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Erasmus Mundus Actions

The Erasmus Mundus Actions comprise:

  • Lot 1: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) 
  • Lot 2: Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM)

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s lot 1 supports high-level integrated transnational study programmes at Master level delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions (HEIs) from different countries worldwide and, where relevant, other educational and/or non-educational partners with specific expertise and interest in the concerned study areas/professional domains. EMJMs are programmes of excellence and should contribute to the integration and internationalisation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The specificity of EMJMs lies in the high degree of jointness/integration among the participating institutions and the excellence of their academic content.
The EMJM aims to enhance the attractiveness and excellence of European higher education in the world and attract talent to Europe, through a combination of institutional academic cooperation to showcase European excellence in higher education, and individual mobility for all students taking part in the EMJM, with EU-funded scholarships for the best students applying. In order to be eligible for an Erasmus grant, project proposals for Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters must comply with the following criteria:

  • Any eligible participating higher education institution established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme or third country not associated to the Programme can submit an application.

Exception: organisations from Belarus (Region 2) are not eligible to participate in this action.

Additionally the EMJM study programme may also benefit from the involvement of associated partners (optional). These organisations contribute indirectly to the implementation of specific tasks/activities and/or support the dissemination and sustainability of the EMJM. Such contribution may for example take the form of knowledge and skills transfer, the provision of complementary courses or backing possibilities for secondment or placement. For eligibility and contractual management aspects, they are not considered as beneficiaries of the Programme funding.

Erasmus Mundus Design Measures have been introduced in 2021. They support the design of high-level and integrated study programmes, at master level. Joint programmes are designed and delivered by an international partnership of HEIs. Additionally, they may involve other educational and/or non-educational partners with specific expertise and interest in the area of study.

Erasmus Mundus Design Measures and Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) represent two independent lots under the Erasmus Mundus action. There is no obligation to implement an EMDM before an EMJM. The award of an EMDM does not imply automatic funding under EMJM, and the completion of an EMDM project is not an award criterion for an EMJM.

Duration: 15 months

EU grant: €55,000 lump sum

Erasmus Mundus Design Measures encourage HEIs to develop new, innovative and highly integrated master programmes by facilitating the setup of such international partnerships. EMDM aim to involve EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme (previously called Programme countries), institutions, and/or thematic areas that are somehow under-represented in Erasmus Mundus.

Activities and outcomes

The beneficiary will initiate contacts and collaboration activities in view of setting up the master’s programme. The latter should offer a fully integrated curriculum. The international partnership of HEIs should be composed by at least three HEIs from three different countries, of which at least two must be EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme. The master’s programme will include compulsory physical mobility for all recruited students and will have the ambition of recruiting excellent candidates worldwide.

By the end of the project, the involved HEIs will have agreed on the basic following joint mechanisms for the master programme under development:

  • joint procedures for student application, admission, selection and monitoring
  • rules and procedures for student examinations and performance evaluation
  • joint programme design and integrated teaching/training activities
  • common services offered to students
  • joint promotion and awareness-raising strategy
  • joint administrative and financial management by the partnership
  • a joint degree policy
  • a draft partnership agreement
  • a draft joint student agreement

More information on how to apply can be found here.

EM Joint Masters For Institutions and Organisations

HE Institutions applying for Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters  are expected to fulfil the following requirements:

  1. Include a jointly designed and fully integrated curriculum adhering to the Standards for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) applicable on the date of the EMJM application. These standards cover all the key aspects of joint programmes, in terms of joint design, implementation, delivery and quality assurance.
  2. Be delivered by a consortium of HEIs and, where relevant other educational and/or non-educational partners, established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme or third country not associated to the Programme. The consortium must involve at least three HEIs from three different countries, of which at least two must be EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.
  3. Enroll excellent students worldwide. The selection, recruitment and monitoring of individual students fall under the sole responsibility of the EMJM consortium. Student selection must be organised transparently, impartially and equitably. Among these students, a number may benefit from an EMJM scholarship.
  4. Include compulsory physical mobility for all enrolled students: The mobility tracks and the mechanism for recognition of study periods among the partner institutions must have been agreed within the consortium at project application stage.
  5. Promote the exchange of staff and invited scholars to contribute to teaching, training, research and administrative activities.
  6. The successful completion of the joint EMJM programme must lead to the award of either a joint degree (i.e. one single diploma awarded by at least two HEIs from different countries, of which at least one must be an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme), or multiple degrees (i.e. at least two diplomas awarded by two higher education institutions from different countries, of which at least one must be a EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme), or a combination.

