Erasmus Mundus Scholarship from Sri Lanka: Who Can Apply and How

TL;DR: An Erasmus Mundus scholarship from Sri Lanka can fund a full master's in Europe: a living allowance of €1,400 a month for the whole programme, plus travel, visa and participation costs. Students from every country are eligible, you apply directly to each programme, and most deadlines fall between October and January. The strongest applications target two or three programmes that fit the applicant's degree.

Most graduates who look for a funded master's know two names: Chevening and the Commonwealth Scholarship. Fewer know Erasmus Mundus, even though it funds whole master's programmes across Europe and is open to students from every country.

The application season is opening now. The European Commission says Erasmus Mundus deadlines generally fall between October and January for courses starting the following academic year, so the coming weeks and months decide who is in the running.

Not sure whether your degree and grades fit a funded master's in Europe? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What an Erasmus Mundus scholarship pays for

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are master's programmes run by groups of universities in different European countries. The highest-ranked applicants receive a scholarship from the European Union.

According to the European Commission's programme guide and its Erasmus+ pages:

• Living allowance: €1,400 a month.
• Duration: the scholarship covers the whole programme, whether it runs for 12, 18 or 24 months.
• Other costs: full scholarships cover travel, visa and participation costs as well as the living allowance.

For a two-year programme, the living allowance alone comes to €33,600. That is the kind of funding that changes what a family can consider.

Who can apply

The rules are more open than most people expect.

• Nationality: the European Commission states that scholarships "can be offered to students from all over the world." Every nationality is eligible.
• Degree: you need a bachelor's degree, or be in the final year of one and graduate before the programme starts.
• Where you apply: there is no central application. You apply directly to the university group that runs each programme, through that programme's own website.

There is one rule that works in your favour. Each programme must make sure that no more than 10% of its scholarships go to candidates of the same nationality. Large applicant countries cannot take every place, so a strong file competes on merit, not on numbers.

Want a view on which funded master's routes fit your degree before you start writing applications?

Check your eligibility ›

How Erasmus Mundus compares with other funded routes

Many applicants will hold more than one option this season. This table sets out the differences that matter when you plan your time.

Because each Erasmus Mundus programme sets its own deadline and requirements, the work multiplies with every programme you add. That is why we advise against applying widely. At Prosper, we apply to two or three carefully matched options for each student, not ten or twenty, and the same discipline works here. Two strong, tailored applications beat eight generic ones.

If you are also preparing for the UK routes, our guides to the Chevening Scholarship and the Commonwealth Scholarship cover their dates and rules.

How to build a strong application

1. Start with the catalogue. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency publishes the official catalogue of Erasmus Mundus programmes. Filter by subject and read the entry rules for each one.
2. Match your degree, not the country. Choose programmes whose entry requirements your degree already meets. A programme that asks for a subject background you do not have is not worth one of your two or three places.
3. Check the deadline and English rule for each programme. They differ. Some programmes close in October, others in January, and each sets its own English requirement.
4. Prepare your documents early. Most programmes ask for degree certificates and transcripts, an English test result, references and a motivation letter. Requesting certified copies of academic documents can take weeks, so start now.
5. Write each motivation letter for that programme. Explain why this programme, these universities and this subject fit your plan. Reviewers can tell a copied letter at once.

If you are not selected for a scholarship, some programmes still offer you a self-funded place. Treat that as a separate decision, and compare it with other options, such as a master's in the Netherlands, covered in our guide to the Netherlands February intake.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Eligibility: Erasmus Mundus is open to students from every country, including Sri Lanka.
• The 10% rule: the nationality limit works in a Sri Lankan applicant's favour. A strong Sri Lankan file competes on merit, not on numbers.
• Documents: requesting certified copies of Sri Lankan academic documents can take weeks, so start now.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship from Sri Lanka? Yes. The European Commission says Erasmus Mundus scholarships can be offered to students from all over the world.

How much is the Erasmus Mundus scholarship? The living allowance is €1,400 a month for the full programme. Full scholarships also cover travel, visa and participation costs.

When are the Erasmus Mundus deadlines? Deadlines generally fall between October and January for programmes starting the following academic year. Each programme sets its own date.

Do I apply to the European Union or to the university? To the programme. Each Erasmus Mundus programme runs its own application through its website.

Can I apply in my final year of university? Yes, provided you will graduate before the programme starts.

How many programmes should I apply to? Two or three that fit your degree well. Each needs its own tailored application.

PS: A funded master's in Europe is within reach for strong graduates, but only with the right programme choice from the start. If you want to know which funded routes fit your degree and grades, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›