Scholarships in European Union

Studying in the European Union with a scholarship

The European Union includes many different higher education systems. Universities across Europe offer bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, exchange and research opportunities, but there is no single tuition fee, admission system or student visa that applies to every EU country.

The European Commission’s Study in Europe platform currently provides information covering 33 European countries participating in Erasmus+, including details about programmes, costs, scholarships and student life.

This means students should use “European Union scholarships” as a starting point for discovering opportunities, then investigate the actual country and university where the programme will take place.

A scholarship in Germany may have very different conditions from one in France, Spain, Finland or Belgium.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

One of the strongest scholarship opportunities available to international students in Europe is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme.

Erasmus Mundus programmes are jointly designed and delivered by groups of universities. A programme normally involves at least three higher education institutions from three different countries, allowing students to study at more than one institution during the degree.

Students from all over the world can apply.

The strongest applicants may receive full Erasmus Mundus scholarships.

These scholarships can contribute toward:

• programme participation costs
• travel
• visa expenses
• living expenses

The programme normally lasts between one and two academic years, corresponding to 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Depending on the programme, graduates can receive either a joint degree issued by several universities or multiple degrees from participating institutions.

Current Erasmus Mundus scholarship support

Under the current Erasmus Mundus funding structure, EU scholarship support for individual students can reach €1,400 per month for up to 24 months.

Students should still read the individual programme's funding page carefully.

Do not assume that every Erasmus Mundus programme:

• offers the same number of scholarships
• lasts two years
• follows the same application deadline
• requires the same documents
• includes the same universities

Each consortium manages its own student admissions.

2027 Erasmus Mundus opportunities

The European Commission announced in July 2026 that 37 new Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters were selected under the latest funding round.

These newly selected programmes are expected to begin opening applications for students from autumn 2026, with EU-funded full scholarships available to students worldwide.

This makes late 2026 an important period for students planning to begin an Erasmus Mundus programme in the 2027 academic cycle.

Applicants should monitor the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue because new programmes are added over time.

There is no single Erasmus Mundus deadline

This is one of the most important points for applicants.

Students do not submit one central scholarship application covering every Erasmus Mundus programme.

Instead, you apply directly to the consortium running the master’s programme you choose.

Most Erasmus Mundus student applications are submitted between October and January for programmes beginning in the following academic year, but each master's programme establishes its own exact deadline.

One programme may close in December while another remains open until January or February.

Always use the programme website.

Erasmus Mundus is primarily for master’s study

Students should also understand the academic level.

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme is specifically a master’s-level initiative.

It is not a general EU scholarship for:

• undergraduate degrees
• ordinary PhD programmes
• postdoctoral study

Students looking for those levels should investigate other European funding programmes, national government scholarships and university awards.

Mobility is part of the programme

Erasmus Mundus is different from a traditional master's degree completed at one university.

Students normally study in more than one country.

Current Erasmus Mundus requirements include at least two study periods in two countries different from the student’s country of residence, with at least one period taking place in an EU Member State or another country associated with the programme.

Applicants should therefore be comfortable with relocating during the programme.

This can be academically rewarding, but students should also prepare for practical issues such as:

• moving accommodation
• residence permits
• insurance
• travel
• different university systems
• managing personal documents across countries

Erasmus+ exchange opportunities

Erasmus+ also supports international mobility outside the Erasmus Mundus degree programme.

University students can sometimes spend part of their existing degree at a partner university through Erasmus+ exchange agreements.

These opportunities normally depend on partnerships between institutions.

Students usually cannot simply choose any European university and demand an Erasmus+ exchange place.

Your home university generally needs an appropriate partnership or mobility arrangement.

Students interested in an exchange should contact their university's international office and ask:

• which European partners are available
• which academic departments participate
• how students are nominated
• what financial support is available
• whether credits transfer back to the home degree

Tuition fees vary enormously across Europe

There is no useful single statement such as “university is free in Europe.”

According to the European Commission, tuition for non-EU students can broadly range from around €1,000 to €20,000 per year, although actual costs depend on the country, institution and programme.

Individual countries can be very different.

For example, current European Commission information shows public university tuition in Italy commonly around €900 to €4,000 per year, while private institutions may charge €6,000 to €20,000 or more.

In Finland, non-EU students in English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes may face approximately €8,000 to €20,000 per year.

In Spain, public university bachelor’s programmes are commonly around €700 to €1,700 annually, while master’s programmes may range from approximately €1,000 to €3,500.

