ERASMUS+: ERASMUS MUNDUS

JOINT MASTER DEGREE

(EMJMD) GUIDE

Prepared By:
Muhammad Sohaib Niazi

ERASMUS MUNDUS JOINT MASTER DEGREES

Overview
An Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD), is a prestigious, integrated, international
study programme, jointly delivered by an international group of higher education institutions.
EMJMDs award EU-funded scholarships to the best student candidates applying under annual
selection rounds.
Study must take place in at least two of the Programme countries (European Countries). Part of
the studies can also take place in a Partner countries (generally all other countries other than
Europe from which students can apply to this program) if there is a partner-country institution
involved.

Duration
An EMJMD is a study programme of 60 (roughly equals to 1 year Master), 90 or 120 ECTS
(Roughly 2 years) credits. This means that it lasts from a minimum of 12 months, to a maximum
of 24 months.
Conditions
Students at Master's level worldwide can apply.
You must have obtained a first higher education degree or demonstrate a recognized equivalent
level of learning, according to national legislation and practices, in the degree awarding
countries. (All students with 16 years of Education in Pakistan are eligible to apply).
If you have already received an EMJMD or an Erasmus Mundus Master Course (old name of
EMJMD)/Joint Doctorate scholarship (Erasmus special name for PhD scholarships), you are not
eligible for an additional EMJMD scholarship. You cannot benefit from another EU-funded
scholarship scheme while you are receiving an EMJMD scholarship.

Academic outcome
The successful completion of the study programme will lead to the award of either a joint degree
(i.e. one single degree certificate issued on behalf of at least two higher education institutions of
the EMJMD consortium) or multiple degrees (i.e. at least two degree certificates issued by two
higher education institutions of the consortium).

Financial support
To receive Erasmus+ financial support, you must first be admitted onto the course by the
organizing consortium and then be selected for an EMJMD scholarship. In EMJMD not all
selected students get Erasmus+ scholarship. Such students who are not awarded a grant can study
if they can bear expense of the program. Those who are selected to one or more (max 3, as in one
year you can apply to max 3 Master programs) Master courses can get admission in anyone with
scholarship (if received) or without scholarship.

The EMJMD scholarship covers your participation costs (including the tuition fees, library and
laboratory costs, full insurance coverage and any other mandatory costs related to your
participation in the Master); it represents a contribution to your travel and installation costs and
includes a monthly subsistence allowance for the entire duration of the study programme.

The total amount of the scholarship varies according to the duration of your course and your
nationality (non-EU students receive larger scholarships). The exact amounts may vary for the
upcoming batches that is 2018-2020 and onwards so I am not mentioning any such detail here.
However, the stipend is sufficient enough to study in any countries of Europe and live a normal
life. The stipend and scholarship is received once you reach your first university for first
semester in the “Home country” (where you study mainly, generally at least 2 semesters of your
Master course). Before leaving Pakistan, you have to arrange your air ticket and some related
Visa expenses, however you can easily cover those costs with substantial stipend that you will
receive when you will reach there. Host University is name given to the university amongst the
group of universities for any particular MS program where you generally go to another program
country and study in that university. Some programs have non-European partner universities as
well, where you can study/do internship/undertake research for some months in 3rd or 4th
semester depending upon approval of your program heads.
A minimum of 75% of the scholarships are awarded to candidates from Partner countries.

HOW TO APPLY

1ST STEP
Students should consult the online EMJMD Catalogue (https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-
plus/library/scholarships-catalogue_en) and contact the consortium (coordinators’ contacts are
given on website of each program) offering the Master Course for more information on courses
and application procedures
Above link lists all the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMDs) that will be offering
EU-funded scholarships for courses taking place in the academic year 2017-2018. Most Mater
programs will require applications to be submitted between Dec and January-Feb or may be
March (Dates vary from program to program), for courses starting the following academic year.

