{Last Update: 24.12.2025}

The Erasmus Mundus program consists of two lots:

1. Lot 1 – Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programs (EMJM)
2. Lot 2 – Erasmus Mundus Design Measure (EMDM)

Lot 1 – Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programs 

The goal of EMJM is to create high-quality, integrated, transnational training programs at the master's level, which will be taught by higher education institutions, an international consortium, where, in case of relevance, various educational and non-educational partners who are directly or indirectly interested in the given educational program will be involved. 

Objectives of the program:

EMJM aims to improve the attractiveness of the European educational environment and attract talent to Europe by combining the following components:

• Through academic cooperation, to highlight the excellence of the European higher education system
• through the individual mobility of the participants in the program, during which the best students will be financed by the European Union with a scholarship

Criteria for participation in the program

Who can apply?	Applicants may be the following legal entities: – Higher education institutions based in an EU Member State or third countries associated with the program or authorized third countries not associated with the program; Having an ECHE code/accreditation is mandatory for EU member states and third countries associated with the program.  Having an ECHE code/accreditation is not mandatory for third countries not associated with the program.  Associations and organizations of higher education, public and private organizations (including their affiliated entities), which directly participate in the implementation of EMJM, can also participate in the project from any predetermined, permitted country.  At the application stage, all participants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the quality standards within their jurisdiction to pursue a joint degree program. This can be ensured either through the European approach of successfully implemented joint program quality standards or it should be based on specific joint program accreditation/evaluation. Exception: Organizations from Belarus and Russia cannot participate
Composition of the consortium	The consortium should consist of min. 3 from higher education institutions (coordinator and full partners) from three different countries, of which min. 2 are from EU member states or third countries associated with the program.
Place of activities	Activities may take place in any permitted country
Duration of the project	The duration of the projects is 74 months (in case of justification, it can be extended). In case of having EMJMDs – EMJMs grant in previous periods, application for renewal can be made only one year before the end of the existing contract. Funding of two different master's programs in the same period is not allowed.  Exception: EMJMs selected in 2021 may apply provided that their current contract ends before 31 March 2028. Under no circumstances may two versions of the Master's degree, funded by two different grant agreements, be started in the same academic year.
Where is the application submitted?	European Education and Culture Executive Agency Call ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2026-PEX-EMJM-MOB
When is the application submitted?	Application deadline February 12, 17:00 (Brussels time)

 

EMJMs are expected to meet the following requirements:

1. Use a jointly developed and fully integrated curriculum that adheres to European Higher Education Joint Programs Quality Assurance (EHEA) standards and is applicable at the date of the EMJM application. These standards cover all key aspects of collaborative programs in terms of collaborative design, implementation, delivery and quality assurance.

Beyond the quality assurance standards for joint programs, EMJMs focus on the following joint/joint implementation procedures:

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

1. The program must be delivered by a consortium of HEIs and, where appropriate, by other educational and/or non-academic partners based in an EU Member State or a third country associated with the programme, or a third country not associated with the programme. The consortium must include at least three higher education institutions from three different countries, at least two of which must be EU member states and third countries associated with the program. 

All full partner higher education institutions (from EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme or third countries not associated to the Programme) must be master degree awarding institutions and be able to award joint or multiple degrees to graduates attesting to the successful completion of the EMJM programme. 

The necessary institutional commitments of all participating organisations in the EMJM consortium must be secured before the first EMJM students are enrolled in order to guarantee solid institutional implementation and development. These commitments take the form of an EMJM Partnership Agreement, which must be signed by all partner institutions (including associated partners, if involved in the project). Participating higher education institutions from third countries that are not associated with the programme must adhere to the ECHE principles in this Partnership Agreement. The EMJM Partnership Agreement must cover all academic, operational, administrative and financial aspects related to the implementation of the EMJM and the management of the EMJM scholarships (see below). A draft Partnership Agreement must be submitted at the application stage.

The EMJM training program may also benefit from the involvement of associated partners (optional). These organizations indirectly contribute to specific tasks/activities and/or support the spread and sustainability of EMJM. Such contribution may be, for example, in the form of knowledge and skills transfer, provision of additional courses or creation of employment or employment-promoting opportunities. Due to eligibility and contractual management aspects, they are not considered beneficiaries of program funding.

1. Recruiting excellent students from all over the world. The selection, recruitment and monitoring of individual students is the sole responsibility of the EMJM consortium. The selection of students must be organized in a transparent, impartial and fair manner. Many of these students may benefit from an EMJM scholarship.

EMJ enrolls students who have successfully obtained a first-level higher education degree or have a degree confirming the relevant equivalent level, in accordance with their national (degree-issuing countries/institutions) legislation and practice, the first generation of enrolled students must start their studies no later than the year following the project selection year in the academic year.

To ensure full transparency and define the rights and responsibilities of all enrolled students, both parties (i.e. enrolled students and the EMJM Consortium) must sign a Student Agreement/Agreement. 

1. The program must define physical mobility as a mandatory component for all enrolled students: mobility routes and a mechanism for recognition of study periods between partner institutions must be agreed upon within the consortium at the project application stage.

