European Master in Global Studies

Benefits & funding

• Erasmus Mundus scholarship: participation costs covered, plus €1,400 per month and basic medical coverage.
• 60 Erasmus Mundus scholarships for the incoming cohorts 2023 to 2027, plus 31 more reserved for students from the Western Balkans, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Pacific and Caribbean, and the Neighbourhood Policy Region South, with Least Developed Countries prioritised.
• Students without an Erasmus Mundus scholarship who study at a European partner may receive an Erasmus+ grant of roughly €500 to €600 per month for at least one semester in year two, subject to available funds.
• Participation costs are €2,600 per year for studies starting in 2026 — the same rate for European and non-European students.
• The fee covers every course offered within EMGS plus administrative and organisational support; travel to the winter and summer schools is paid by the student.
• Students with special needs can apply for additional Erasmus Mundus funds covering assistance, adapted work environments and extra travel costs.
• A winter school each December and a summer school each July are part of the programme.
• Students who need more than four terms pay the full participation costs for each extra term.

Eligibility

• A three-year bachelor degree, or the recognised equivalent from an accredited institution, in the humanities or social sciences.
• At least 25 percent of that degree in global-studies-relevant courses: history, area studies, economics, cultural studies, sociology, political science, human geography. Law, literature and communication graduates qualify on the same 25 percent test.
• Very good to excellent academic performance in the previous degree.
• English certificate for non-native speakers: TOEFL 550 paper-based or 80 iBT, IELTS 6.5 with 6.5 in every section, Cambridge C2 grade A to C or C1 grade A to B, or an official university certificate that the previous degree was taught in English.
• Proof of a second foreign language at A2 on the Common European Framework; native English speakers prove another language at A2 instead.
• Candidates who have not graduated yet may apply if the degree is completed after the deadline.
• Open to all nationalities, with no residency requirement. Non-EU citizens with three or more years of residence in the EU have been eligible under the programme-country category since 2023.
• Anyone who has already received an Erasmus Mundus degree scholarship is automatically disqualified from the scholarship.
• Two mobility periods in countries other than the home country or country of residence at the time of application are compulsory.

Application process

1. 1
   Watch for the cycle to open: the 2026/27 round opened on 15 January 2026, and dates for the next cohort are not published yet.
2. 2
   Apply online through the AlmaWeb portal of Leipzig University — the only entry point; no Uni-Assist application is needed.
3. 3
   Upload the file: CV in English of one to three pages, a motivation letter of one to two pages naming your preferred mobility track, passport copy, school leaving certificate and transcripts, all university diplomas and transcripts, English certificate, second-language proof, one signed academic reference on official letterhead, and employment certificates if you have them.
4. 4
   Submit by the scholarship deadline — 28 February in the 2026/27 round — or by the self-funded deadline of 31 May.
5. 5
   Give your mobility preferences in the online registration; the consortium sets the final track from preference, qualifications and specialisation.
6. 6
   Applicants for the Peace and Security in Africa emphasis say so when applying: either the full track with three terms in Addis Ababa and one in Leipzig, or the standard European track with the third term in Addis Ababa.
7. 7
   Admitted students post hard copies to Leipzig University and file the remaining documents by mid-August, including proof of residence issued within the previous twelve months.
8. 8
   Documents sent to the consortium are not returned.

Program timeline

1. Application cycle opens

   January 15

2. Deadline for Erasmus Mundus scholarship applicants, 23:59 CET

   February 28

3. Deadline for all other applicants, 23:59 CET

   May 31

4. Remaining documents due from admitted students

   Mid-August

5. Welcome days and start of the first term

   September and October

6. Winter school

   December

7. Summer school

   July