Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are one- to two-year Master’s programmes run jointly by groups of universities in Europe and sometimes beyond. The European Union funds them through Erasmus+ and lets them award full scholarships to the best-ranked applicants, whatever their nationality. South Africans compete on the same footing as every other applicant. There is no central application: you choose a programme from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency’s Erasmus Mundus Catalogue and apply to the group of universities, called a consortium, that runs it.

According to the European Commission, most programmes accept applications between October and January for courses starting the following academic year. Each consortium sets its own dates, entry requirements and scholarship rules on its own website, so there is no single closing date.

Several countries, one degree programme

Every Joint Master is delivered by at least three higher education institutions in at least three countries, at least two of them in EU member states or countries associated with Erasmus+. Students usually move between campuses during the programme. Courses carry 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits and typically include study, research, a traineeship, and a thesis with its defence. Graduates receive either one joint degree certificate issued on behalf of at least two universities, or separate degrees from at least two universities in the consortium. The Commission says almost 50,000 students have taken part since 2004.

The catalogue is updated every year as new programmes are selected. Not every listed programme still offers Erasmus Mundus scholarships. EACEA notes that some are at the end of their funding period and others may use the Erasmus Mundus name for a time after EU funding has ended. Check each programme’s site for scholarship availability before you apply.

What a full Erasmus Mundus scholarship pays

The Erasmus+ Programme Guide sets the scholarship at up to €1,400 a month for the full length of the programme (12, 18 or 24 months). It contributes to travel, visa, settling-in and living costs, and it covers study, research, placement and thesis periods. Scholarships go only to full-time students and are paid in full, never as partial awards. The Guide also protects scholarship holders on costs:

• Funded programmes may not charge application fees to any applicant.
• They may not charge scholarship holders tuition fees or other compulsory participation costs.
• The consortium’s institutional funding pays for full insurance cover for enrolled students and for help finding accommodation.
• Students with disabilities, with or without a scholarship, can receive extra support for specific items or services, in set amounts from €3,000 to €60,000.

The fee ban protects only scholarship holders. The Commission notes that each programme website sets out the application steps both with and without a scholarship, so self-funded places exist on many programmes, and those students may be charged fees.

Rules that affect South African applicants

• Degree timing. You need a bachelor’s degree, or must be in your final year and graduate before the Master’s starts. An officially recognised equivalent level of learning is also accepted.
• One scholarship per person. Anyone who has already held an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship cannot receive another.
• Nationality cap. A consortium may give no more than 10% of its scholarships over the life of its grant to candidates of one nationality, so no country can dominate a programme’s intake.
• Extra places for Sub-Saharan Africa. Consortia can apply for up to 18 additional scholarships funded by the EU’s external action budget. Sub-Saharan Africa has an indicative 27% share of that budget, with priority for least developed countries.

Choosing and applying to a programme

1. Search the catalogue by field. Current programmes include multilingualism and cultural diversity, sustainable transportation and electric power systems, sports ethics and integrity, journalism, earthen architecture, and cybersecurity.
2. Open the programme’s own website for entry requirements, the language certificate it needs, the documents it asks for and its deadline. Contact the consortium directly with questions.
3. Apply through that consortium’s online system and state that you want to be considered for a scholarship. One application usually covers admission and the scholarship.

The Erasmus Mundus Association, an alumni body linked from the Erasmus+ student page, publishes course contacts and stories from successful applicants. EACEA warns of fake adverts and says EU scholarships are never granted in exchange for a fee. Ignore anyone who asks you to pay to be selected.

If you are comparing single-country options, see our Chevening Scholarship page for the UK. Funding for Master’s study at home is on the postgraduate bursaries list.

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