An EMJM involves at least three full partner HEIs from three different countries, of which at least two must be EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme. The consortium will receive a grant agreement for a duration of 74 months to finance at least four editions of the Master programme, each lasting 1 to 2 academic years (60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits). Organisations in a consortium fall into one of three main categories:

Applicant/Coordinator – the higher education institution responsible for applying for and managing the project, as well as signing the grant agreement, managing the financial and legal aspects, and coordinating the master degree programme with the other organisations.

Partners – degree-awarding higher education institutions recognised by the relevant authorities, as well as any other organisation actively contributing to the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the EMJMD.

Associated partner – optional partners contributing to specific tasks or in specific roles supporting an EMJMD.

EMJM consortium agreements will have to be signed by all partner consortium members prior to the start of the applications by students and will have to cover all academic, operational, administrative, and financial aspects related to the implementation of the EMJM.

Participating organisations from EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme need to have a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.

Beyond the Standards for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes, EMJMs put the emphasis on the following joint/common implementation procedures:

  • Joint student admission requirements and application, selection, fee policy, monitoring, examination/performance evaluation rules/procedures;
  • Joint programme design and integrated teaching/training activities including a jointly agreed language policy and a joint process for recognition of study periods within the consortium;
  • Common services offered to students (e.g. language courses, visa support);
  • Joint promotion and awareness-raising activities in order to ensure worldwide visibility of the programme as well as of the Erasmus Mundus scholarship scheme.
  • The promotional strategy should include an integrated and comprehensive specific website (in English, as well as in the main teaching language(s) if different) providing all the necessary information about the programme for students and other relevant stakeholders such as future employers;
  • Joint administrative and financial management by the consortium;
  • Joint degrees are encouraged, if national legislation allows.

What are the funding rules?
The EMJM grant is calculated on the basis of the following three components:

  • a contribution to the institutional costs for the implementation of the programme;
  • a maximum number of student scholarships to be awarded throughout the duration of the agreement.
  • a top-up intended to cover individual needs of students with disabilities

 

Contribution to the institutional costs of the EMJM
This takes the form of a unit cost per enrolled student and is intended to cover part of the costs linked to the implementation of the EMJM programme. The unit costs includes staff costs (teaching, travel), invited guest lecturers, promotion, dissemination, organisational costs (including full insurance coverage for the enrolled students, financial support to enrolled students with individual needs in case they are not covered by the top-up mechanism (see below), assistance with accommodation, and other student services), administrative costs, and all other costs necessary to implement a successful Master programme.
Selected projects cannot charge student application fees. Moreover, projects cannot charge tuition fees or other mandatory costs related to student participation in the course to Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders.

The maximum contribution to the institutional costs is: 750 Euros/month x DR x NRES
Where:
• DR = max. duration in months of the Master programme (i.e. 12, 18, 24 months)
• NRES = number of enrolled students (scholarship and non-scholarship holders) foreseen for the entire duration of the grant agreement.
Note that for the calculation of the grant, NRES will be capped at 100 (excluding top up scholarships for targeted regions of the world, if applicable).


Student scholarships
The scholarship will be a contribution to the costs incurred by the beneficiary students and shall cover travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs. It is calculated on the basis of a monthly unit cost for the entire period needed by the enrolled scholarship holder to complete the study programme (pro-rata of the actual number of days). This period covers study, research, placement activities, thesis preparation and defense, in line with the requirement of the joint Master. During this period, the scholarship can only be awarded in full, and to full-time students.

