Erasmus Mundus MARIHE Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Master's in Europe (Deadline: 21 September 2026)

If you've ever wanted to study in more than one country without paying a single tuition bill, this one is worth a serious look.

Applications are now open for the Erasmus Mundus MARIHE Scholarship 2027, a fully funded Master's programme for students from anywhere in the world. MARIHE stands for Research and Innovation in Higher Education. It runs for two years, and instead of sitting in one campus the whole time, you move between partner universities in different countries.

The programme is funded by the European Union and delivered jointly by seven universities across Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, China and India. Classes start in September 2027, in Austria.

What the scholarship actually covers

This is a full scholarship, not a partial fee waiver. Selected students get:

• Full tuition coverage for the two years
• A monthly stipend of €1,400
• Support towards accommodation and living costs
• Travel and visa-related support
• Funding for study and research activities
• A paid internship placement as part of the programme
• The chance to study in several countries and build an international network

That €1,400 a month is the part people usually focus on, and fairly so. It's meant to cover your day-to-day living, so you can concentrate on the studies instead of hustling for rent money in a country you just landed in.

Who can apply

The requirements are pretty straightforward:

• You hold a first university degree (a Bachelor's or equivalent)
• You can show real motivation and interest in research and innovation in higher education
• Your English is strong enough for postgraduate study

On the English side, here's what they're asking for:

There's also an exemption route. If you completed your previous studies in English in a country the programme accepts, you may not need a test at all. Check that carefully on the official MARIHE site before you spend money booking an exam, because a lot of applicants pay for IELTS when they didn't have to.

The programme in short

• Degree: Master's
• Duration: 2 years
• Language of instruction: English
• Intake: September 2027

Where you'll study

• University for Continuing Education Krems, Austria (the coordinating university)
• Tampere University, Finland
• Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Germany
• Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
• University of Aveiro, Portugal
• Beijing Normal University, China
• Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, India

How the two years are laid out

• Semester 1: in Austria. 
• Semester 2: in Finland. 
• Semester 3: is your internship plus coursework. 
• Semester 4: depends on the pathway you pick, and it can take you to Finland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Portugal, China or India.

So by the time you finish, you've lived and studied in at least three different academic systems. That's the real value here, and it's the thing that makes a MARIHE graduate stand out in a job interview later.

Documents you'll need

Start gathering these early. People miss deadlines because of paperwork, not because of grades.

• Completed application form
• Passport or national ID copy
• CV, preferably in Europass format
• Letter of motivation
• Degree certificate
• Academic transcripts
• English proof, or your approved exemption
• Two recommendation letters
• The required essay
• Anything else the MARIHE application system asks for

Two things I'd flag. First, the recommendation letters. Ask your referees now, not in September. Lecturers travel, they get busy, and a rushed letter reads like a rushed letter. Second, the Europass CV. It's a specific format, not just any CV, and getting it right costs you an evening at most.

How to apply

1. Read the MARIHE requirements on the official website properly, line by line.
2. Prepare all your academic and supporting documents.
3. Fill in the MARIHE online application form.
4. Upload the CV, motivation letter, transcripts, English proof, recommendation letters and essay.
5. Go back through everything once more and check names, dates and file uploads.
6. Submit before the deadline.
7. Keep checking your email and your application account for updates on the selection.

One thing applicants get wrong

Admission to MARIHE and selection for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship are two separate things. You can be admitted to the programme and still not get the funding. So treat the motivation letter and the essay as the parts that carry your case, not as forms to fill in at the last minute. Say clearly why higher education research and innovation matters to you, and what you want to do with the degree once you're back home or wherever you plan to work.

Deadline: 21 September 2026.

That looks far away right now. It isn't, once you count the time it takes to book an English test, get transcripts issued by your university, and wait on two referees.

If you're planning to sit an English exam for this, our coaching class for the ALU English test is open and it covers the same skills these programmes are testing for.

Applications and full details are on the official MARIHE website. Always confirm requirements and deadlines there before applying.

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