These examples show why applicants should research the actual destination rather than relying on a general claim about studying in Europe.

Some countries offer very low-cost study

There are also European systems where public education can be inexpensive under certain conditions.

For example, public and state universities in Czechia generally offer tuition-free study when the programme is taught in Czech, including for international students. Foreign-language programmes such as English-taught degrees can charge tuition.

The language of instruction can therefore have a major effect on cost.

A programme being located in a low-tuition country does not automatically mean its English version is free.

Scholarship opportunities go beyond Erasmus Mundus

Erasmus Mundus receives a lot of attention online, but it represents only one part of European funding.

International students may also find:

• national government scholarships
• university merit scholarships
• doctoral employment contracts
• research grants
• tuition waivers
• regional scholarships
• exchange grants
• bilateral government programmes
• foundation scholarships

For example, countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, Slovakia and others operate their own national or institutional funding schemes alongside EU programmes.

Students should therefore search at three levels:

1. European Union programmes
2. national scholarship programmes
3. individual university scholarships

This gives a much wider range of possibilities.

Bachelor’s students have different options

Students sometimes search for “Erasmus Mundus bachelor scholarship.”

That can lead to confusion because Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are specifically postgraduate programmes.

Bachelor’s applicants should instead investigate:

• university entrance scholarships
• national government scholarships
• tuition waivers
• Erasmus+ mobility after enrolling
• country-specific international student awards

Funding at undergraduate level varies considerably between European countries.

Some countries have low public university tuition but limited full scholarships.

Others charge higher tuition but provide university merit awards.

PhD applicants should look beyond scholarship websites

Doctoral funding in Europe often works differently from bachelor’s and master’s funding.

A PhD candidate may receive:

• a scholarship
• research grant
• university stipend
• employment contract
• salaried doctoral researcher position

In some European systems, doctoral researchers are university employees rather than traditional scholarship recipients.

Applicants should therefore search using terms such as:

• funded PhD position
• doctoral researcher
• PhD vacancy
• research assistant
• doctoral fellowship

Searching only for the word “scholarship” can cause students to miss relevant opportunities.

Admission requirements are programme-specific

European universities establish their own admission requirements within their national systems.

Depending on the degree, applicants may need:

• secondary-school qualification
• bachelor’s degree
• master’s degree
• transcripts
• English-language certificate
• local-language certificate
• CV
• motivation letter
• recommendation letters
• entrance examination
• research proposal
• portfolio

There is no single IELTS or TOEFL score that qualifies someone for every university in Europe.

Check the programme itself.

European degrees and ECTS

Many European universities use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, or ECTS.

A typical academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS credits.

Erasmus Mundus master's programmes, for example, normally contain 60, 90 or 120 ECTS depending on whether the programme lasts one year, eighteen months or two years.

ECTS makes it easier to compare academic workloads and transfer study credits between participating European institutions.

This is particularly useful for students participating in mobility or joint-degree programmes.

Language of instruction

Europe offers thousands of English-taught programmes, particularly at master’s level, but not every programme is taught in English.

Students should check whether the programme uses:

• English
• the national language
• multiple languages

Language can also affect tuition.

In Czechia, for example, Czech-language study at public universities can be free while programmes taught in English or another foreign language normally charge fees.

Knowing the local language can also make daily life, internships and employment easier even when the degree itself is taught entirely in English.

Living costs differ even more than tuition

Living costs vary widely across Europe.

A student living in Helsinki, Copenhagen or Paris may need a substantially different budget from someone studying in a smaller Central or Eastern European city.

Current European Commission estimates illustrate the difference.

Students in Finland may spend approximately €900 to €1,200 per month, while students in Slovakia may manage on roughly €500 to €700 per month depending on lifestyle.

In Spain, Madrid and Barcelona may require roughly €1,000 to €1,200 monthly, while smaller cities can be closer to €700 to €900.

Applicants should therefore calculate costs based on the actual city.

Consider the whole scholarship package

A €1,000 monthly stipend can have very different value depending on where you study.

When comparing European scholarships, look at:

• tuition coverage
• monthly stipend
• accommodation
• travel allowance
• visa support
• insurance
• research funding
• family support
• duration of funding

Then compare these benefits against local living expenses.

The largest scholarship number is not automatically the best financial offer.

EU and non-EU students may pay different fees

Nationality can significantly affect tuition.

For example, EU/EEA students generally study tuition-free in Finnish bachelor’s and master’s programmes, while non-EU/EEA students in English-taught programmes can pay €8,000 to €20,000 annually.