Calculation of the maximum scholarship per student:1 400 Euros/month x DS
Where DS = duration of the Master programme.

Calculation of the maximum EMJM scholarship amount for the duration of the grant agreement:1400 Euros/month x DR x NRS

Where DR = max. duration in months of the Master programme (i.e. 12, 18, 24 months) and NRS = number of scholarships foreseen for the entire duration of the grant agreement (maximum 60, excluding top up scholarships for targeted regions of the world, if applicable). 

 

Contribution (top up) to individual needs of students with disabilities

Contribution for individual needs are eligible if they fulfil the general eligibility conditions set in the grant agreement. They will be used for enrolled students (with or without scholarship) with disabilities (e.g. long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments), such as those related to the acquisition of special items or services (e.g. assistance by third persons, adaptation of work environment, additional travel/transportation costs). For more details on the top up support and additional funds check here.

The applicants may apply for additional funds for students from third countries not associated to the Programme from the following regions: Regions 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 (check each region here) financed by the EU’s external action instruments.
EMJMs proposed for funding may receive up to 27 additional scholarships (including the corresponding institutional costs) funded by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation – Global Europe Instrument (NDICI), and up to 3 additional scholarships (including the corresponding institutional costs) funded by the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) for the entire duration of the Master course.  

These additional scholarships are offered to respond to the external action priorities of the EU with regard to higher education and take into consideration the different levels of economic and social development in the relevant third countries not associated to the Programme. Further information on the amounts available under each budgetary envelope will be published on the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal (FTOP). The funds will have to be used in a geographically balanced way and institutions are encouraged to recruit students in the poorest and least developed third countries not associated to the Programme.

At system level

  • Foster academic cooperation within the EHEA and beyond by supporting joint teaching and qualifications, quality improvements, promotion of academic excellence;
  • Enhance the international dimension of higher education through cooperation between institutions in Europe and abroad, and through mobility for the best students worldwide;
  • Increase the synergies between higher education, innovation and research;
  • Remove barriers to learning, improving access to high quality and innovation-driven education and making it easier for learners to move between countries;
  • Respond to societal and labour market needs;
  • Contribute to the development of innovative education policies.

At institutional level

  • Provide European and non-European HEIs with more opportunities for structured and sustainable academic cooperation worldwide;
  • Improve the quality of programmes at Master level and supervision arrangements;
  • Increase the internationalisation and competitiveness of participating organisations;
  • Support the creation of new networks and enhance the quality of existing ones;
  • Increase the attractiveness of the participating organisation(s) towards talented students;
  • Contribute to the internationalisation policies of HEIs by developing international awareness through their curricula and the design of comprehensive internationalisation strategies (institutional cooperation and cross-border mobility of people).

At individual level

  • Improve the employability of participating students,
  • Improve key competences and skills of students;
  • Forge new mind-sets and approaches to academic studies through international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral and intercultural experience;
  • Enhance networking and communication capacities of the students;
  • Increase the individual contribution to the knowledge-based economy and society.

 

Higher Education Institutions and organisations active in the field of higher education have to apply centrally to the Education and Culture Executive Agency in accordance with the application conditions and timetable defined in the Programme Guide and the relevant Call for Proposals.

There must be one coordinating/applicant institution that submits the application on behalf of the consortium/partnership/network of participating organisations. Applicants must be located in an eligible applicant country as defined in the Programme Guide.

Organisations seeking further information on the process can contact National Erasmus+ Office in Armenia or the Education and Culture Executive Agency in Brussels.

EM Design Measures For Institutions and Organisations

HE Institutions applying for Erasmus Mundus Design Measures can check the requirements in the following presentation

What are the funding rules?
One higher education institution from an EU Member State, third country associated o the Programme or third country not associated to the Programme submits the application on behalf of the future consortium. During the project the higher education institutions are expected to develop:

  • the content, structure and practices of the joint study programme,
  • joint marketing and dissemination measures,
  • a joint process of awarding and recognising the degree.

