Erasmus Mundus scholarship: 12 questions answered from the official rules

Erasmus Mundus has a reputation problem. The name sounds European, so many students outside Europe assume it is not for them. In fact, it is one of the most open fully funded master’s scholarships there is.

Here are the questions people search for most, answered from the European Commission’s Erasmus+ pages, the Erasmus+ Programme Guide and the official catalogue run by the EU’s education agency (EACEA), as published on October 30, 2026. Where the official pages do not answer a question, we say so.

1. What is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master?

It is a master’s degree run jointly by a group of universities in different countries. You study in at least two countries, and the EU funds scholarships for some students on each programme (European Commission).

2. Is Erasmus Mundus only for European students?

No. The European Commission says students from all over the world are welcome. The Programme Guide adds one balance rule: no more than 10% of a programme’s scholarships may go to students of the same nationality (Programme Guide). Your two study periods must also be in two countries that are different from the country where you live when you enrol.

3. Is Erasmus Mundus fully funded?

For scholarship holders, yes. The scholarship is EUR 1,400 a month for the full length of the programme, and it must cover travel, visa, installation and living costs. Scholarship holders cannot be charged tuition fees or other mandatory participation costs, and full insurance cover is paid for by the programme (Programme Guide). Not every programme offers scholarships, so check the catalogue entry.

4. Is it only for master’s? Is there a bachelor’s or PhD?

Master’s only. Programmes last one to two years and are for students who already hold a first degree or are in the final year of one. The official pages do not describe a bachelor’s or PhD version. For doctoral and postdoctoral funding, the EU runs the separate Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

5. Is Erasmus Mundus hard to get?

Yes, it is competitive. Each programme chooses its own scholarship holders and must offer scholarships to the best-ranked students worldwide. Under the current rules, each programme’s EU grant funds at most 50 scholarships over the whole grant, across at least four intakes, plus any regional top-ups (Programme Guide). The official pages do not give a yearly total of scholarships or applicants.

6. When do applications open? Is it open for 2027?

In most cases, you apply between October and January for courses that start the following academic year, directly to the programme (European Commission). For a September 2027 start, that means autumn 2026 to early 2027. Each programme sets its own exact dates on its website.

7. How many programmes can I apply to?

The current official pages do not set a limit. Earlier rules allowed up to three, but that rule does not appear in the current Programme Guide. Check each programme’s own rules before you apply.

8. Is there an age limit?

No age limit is stated in the Programme Guide or on the student page. See our list of scholarships with no age limit.

9. Do I need work experience?

Not as an EU-wide rule. The EU only requires a first degree; each programme sets its own entry requirements, which may include experience for some courses.

10. Can I apply if I already had an Erasmus Mundus scholarship?

Not for another scholarship. The Programme Guide says students who have previously received an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship are not eligible for another one.

11. What are the language requirements?

There is no EU-wide language rule. Each programme sets its own language policy and admission requirements on its website. Most programmes are taught in English; see our guide to IELTS, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test.

12. Where do I find the programmes?

In the official Erasmus Mundus Catalogue, run by EACEA. When we checked, it listed 218 programmes, each linking to the programme’s own website, where you apply. Two examples in AI are in our listings: the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Artificial Intelligence and the Master in AI for Sustainable Societies.

Can I work during the programme?

The official pages do not say. The Programme Guide only states that scholarships go to full-time students, so check visa rules in the countries where you will study.

A tip on fees and scams

The Programme Guide says no application fees may be charged. If someone asks you to pay to apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, treat it as a warning sign. Read how to avoid scholarship scams.

Next steps

Read the full Erasmus Mundus listing, compare it with Chevening and Fulbright in Chevening vs Fulbright vs Erasmus Mundus, and see other options in the Top 10 fully funded master’s scholarships.