MorphoPHEN is a one-year Erasmus Mundus Joint Master that trains life-science and medical graduates to read mouse models of human disease morphologically. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona coordinates it together with the University of Naples Federico II, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of Lisbon.
The 60 ECTS are split over two semesters and four modules: mouse anatomy and pathobiology in Barcelona, mouse imaging in Naples, deep learning and experimental design in Thessaloniki, and a dissertation carried out with the partners. The year opens with a joint inception week at UAB, and the cohort then moves Spain to Italy to Greece. Teaching, assessment and the application itself are in English.
The consortium built the degree around a stated shortage of experts in morphological mouse phenotyping, the step that decides whether preclinical biomedicine translates to patients. Graduates receive a joint diploma from the partner universities, and those reaching 300 ECTS across bachelor and master can move on to an official doctoral programme.
Benefits & funding
- Erasmus Mundus scholarship of EUR 10,200 covering enrolment and 14 months of medical insurance, plus a living allowance of up to EUR 16,800 paid monthly across 12 months.
- The scholarship is tied to full-time participation in MorphoPHEN for the full 12 months.
- Self-funded participation costs EUR 4,820.55 for Programme Countries and EUR 5,519.89 for Partner Countries, covering tuition, diploma and compulsory medical insurance.
- No application fee at any stage.
- Study at three campuses in one academic year, with the dissertation supervised across the consortium, Lisbon included.
- A joint diploma from the partner universities and access to an official doctoral programme for holders of 300 ECTS.
- The consortium publishes a list of alternative funding sources for self-funded students.
Eligibility
- A degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Veterinary or Medicine.
- English at level C1 of the Common European Framework or above; the certificate must be less than two years old.
- The English certificate is waived for nationals of the listed English-speaking countries and for degrees taught in English.
- Open to applicants of any nationality, with no residency requirement.
- Anyone who has already held an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship cannot receive a second one, but may enrol as a self-funded student.
- Twenty-five places per cohort, full-time and in person.
Can you apply?
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Education required
Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Create a UAB ID number through the university registration service.
- 2Enter the UAB application portal and open the MorphoPHEN pre-enrolment.
- 3Fill in personal and academic details.
- 4Upload the seven documents: academic transcript, degree diploma, English certificate, CV, passport or identity document, a motivation letter of one page at most, and a scientific essay of two pages at most on a mouse organ of your choice. Transcript and diploma must be in English or officially translated.
- 5Download the confirmation of submission.
- 6If rejected, appeal within one week of the notification to coordinacio.master.morphophen@uab.cat.
Program timeline
Call for applications opens for the 2026-27 cohort
Dec 11, 2025
Application deadline
Mar 11, 2026
Student Selection Committee evaluates the applications
Mar 12, 2026 to Apr 7, 2026
Committee meeting and preliminary list published
Apr 9, 2026
Appeal period
Apr 10, 2026 to Apr 17, 2026
Selected students confirm their participation
Apr 20, 2026
Final list of students published
Apr 22, 2026
Course starts at UAB in Barcelona
Sep 7, 2026