Scholarships

MARIHE Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027 — €1,400/Month Master’s

Faseeh Sultan

July 13, 2026
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MARIHE Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027 — €1,400/Month Funded Master’s in Higher Education

Imagine spending your master’s degree across three countries — starting in Austria, moving to Finland, and then choosing a specialization in either Asia or Europe — all without paying a single euro in tuition, and receiving €1,400 every month to live and study comfortably. That is exactly what the MARIHE Erasmus Mundus Joint Master offers for its 2027 intake. MARIHE — which stands for Management of Research and Innovation in Higher Education — is a fully EU-funded, internationally recognized master’s programme built for students who want to shape the future of universities, research institutions, and higher education systems worldwide. Applications for Intake 2027 are open right now, and the deadline is 21 September 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CEST. This complete guide tells you everything you need to apply with confidence.

Detail	Information
Programme	MARIHE — Management of Research and Innovation in Higher Education
Award Type	Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM)
Degree	Master of Science (120 ECTS / 4 semesters)
Funding Type	Erasmus Mundus Scholarship — tuition-free + €1,400/month stipend
Duration	Up to 24 months (max scholarship period)
Application Deadline	21 September 2026, 10:00 a.m. CEST
Intake	September 2027
Open To	Students from all nationalities worldwide
Official Link	MARIHE How to Apply

🎓 About the MARIHE Programme

MARIHE is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) — the most prestigious category of EU-funded master’s degrees — co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. It is designed for students who want to work at the intersection of higher education policy, research management, institutional leadership, and innovation systems.

The programme is coordinated by the University for Continuing Education Krems (UWK) in Austria and delivered by a consortium of seven universities across Europe and Asia:

University for Continuing Education Krems — Austria (Coordinator)
Tampere University — Finland
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences — Germany
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) — Hungary
University of Aveiro — Portugal
Beijing Normal University — China
Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology — India

What makes this different from a standard master’s degree is the genuine mobility it builds in. You don’t just study in one country — you live and study across at least two countries in two different continents during your programme. Your network becomes global from day one. The graduation rate is reported as nearly 100%, which is a strong indicator of how well-supported students are throughout the journey.

MARIHE is open to students from every country in the world, of every nationality. There are no country restrictions on who can apply.

🎓 Benefits and Funding

Here is the best part: every selected student gets tuition-free participation, regardless of whether they receive an Erasmus Mundus scholarship. The €18,000 participation cost is waived for all enrolled students. On top of that, Erasmus Mundus scholarship holders receive a generous monthly stipend.

For Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Holders:

€1,400 per month for the entire duration of the master’s programme
Maximum total scholarship value: €33,600 (calculated as €1,400 × number of months to complete the programme, up to 24 months)
The scholarship contributes to travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs — calculated on a monthly unit-cost basis
Health and accident insurance provided for all students (both with and without Erasmus Mundus scholarship), meeting EACEA minimum requirements including compliance with Austrian visa regulations
First payment arrives after arrival in Krems, Austria — costs before the programme start (visa, legalization, travel to Austria) must be self-financed initially

For Students Without an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship:

Full tuition waiver (€18,000 worth of participation costs covered by the consortium)
Eligibility for Erasmus+ Student Mobility funding (€300–€400/month) for semesters and internships outside of China
A special scholarship of up to €6,000 for students from deprived backgrounds or first-in-family students (maximum two per intake; covers travel and visa costs via reimbursement)
External funding options also listed and supported by the programme

Note: All costs before the programme starts — visa fees, document legalization, initial travel — are the student’s own responsibility and will not be reimbursed. Plan accordingly.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

MARIHE keeps its academic entry requirements open and welcoming — but the English language requirement is strict and has zero exceptions.