The EMJM must include a mandatory physical mobility for all enrolled students (EMJM scholarship holder or not), consisting of at least two study periods in two countries, at least one of which must be an EU Member State or a third country associated with the program. These two countries must be different from the student's country of residence at the time of enrollment. Each of the two compulsory study periods must correspond to at least one academic semester (30 ECTS credits or equivalent).

All study periods of the master's program must be conducted at or under the direct supervision of full partner higher education institutions. Mandatory mobility periods cannot be replaced by virtual mobility (distance learning).

1. Facilitate exchange of staff and visiting scholars to contribute to teaching, training and research.
2. Successful completion of the joint EMJM program should lead to the award of a joint degree – (i.e. a single degree awarded by at least two higher education institutions from different countries, at least one of which must be a member of the European Union or a third associated country – or a multiple degree (i.e. at least two degrees awarded by two higher education institutions from different countries, at least one of which must be a member of the European Union or a third country associated with the program), or a combination.
3. The degree(s) awarded to graduates must belong to the higher education quality systems of the countries where the higher education institutions are located. The degree(s) must be mutually recognized by all fully-fledged partner higher education institutions. Upon completion of their studies, consortia must provide students with a joint diploma supplement covering the entire content of the master's programme.

What are the funding rules?

The EMJM grant is calculated based on the following three components:

1. Contribution to institutional costs of project implementation
2. During the duration of the program, a maximum number of student scholarships will be awarded
3. Maximizing the needs of individuals with disabilities

The budget is intended to finance at least 4 graduate streams of the master's program, each lasting from 1 to 2 academic years (60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits).

Duration: 6 academic years covering at least 4 graduate streams of the master's program

EU Scholarship for Individuals: 1400 euros per month (max. 24 months)

Lot 2 – Erasmus Mundus Design Measure (EMDM)

The Erasmus Mundus Design Measure (EMDM) should strengthen the capacity of universities to modernise and develop international teaching practices, to consolidate resources and to develop common mechanisms for higher education systems in the areas of quality assurance, accreditation and recognition of degrees and credits. Support will also aim to explore and apply a European approach to quality assurance of joint programmes. The high quality of joint/integrated programmes between participating institutions will contribute to the integration and internationalisation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

Erasmus Mundus Design Measures objective

The main objective of the Erasmus Mundus Design Measures is to encourage the development of new, innovative, high-level integrated transnational study programs at master's level. These project activities should include Erasmus Mundus under-represented EU member states and third countries associated with the program and institutions from these countries. Where applicable, higher education institutions from third countries are also not included in the program.

participation criteria 

Who can apply?	Applicants must be: Legal entities (public or private bodies); Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) established in one of the eligible countries, namely an EU Member State or a third country linked to the Programme; Holders of the ECHE certificate (Erasmus Charter for Higher Education). Exception: Organizations from Belarus (Region 2) and the Russian Federation (Region 4) are not eligible to participate in this promotion. A HEI established in an EU Member State or in a third country associated with the program must have a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). ECHE is not required for participating higher education institutions from third countries not associated with the programme, but they will have to comply with the relevant conditions defined for them.
Duration of the project	Projects should normally last 15 months (extension possible if duly justified)
Where is the application submitted?	European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Call ID:  ERASMUS-EDU-2026-EMJM-DESIGN
When is the application submitted?	Applicants must submit a grant application Until 12 February at 17:00:00 (Brussels time).

 

Create a project

EMDM are mono beneficiary projects.

At the end of the funding period, the jointly developed project must:

– to create a fully integrated curriculum implemented by a consortium of higher education institutions (composed by at least three higher education institutions: three different countries, of which at least two must be members of the European Union and from third countries associated with the program);

– aim to recruit excellent students worldwide;

- include mandatory physical mobility for all students;

– award a joint degree (i.e. one diploma awarded by at least two higher education institutions from different countries, of which at least one must be a member state of the European Union or a third country associated with the program), or at least two diplomas awarded by two higher education institutions from different countries (of which at least One must be a Member State of the European Union or a third country associated with the programme), or a combination thereof.

Also, within the project, the following joint mechanisms are planned/should be:

- Requirements and application for joint admission of students, selection, monitoring, exam evaluation rules/procedures;

- Joint program development and integrated teaching/trainings;

– common services offered to students (eg language courses, visa support);

- joint promotion and awareness raising strategy;

- joint administrative and financial management by the consortium;

– joint quality policy;

– Draft Joint Partnership Agreement, this agreement aims to cover all academic, operational, administrative and financial aspects related to the implementation of the Master's degree program;

- Draft joint student agreement.

It is preferable to start any accreditation/evaluation process before the end of the project and explore the possibilities offered by the European approach to quality assurance of joint programs (if national legislation allows).

Funding rules

Support is provided in the form of a lump-sum financial contribution to cover activities directly related to the creation of a new master's program, e.g. Meetings and conferences, accreditation/evaluation process, etc. Funding can also be used to cover staff, travel costs, administrative costs and subcontracted activities as far as the implementation of Erasmus Mundus Design is concerned. 

The one-time grant amount awarded for one project is 60,000 euros.