Similar distinctions exist elsewhere.

International applicants from outside the EU should therefore make sure they are reading the non-EU fee, not the domestic or EU student price.

Visa rules depend on the destination country

There is no single student visa that lets every non-EU international student begin a full degree anywhere in the European Union.

Immigration procedures are generally handled by the country where the student will study.

For example, non-EU students going to Italy normally need to apply for an appropriate student visa before arrival and then complete residence procedures after entering the country.

In Finland, non-EU/EEA students normally need a residence permit for studies before arriving.

Applicants should therefore use the immigration authority or diplomatic mission of the actual destination country.

Erasmus Mundus students may deal with several countries

Visa planning can be more complicated for joint-degree students because the programme involves mobility.

The Erasmus Mundus scholarship contributes toward visa-related expenses, but students still need to follow the immigration procedures relevant to their programme and nationalities.

The consortium normally provides guidance because it already knows the expected mobility route.

Follow the consortium's instructions early.

Do not wait until the first semester is nearly finished before researching the documentation required for your next study country.

Scholarship deadlines and admission deadlines

Always distinguish between:

• programme application deadline
• scholarship deadline
• university admission deadline
• document submission deadline
• visa timeline

For many Erasmus Mundus programmes, the scholarship application and programme application are combined.

At ordinary universities, the scholarship may require a completely separate application.

Read the instructions carefully before assuming that one submission covers everything.

Documents to prepare

European scholarship applications may require:

• passport
• degree certificates
• academic transcripts
• CV
• motivation letter
• recommendation letters
• English-language certificate
• research proposal
• proof of residence
• proof of nationality
• work-experience documents
• portfolio

Joint programmes can have additional requirements because several universities participate.

Make sure names, dates and qualifications are consistent throughout the application.

Motivation letters should be specific

Avoid using one generic statement for every European scholarship.

For Erasmus Mundus, applicants should understand the programme's mobility structure, participating universities and academic focus before writing.

Do not simply write:

“I want Erasmus Mundus because Europe has world-class education.”

Instead, explain why the specific programme matches your education, experience and future plans.

If the degree involves studying at universities in three countries, show that you understand why those institutions are part of the programme.

A personal statement should demonstrate programme fit, not merely enthusiasm about travelling around Europe.

Be careful with old Erasmus Mundus lists

Erasmus Mundus programmes change.

New programmes are selected and existing programmes can reach the end of their funding periods.

In July 2026, the European Commission announced 37 newly selected Joint Masters, with those programmes expected to begin accepting students from autumn 2026.

Students planning for 2027 should therefore use the current Erasmus Mundus catalogue rather than an old PDF or social-media list from 2024 or 2025.

Avoid scholarship scams

Popular European scholarships attract fake offers.

Be cautious if someone promises:

• guaranteed Erasmus Mundus selection
• guaranteed European university admission
• guaranteed student visas
• scholarship places in exchange for unofficial payments

For Erasmus Mundus, students apply directly to the consortium running the chosen programme.

No third party can guarantee selection.

Verify opportunities through the European Commission, the relevant university consortium or the official national scholarship provider.

How to choose a European destination

Do not choose only by country popularity.

Compare:

• programme quality
• scholarship value
• tuition after scholarship
• living costs
• language
• climate
• accommodation
• immigration requirements
• research strengths
• career relevance

A less famous university offering strong funding and the right programme can be a better choice than an expensive institution in a popular city.

What applicants should check before applying

Before applying for an EU-based scholarship, confirm:

• the actual host country or countries
• eligible nationalities
• study level
• participating universities
• programme language
• tuition fees
• scholarship amount
• living allowance
• travel support
• insurance
• visa support
• mobility requirements
• academic prerequisites
• scholarship deadline
• whether admission and scholarship applications are combined

The European Union is a region, so these details should always be checked at programme and country level.

Final advice

Europe offers an unusually broad range of scholarship and mobility opportunities, but students should avoid treating “Europe scholarship” as one category with identical rules.

For master’s applicants, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are among the strongest opportunities because students worldwide can compete for substantial EU-funded scholarships and study across multiple universities.

For undergraduate, doctoral and research applicants, national governments and individual universities may provide more relevant funding routes.

Students planning for 2027 should pay particular attention to the new Erasmus Mundus programmes beginning to open applications from autumn 2026.

Use the opportunities listed below to discover scholarships connected with the European Union, but always verify the current programme, funding package and application requirements through the official provider.

Last reviewed: September 10, 2026