus+ exchange

Erasmus+ is the EU's umbrella programme for education, youth and sport. It includes exchanges, where a student spends a semester at a European university under an agreement with the home university, and Erasmus Mundus, which consists of full master's degrees with their own admissions.

An EMJM consortium includes at least three universities from three countries, at least two of them in EU member states or countries associated with the programme. Graduates receive a joint degree issued on behalf of several universities, or multiple degrees. Searches for "Erasmus Mundus for bachelor's" reflect a common confusion: there is no bachelor's level in Erasmus Mundus. For other government and university awards at master's level, see our overview of scholarships abroad in 2026.

What the scholarship covers

The amount is calculated per month of the programme, including placements, thesis work and the defence. Under the 2026 Programme Guide, the scholarship is a contribution to the student's travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs; the current rules contain no separate travel or installation allowance.

Other points worth knowing:

• Tuition. Consortia may not charge scholarship holders tuition or other mandatory participation costs, nor may they charge application fees.
• Insurance. Full insurance coverage for enrolled students is paid from the consortium's institutional share of the grant.
• Students with disabilities can receive additional support for individual needs.
• Without a scholarship. Admitted self-funded students pay the consortium's participation fee and cover their own living costs; each programme publishes its rates.

Whether €1,400 is enough depends on the cities: rents within one consortium can differ several times over. Budget city by city for each semester before you choose.

Who can apply: rules for Russian and Kazakh citizens

Education. You need a first degree (a bachelor's), or to be in your final year and graduate before the master's begins. An equivalent level of learning also counts if it is officially recognised under the rules of the countries whose universities award the Erasmus Mundus degree. Whether a Russian bachelor's or specialist diploma meets this bar is checked by the consortium, which also sets the subject and grade requirements.

Nationality. The rules state that EMJM scholarships can be offered to students from all over the world. The restriction for Russia is of a different kind: organisations from Russia and Belarus are not eligible to participate in this action, so a Russian university cannot be a consortium member. A Russian citizen applies as an ordinary candidate from a non-associated third country. In the Programme Guide, Russia is listed as its own Region 4, and Kazakhstan sits in Region 6, Central Asia.

Limits. If you have already held an EMJM scholarship, you cannot receive another. Consortia must keep a geographical balance: no more than 10% of all scholarships over the project may go to candidates of one nationality. For Russian applicants, that means competing within their own country's share as well as on merit.

EU restrictive measures. The Programme Guide refers to EU sanctions rules; these apply to individuals and entities on sanctions lists, not to Russian citizens in general.

Kazakhstan. Kazakh citizens apply on the same terms. The National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan runs information sessions and publishes recordings of past events.

Choosing a programme

The EACEA catalogue is updated every year. Not every programme in it offers EU scholarships for your intake: some have used up their EU funding cycle, while others keep the Erasmus Mundus label for a few editions after the grant ends and can offer only the consortium's own fee waivers. For instance, the EGEI economics master's (University of Bari) announced six tuition-only scholarships for 2026/27 rather than standard EMJM scholarships.

Before you apply, answer five questions for each programme:

1. Are EMJM scholarships available for the 2027 intake, and how many? The programme website, not the catalogue, gives the answer.
2. What is the scholarship deadline? Many programmes have an early deadline for scholarship applicants and a later one for self-funded students.
3. Does your bachelor's match the profile? An economics master's may reject a political science graduate without economics credits.
4. What English level is required? EGEI, for example, asked for TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 6.5; other programmes ask for 7.0 or more.
5. Which countries host each semester? That determines visas, living costs and the language of daily life.

Country-specific context is in our guides to master's degrees in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

Deadlines for 2027/28

EACEA's general guidance is that most programmes accept applications between October and January for courses starting the following September. Each consortium publishes its exact dates.

On 16 July 2026 the EU selected 37 new Erasmus Mundus masters, including programmes in medical image analysis, semiconductors, law and artificial intelligence, infectious diseases and animation. The catalogue will list them, and their first application rounds run this autumn and winter for entry in September 2027. New programmes have no graduates yet, so judge them by the consortium members and the curriculum.

Documents and language

A typical application includes:

• your bachelor's degree or a final-year letter, plus transcripts, with certified English translations;
• a CV (Europass format is often requested);
• a motivation letter tailored to the programme;
• two references;
• a language certificate;
• a passport copy, sometimes a portfolio or a research paper.

The language test is the main bottleneck for Russian applicants: PTE Academic and Cambridge exams are not currently delivered in Russia, other international tests usually mean a trip abroad too, and the result is needed by the early deadline. See our guides to PTE Academic and Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced for where to sit them and how long results take. The Duolingo English Test can be taken at home, but not every consortium accepts it.

After admission: points for Russian citizens

• Visa. You need a national student visa for the first study country and then residence permits for the following ones. The Programme Guide lists visa support among the common services consortia offer students, but the consulate decides on the visa.
• Timing. Allow more time for a visa from Russia than the programme's letter suggests, and request your admission letter as soon as results are out.
• Scholarship payments. Ask the consortium how and from which month the scholarship is paid, and whether you need a European bank account. Legal ways to cover first expenses and fees are in our guide on how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
• General rules for Russian citizens going abroad to study are collected in our guide to studying abroad as a Russian citizen.

Timeline for the 2027 intake

1. October 2026. Shortlist 3–5 programmes and check scholarships, deadlines and requirements on their websites.
2. October–November. Take an English test abroad with time to spare before the first deadline.
3. November. Order translations of your degree and transcripts and line up your referees.
4. November–December. Write a separate motivation letter for each programme.
5. December–February. Apply before the scholarship deadlines, not the later ones.
6. March–April 2027. Attend interviews if invited and reply to offers on time.
7. May–August. Visa, housing, insurance documents and the move.

Common mistakes

• Relying on the catalogue alone. Only the programme website confirms scholarships for your intake.
• Applying by the late deadline. It is usually meant for self-funded students.
• Expecting separate travel money. Under current rules everything is covered by the €1,400 monthly amount.
• Believing you may apply to no more than three programmes. The 2026 Programme Guide sets no such limit for students, although a consortium may have its own rules — read each programme's conditions.
• Sending one letter to every programme. Committees spot templates and value a clear link to the specific consortium.
• Leaving the English test too late. From Russia it must be taken abroad, and results are needed by the early deadline.

FAQ

Sources

• Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — rules, €1,400 monthly scholarship, no tuition, 10% rule, exclusion of organisations from Russia and Belarus — checked 02.10.2026
• Erasmus+ Programme Guide: eligible countries and regions — checked 02.10.2026
• Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters for students — requirements and timing — checked 02.10.2026
• EACEA: Erasmus Mundus catalogue — checked 02.10.2026
• Erasmus+: 87 Erasmus Mundus projects selected in the 2026 call, including 37 new masters (16.07.2026) — checked 02.10.2026
• National Erasmus+ Office Kazakhstan: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — checked 02.10.2026
• MAIA (University of Girona): 2027 admissions, EGEI (University of Bari): 2026/27 admissions — checked 02.10.2026
• Exchange rate: ECB reference rate for 01.10.2026, EUR 1 = USD 1.1298; amounts rounded to $10.

If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the programme consortium decides on the scholarship.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.