European Union Higher Education Scholarship Programme
'ERASMUS MUNDUS'
Erasmus Mundus: Key Facts and Figures
The European Union has been financing one of the most comprehensive and qualitative higher education programmes for several years.
Erasmus Mundus offers nearly 150 Masters and PhD courses covering all academic disciplines in one or more European countries.
The programme offers generous scholarships and fellowships to students, researchers and university staff to carry out one or more semesters of study at bachelors, masters, doctoral or post-doctoral levels. Study periods can vary between 3 months and 3 years.
The assistance provided comprises of integrated packages covering visas, travel and insurance costs. The size of scholarships varies from US $1,300 to over 3,500 a month, depending on the course followed and the locations.
A recent estimate shows that 85% of courses are conducted in English medium.
Striving towards world wide excellence
Building on the successes of the 'Erasmus' programme in Europe, a similar 'Erasmus Mundus' programme was launched in non-European Union or Third countries in 2004, opening up possibilities of mobility and cooperation to students and universities outside Europe.
The main objective of Erasmus Mundus is to enhance the quality of education and promote dialogue between people and cultures of different countries. Participants acquire valuable skills that increase their future employability in a competitive and knowledge-based society. Researchers internationalise their techniques and build up methodological capacities. Links to businesses are also created in the process.
Since 2004 more than 800 universities have developed nearly 150 joint masters and doctoral courses attended by over 10,000 students and 2,000 academics from 140 countries.
Over 75% of Europe’s top 100 universities according to Shanghai rankings are participants in Erasmus Mundus courses, plus top universities from other parts of the world, such as Harvard, Berkeley and Johns Hopkins Universities in USA.
Erasmus Mundus and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is eligible for the programme and since it began more than 50 Sri Lankan students have been selected for Erasmus Mundus scholarships.
The European Union would like to see a growth in applications from Sri Lanka and an increase in the number of Sri Lankan students participating in the exchange program.
To this end, a visit from Erasmus Mundus Alumni was organized in May 2011 to Sri Lanka. The delegation of alumni included a Sri Lankan student who is currently following a Masters in Engineering in Spain, in the framework of the Erasmus Mundus.
The delegation of alumni visited the Universities of Colombo, Peradeniya and Moratuwa. They gave an in depth introduction of the programme, emphasizing the opportunities for students in Sri Lanka to enrich their higher education in prestigious universities in Europe. Some practical tips based on personal experience were also shared. The event was well received and the presentation in Moratuwa saw the participation of 120 students.
How to apply: useful links
The application process will start in September 2011.
Beforehand students are advised to get acquainted with the courses offered and are therefore suggested to visit the Erasmus Mundus website:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus
Select “Funding & scholarships - for students and academics” and click on the link to:
Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses (EMMCs) or
Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates (EMJDs)
All available courses are displayed and those in a specific discipline can be easily searched. Once students have made their selection, they should go to the website of the course selected.
The course website will give all the details required about tuition fees, application procedures, etc.
Applications must be sent directly to the co-ordinator of the selected course, which will be responsible for final selection.
Deadlines are usually between 01/11/2011 and 31/01/2012. It is the responsibility of every applicant to regularly check upon deadlines and the status of his/her application.
Other useful links
E-mail enquiries:
EACEA-erasmus-mundus@ec.europa.eu