Bachelor’s degree: You must hold a first university degree of at least 3 years / 180 ECTS (e.g. a bachelor’s). There is no restriction on your field of study — any discipline is accepted
ECTS equivalency: If your country does not use ECTS, you need official proof of a successfully completed 3-year higher education programme
Cumulative recognition (e.g. 2-year bachelor + 2-year master counted together) is not accepted — only a standalone first degree of 3 years qualifies
Work experience is NOT required — but it is a significant advantage, especially in higher education, research, or management roles
English proficiency: You must provide one of the five accepted test certificates — IELTS Academic minimum 6.5 (no band below 5.5), TOEFL iBT minimum 4.5/92, PTE Academic minimum 62, Cambridge C1 Advanced grade C, or Cambridge C2 Proficiency grade C1

English Test Exemptions (limited): You may be exempt if you completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree taught entirely in English at an institution in a listed country. These include EU/EEA countries, Australia, Canada, UK, USA, India, Nigeria, South Africa, Philippines, Ghana, and others. Completing studies in English in a country not on the list does NOT grant exemption — no exceptions are made.

Mandatory physical mobility: All enrolled students must complete a minimum of two study periods in two different countries (at least one EU member state), with at least 30 ECTS each. This means Austrian or Finnish residents cannot select their home-country specialization for semesters 3 and 4.

Erasmus Mundus scholarship exclusivity: Students who have previously received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship are not eligible for another one.

🎓 Who Should Apply — and Who Shouldn’t

✅ MARIHE is a strong fit if you:

Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field and want to transition into higher education management, research policy, or institutional leadership
Want to study across multiple countries and experience genuine international mobility
Are motivated by how universities, research systems, and innovation ecosystems function — and want to help shape them
Work in or aim to work for universities, government ministries, international organizations, or consultancy firms in the education sector
Can demonstrate genuine passion for higher education in your motivation statement

❌ This programme may not suit you if:

You are looking for a technical, STEM, or professional master’s degree in a specific discipline (e.g. engineering, medicine, computer science)
You have already received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship — you are ineligible for another one
You cannot meet the strict English language test requirement (no alternative proofs accepted)
You are not prepared for significant international mobility and living in multiple countries across two years

🎓 Programme Structure and Specializations

MARIHE runs over four semesters (120 ECTS total) with a structured mobility path built in:

Semester 1 — Orientation (30 ECTS): Austria — University for Continuing Education Krems

Semester 2 — Foundation (30 ECTS): Finland — Tampere University

Semester 3 — Internship + Specialization (10 + 25 ECTS): Asia or Europe

For the Asia track, specializations available are:

Educational Planning (Beijing Normal University, China)
Social and Commercial Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (Thapar Institute, India)

For the Europe track, specializations available are:

Institutional Research
Research Management and Digital Transformation
Leadership and Management
Learning and Teaching
Policy Analysis

(Hosted across Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, or Portugal depending on the chosen specialization)

Semester 4 — Master’s Thesis (25 ECTS): Completed at a partner institution, with internship possible worldwide

Depending on which specializations you complete, your final award is either a Joint Degree, Double Degree, or Multiple Degree from the consortium partners — all of which carry full European recognition.

🎓 Required Documents

Applications are submitted exclusively online via the MARIHE Application Portal (Evalato). Before you begin, download and read the MARIHE Guidelines for Applicants — Intake 2027. The documents you will need include:

Completed MARIHE Application Form (document no. 1, submitted via Evalato) — indicate here whether you are applying for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship or not
Proof of your first university degree (bachelor’s certificate and transcript) — official or certified copies
Transcript of academic records from all higher education institutions attended
CV/Résumé — academic and professional background
Motivation letter — explaining your interest in MARIHE, your academic background, work experience (if any), and career goals; this is a critical component
Two letters of recommendation — from academic or professional referees
Proof of English language proficiency — one of the five accepted test certificates or an eligible degree for exemption (see Admission Requirements)
Copy of your passport or national ID

Late submission of English test certificates may be considered on request — follow the instructions on the Application Documents page.

🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process

Download the MARIHE Guidelines for Applicants (Intake 2027) from the official website — read every page before touching the application form
Check your eligibility carefully: confirm your degree qualifies, your English proof is accepted, and you meet the mobility requirement
Book your English test early if needed — test slots fill up fast and you cannot get an extension without proof of a booking
Request recommendation letters from your referees well in advance — two letters take time to arrange properly
Write your motivation letter — this is where most applications win or lose; be specific about why MARIHE and what you want to do in the higher education sector
Create your account and complete the application at https://11547.evalato.com/
Upload all required documents before the portal closes on 21 September 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CEST
Wait for the eligibility check — the MARIHE Secretariat verifies your English test results directly; you do not need to do this yourself
Check your email — all applicants are informed of selection results; shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview

Practical tip: The motivation letter is the most decisive document in your application. State clearly which specialization interests you and why, how your past experience connects to higher education management, and where you see yourself working in five years. Vague letters are the most common reason strong candidates are passed over.

