Funding

Fully Funded · Self Funded

Master's Scholarship•Netherlands · Groningen

International Master in Innovative Medicine

IMIM Consortium (University of Groningen, Heidelberg University, University of Tartu, Uppsala University)

Application Deadline

Closed · January 5, 2026

Reopens ~Jan 2027

Official Page

The International Master in Innovative Medicine is a two-year MSc in translational biomedical research, run jointly by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Heidelberg University in Germany, the University of Tartu in Estonia and Uppsala University in Sweden. Groningen coordinates the consortium and admissions.

Each student spends the first academic year at one partner university and the second at a different one, so every graduate leaves with a double degree from two institutions. The curriculum is built on four existing English-taught masters — Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment in Groningen, Translational Medical Research in Heidelberg, Medical Science in Uppsala, and Innovation in Bioengineering in Tartu — with a shared From Bench to Bedside and Beyond learning line of 4 ECTS in each of the four semesters.

The European Union funds the programme as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master. A grant of €4.6 million funds 80 scholarships, and the consortium was renewed to 2030. Teaching is in English, the degree is worth 120 ECTS over 24 months, and the IMIM cohort gathers in person at least four times over the two-year programme.

Benefits & funding

  • About 20 Erasmus Mundus scholarships go to the top-ranked applicants in each cohort.
  • A scholarship covers the participation fee, €4,500 or €9,000 depending on country of origin, plus a monthly allowance of €1,400.
  • The current EU grant of €4.6 million funds 80 scholarships in total, and the programme is funded through 2030.
  • Without a scholarship the participation fee is €9,000 a year for non-EEA nationals and €4,500 a year for EEA nationals.
  • The fee covers all mandatory mobility modules at the partner universities, access to libraries, IT, labs and working space, and basic insurance meeting the Erasmus+ standard.
  • Fees are paid annually to the coordination office at the University of Groningen; students in Heidelberg pay the local tuition themselves and are reimbursed afterwards.
  • Graduates receive a double degree of 120 ECTS from two partner universities.
  • Research internships fill the second and fourth semesters; past students have been placed at AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Sanofi, AbbVie, Elveflow, Screenfect, Synthon and Qlinea.
  • Travel and accommodation for the joint events are paid by the student, including out of the scholarship allowance.

Eligibility

  • A bachelor degree in biochemistry, bioengineering, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical sciences, genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology, medicine, dentistry or a closely related field, equivalent in end level to a European undergraduate degree of 180 ECTS.
  • Final-year students may apply with current transcripts, confirmation of enrolment, the expected graduation date and a list of courses still to be completed.
  • Each first-year university adds its own bar: Heidelberg asks for medicine or life sciences; Uppsala for a Kandidatexamen equivalent with at least 30 ECTS in relevant sciences and laboratory experience; Tartu for natural sciences, exact sciences or medicine with the degree in hand by July; Groningen assesses other backgrounds case by case.
  • English at TOEFL 90 or IELTS Academic 6.5, with a result no more than two years old; TOEFL MyBest, IELTS home/online, IELTS One Skill Retake and Duolingo are not accepted.
  • The language test may be waived through four published routes: native speakers who completed fully English-taught secondary education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia or Canada; applicants who completed a full-time bachelor’s degree of at least three years taught fully in English in one of those countries; holders of a European Baccalaureate diploma with English as the medium of instruction for L1 and L2; and holders of a Dutch VWO diploma including English as a subject, except for the Heidelberg route.
  • No strict GPA threshold, but a proven record of academic and extra-curricular excellence is expected.
  • Two references submitted on the mandatory IMIM reference form, plus the IMIM PDF application form.
  • Open to applicants of every nationality, with no residency requirement.
  • The two study periods must be in different countries, each worth at least 30 ECTS, at least one in an EU Member State or associated third country, and neither in the applicant’s country of residence at enrolment; virtual study cannot replace them.
  • Attendance in person at all IMIM joint events is compulsory.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

  • Education required

    Bachelor · Bachelor Enrolled

Check my eligibility — free

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

  1. 1
    Watch the application page for the call to open; the 2026-2027 round opened on 31 October 2025.
  2. 2
    Choose the partner university you want for your first year and state it in the application.
  3. 3
    Download the IMIM PDF application form, complete it, and upload it inside the online application system.
  4. 4
    Ask two referees to complete the IMIM reference form in English, then submit both completed forms yourself within the application form before the deadline.
  5. 5
    Upload transcripts, CV and the English test result; if you have not graduated, add enrolment confirmation, expected graduation date and the courses still outstanding.
  6. 6
    Submit at least three days before the deadline, as the site warns of heavy traffic in the final days.
  7. 7
    Round one scores the written application; round two checks the minimum education level.
  8. 8
    The highest-ranked candidates are interviewed in February or March, presenting a previous research project and completing a set assignment.
  9. 9
    Results are communicated by early April; proof of residence issued within the previous six months is requested only after selection.
  10. 10
    A decision can be appealed within six weeks through the Central Portal for Legal Protection of Student Rights at rug.nl/clrs.

Program timeline

  1. 31 October 2025

    Applications opened for the 2026-2027 intake

  2. Application deadline

    5 January 2026

  3. Selection interviews for the highest-ranked candidates

    February to March

  4. Selection results communicated

    Early April

  5. Three-day Kick-Off, held alternately at Tartu or Uppsala

    August

  6. Programme starts at the first-year university

    September

  7. After semester one

    Winter School in Heidelberg or Mannheim

  8. Year two

    Summer School in Groningen and the VentureLab Weekend

The monthly round-up

New fellowships, scholarships and programs, once a month. No account needed.