How to nail your Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship application

For the ultimate international experience, consider an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree. Since 2004, over 30,000 students from more than 190 countries have been funded by the prestigious, integrated, international study programme, which is jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions.

Besides immersing yourself in a multicultural experience, you stand to be a success story like Divya Mohan. With her Erasmus Mundus programme, she got to travel to Ireland, France and ultimately Sweden, where she now lives as an up and coming food technologist. She’s also the founder of Ooble — plant-based edible straws — a company that combines sustainability with food.

You too can chart inspiring stories like these — the first step is to win the coveted Erasmus Mundus scholarship. Below we take a look at what you should do to be a successful applicant:

Yes, it is entirely possible to win a full-ride master’s programme in not just one European country, but two! Source: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP

First things first. What is the Erasmus Mundus programme all about?

The major objective is the cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education for enhancing the quality of European higher education. Also, it aims to promote the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning and intercultural understanding with third countries. With this in mind, you can take the next step in applying with a clearer structure.

How much funding is provided?

This programme funds the top-ranked master programmes in Europe to enhance the region’s visibility to third-country students. There are 24 prestigious grants available each year.

The grant covers the participation costs, a monthly allowance for living costs, insurance fees and a contribution to travel costs. Each candidate will receive 1,000 euros a month for the duration of their programme. 

I’m not from Europe. Am I eligible?

To apply, you must have a first higher education degree. Students who come from non-EU countries are eligible and for more funding too. For each academic year, you can apply for a maximum of three different joint programmes that are supported by this scholarship. 

That’s cool! Where can I get more details?

The latest programme guide will be your most reliable source for further details. This guide will have the details on joint cooperation activities, individual scholarships and types of grants available along with specific application information.

Any tips on how to apply?

If you’ve done all the above — plus some soul-searching and more independent research — head to your international office or the Erasmus+ office of your higher education institution. It’s recommended that you apply for every scholarship you’re eligible for as you might be the best candidate even if you think you aren’t.

You’ll need two letters of recommendation from your teachers or bosses at work. You’ll also need to submit a letter of motivation of no more than 500 words. 

Another thing you’d need to submit is proof of your English language proficiency and a certificate of residence. One key piece of advice from many Erasmus Mundus alumni is to gain work experience and demonstrate your passions through extracurricular activities.