The project period is 15 months and the support takes the form of a financial lump sum of 55 000 euro per project that can be used for activities necessary to set up the new Master programme. The funds can be used for meetings and conferences, studies/surveys, accreditation/evaluation process, staff costs, travel and accommodation costs or administrative costs.
Further information on the amounts available under each budgetary envelope will be published on the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal (FTOP). The funds will have to be used in a geographically balanced way and institutions are encouraged to recruit students in the poorest and least developed third countries not associated to the Programme.

Higher Education Institutions and organisations active in the field of higher education have to apply centrally to the Education and Culture Executive Agency in accordance with the application conditions and timetable defined in the Programme Guide and the relevant Call for Proposals.

There must be one coordinating/applicant institution that submits the application on behalf of the consortium/partnership/network of participating organisations. Applicants must be located in an eligible applicant country as defined in the Programme Guide.

For questions regarding this Programme Action please contact EACEA: eacea-eplus-erasmus-mundus@ec.europa.eu

 

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Scholarships

With Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJMs), individual applicants for scholarship from Armenia can receive a full degree scholarship for a Master-level international study programme.

Students from all over the world are eligible to apply to EMJMDs. There is no age limit. However, before applying for an EMJMD, make sure you respect the following conditions:

  • You must have a first higher education degree or demonstrate a recognised equivalent of learning according to the legislation and practices in the countries that will award the degree. More specific information about entry requirements can be found on the website of each EMJMD
  • If you have already received an EMJMD scholarship, you are not eligible for an additional scholarship

Applicants cannot benefit from another EU-funded scholarship scheme at the same time as receiving support for your EMJMD.

NOTE: Those applicants who are residents or have carried out their main activity (studies, training or work) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in a any of the 27 EU Member States and 6 countries associated with the Programme (Republic of North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia and Turkey) will receive a reduced scholarship.

Individuals interested in DOCTORAL fellowships through EU financial support need to refer to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions of HorizonEurope programme.

Each EMJMD student will receive either a double (or multiple) degree or a joint degree awarded by the higher education consortium of Masters programme, which is officially recognised in the degree-awarding countries.

Whether or not the degree received is recognised in another European or non-European country depends on the agreements in place between the countries in question. The EU cannot intervene in these arrangements.

EMJMDs are worth 60, 90 or 120 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System credits depending on the duration of the course.

To find out whether an EMJMD will be recognized in a given country, contact the appropriate authorities concerned and provide them with the official name of the course.

To receive scholarship for an EMJMD, the applicants must first be accepted onto the course by the organising consortium. Self-funded students can be enrolled in addition to scholarship holders.

EMJMD scholarships cover travel expenses, participation costs, fees and living costs for the entire duration of the Master course. The total amount of your scholarship can vary according to the duration of your course and your nationality (non-EU students receive larger scholarships). Each year, around 15 scholarship holders are selected to take part per course and a minimum of 75% of the scholarships are awarded to candidates from Partner countries.

There are over 100 EMJMDs which open their calls for applications starting from September-October each year. The Catalogue of all available EMJMD degree programmes is being annually updated on the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency website and a new batch of selected EMJMDs is added to the list each summer.

Individuals must apply directly to the consortium organising the course to find out about entry requirements, the application procedure and to submit their applications. All EMJMDs programmes open applications in the last quarter of the year for students who will start in September or October of the following year.

VIEW THE CATALOGUE of EMJMDS

Find out more

Make sure you know your rights when you study abroad.

The Erasmus+ Programme Guide also offers detailed information on these opportunities.

The National Agencies and National Erasmus+ Offices can help with queries and applications.

The Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association offers Erasmus+ students and alumni a dynamic forum for networking, professional development and intercultural exchange.