A new batch of selected EMJMDs is added to the list each summer. Some new MS degrees have
been included in the existing catalogue recently for this batch that is 2017-2018. Some project
details’ websites of programs given in above link will have website links in them and some will
include soon in a month. Contact coordinators of each program for specific queries.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
1. 16 Years of Education (Last semester students can apply to many programs if they expect
their undergraduate degrees to be completed around June, 2018, though you need to check
websites of specific programs and email the coordinators to confirm this)
2. Proficiency in English Language is a compulsory requirement (Some programs will accept
English Proficiency Letter from your University but most want IELTS/TOEFL as
compulsory to apply). To be on the safer side, take IELTS/TOEFL around
October/November. They check this through interview and your application material (If
you get to that stage, more on that below).
 3. You need Passport as an Identity Document to apply, so apply for it and keep it ready
around September. Most programs’ applications open in October and end variably around
January, February or even March. Opening of applications and deadlines to apply vary
from program to program.

2ND STEP
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
All programs have different requirements. All programs mostly
provide a grid of weightages or general idea of the components of
application that they will consider in determining your merit.
For example, ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION 20%, Experience in
the same field 15%, Subject Knowledge 10% etc.
1. DEGREE and TRANSCRIPT (Available or should be available around June, July, 2018)
2. 2 Letters of Recommendation (Generally, again you need to check program
requirements). The formats vary from program to program, your online application will
contain guidelines.
3. Motivation Letter (Word lengths will vary a lot from program to program). Some don’t
give any limit, others may give only one paragraph.
4. IELTS/TOEFL (6.5 is safe for mos on IELTS or TOEFL Equivalent/English Proficiency
Letter if they take it) Make sure you take standard test early as slots are sometimes
booked around deadlines of Erasmus. The results availability of such tests also take time.
5. CV in Europass Format (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/editors/en/cv/compose)
6. Passport
7. Certificate of Residence that you have not been living in Europe for last say 5 years (if
you want to apply as partner country student). Otherwise, even being Pakistani you will
be considered program country applicant.
8. Any other documents you deem as important for your selection like experience
certificates, projects, GRE scores may be if they are high, certificates,
seminars/conferences/workshops attended, honors and awards etc.

3RD STEP (AFTER APPLICATION SUBMISSION)

In case you are shortlisted after initial screening of applications (complete/valid information plus
merit based selection on the basis of your documents, qualification etc), you will be informed
about your online interview through email (some programs don’t have an interview so don’t
worry if there isn’t one for your program). Skype interviews are the last step if you are
shortlisted for it and if there is an interview for your program, after that you either get selected
with/without scholarship and are informed via mail to confirm your admission by completing
their required formalities. The dates of acceptance/rejection too vary according to deadlines.
Programs with early deadlines announce results a bit earlier than others. But after selection all
the students fly to Europe generally around SEPTEMBER. If you apply in 2017 September and
get selected, you will go to your Home Country University in September, 2018.

Key points for increasing your chances of selection

This year Pakistan’s selection ratio was quite low i.e. 1.62% out of all applicants of Pakistan
from all programs. Brazil, India etc. topped the list. Though maximum number of applications
were sent from Pakistan so make sure you are up to the task. This is highly competitive and
therefore highly prestigious scholarship.

Some key areas I have identified that impact a lot on your selection chances (Note: It is not a rule
that these points work as I am writing or you can’t get selected if you don’t fulfill any of these
criteria), it is merely for guidance purpose.

1. CGPA matters a lot in Erasmus scholarships (GRE is not required so CGPA sometimes is
the sole factor that can win you the race or compensate for your other low areas)
2. English Proficiency (all Master programs are taught in English so no take it easy job
here)
3. Relevance of the field in which you are applying and your past academic and professional
background
4. Knowledge of the field in which you are applying (interviews are generally technical and
lengthy, a kind of test too)
They asked me to interpret statistical results of a publication as well along with many tougher
questions.
5. Experience in the same field demonstrated through internships/job experience etc.
6. Your intent and ability to study/work in highly diverse and cross-cultural contexts
(demonstrate it in your interview too if you have taken any trips/projects/job etc. with
some foreigners)
7. Your Motivation Letter MATTERS A LOT more than you may dedicate time for it, it can
make or break the deal irrespective of your CGPA etc.
8. Letters of Recommendation
9. Your co-curricular and extra-curricular activities
 10. Your passion and intent to study in the field you applied to, demonstrated through
motivation letter and interview plus by taking relevant courses/internships etc.)

Passionately

Muhammad Sohaib Niazi (Erasmus+ MS Scholar)

For queries and help: 0333-5266782, sohaibniazi01@gmail.com

These days I am in Europe, you can access this number on WhatsApp and my E-mail ID on
Facebook is the same as well.