Bookmark this page and check back for updates.

🎓 Important Dates

Milestone	Date
Application portal open	Now open
Application deadline	21 September 2026, 10:00 a.m. CEST
Intake start	September 2027
Programme duration	4 semesters (up to 24 months)

🎓 Why Apply — Why MARIHE

Here’s what makes MARIHE genuinely distinctive: this is one of the very few master’s programmes in the world specifically dedicated to how higher education institutions are managed, led, and reformed. Universities themselves are rarely studied as objects of academic inquiry — and yet they are among the most complex and consequential organizations in any society. MARIHE trains students to understand, evaluate, and improve them.

The Erasmus Mundus label carries enormous weight internationally. Employers in higher education, government, international organizations, and consultancy firms know what it means — that you were selected through competitive, merit-based review from thousands of applicants worldwide, and that you completed a rigorous programme across multiple countries and cultures.

Graduates of MARIHE go on to work in higher education institutions, government agencies, consultancy firms, start-ups, international and supranational organizations (including the EU, UNESCO, World Bank-linked bodies), university alliances, and NGOs. The programme’s alumni network is active and global. The nearly 100% graduation rate is rare for a demanding multi-country programme and speaks to the genuine support system in place.

For students from developing countries or non-traditional academic backgrounds, the combination of a free tuition fee, a €1,400/month stipend, and a globally recognized joint degree makes this one of the most impactful scholarship opportunities currently open anywhere in the world.

🎓 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply if my bachelor’s degree is in engineering, sciences, or a non-education field? A: Yes. MARIHE does not restrict the field of your first degree. Any bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years qualifies. What matters is your motivation and interest in higher education management.

Q: Is IELTS required for MARIHE? A: Yes — English proficiency proof is mandatory. MARIHE accepts IELTS Academic (minimum 6.5, no band below 5.5), TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or Cambridge C1/C2 certificates. Exemptions are possible only for degrees completed entirely in English in specific countries. No other proof is accepted.

Q: Can I apply for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship if I already received one before? A: No. Students who have previously received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship are not eligible for another one.

Q: What happens if I cannot submit my English test certificate before the deadline? A: You may request a late submission for your test certificate. Follow the instructions on the Application Documents page. Your application will not be considered without valid proof — so book your test as early as possible.

Q: Is work experience required? A: No — work experience is not a requirement for admission. However, it is a genuine advantage in the selection process, particularly experience in education, research institutions, or management settings.

Q: Do I need to choose a specialization when I apply? A: Check the MARIHE Guidelines for Applicants (Intake 2027) for current instructions on this — specialization preferences may be requested during the application or confirmed after selection (verify on official website).

🎓 Official Source and Contact

Application Portal: Apply Here — MARIHE Evalato Portal

Official Programme Website: www.marihe.eu

How to Apply Page: MARIHE How to Apply

Admission Requirements: MARIHE Admission Requirements

Funding and Scholarship Details: MARIHE Funding Opportunities

Secretariat Contact: marihe@donau-uni.ac.at

🎓 Summary Table

Detail	Information
Programme	MARIHE — Management of Research and Innovation in Higher Education
Type	Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM)
Degree	MSc — 120 ECTS, 4 semesters
Language	English
Tuition	Free for all selected students (€18,000 waived)
Erasmus Mundus Stipend	€1,400/month (max €33,600 total)
Countries	Austria → Finland → Asia (China/India) or Europe (AT/FI/DE/HU/PT)
Field	Higher education management, research policy, innovation systems
Open To	All nationalities worldwide
English Requirement	IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 4.5 / PTE 62 / Cambridge C1 grade C (mandatory)
Work Experience	Not required, but advantageous
Application Deadline	21 September 2026, 10:00 a.m. CEST
Intake	September 2027
Apply	MARIHE Application Portal
Contact	marihe@donau-uni.ac.at