Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are two-year master's courses run by a group of universities in different countries, and they come with full-time scholarships of EUR 1,400 a month for students who win a place. Austria is not the administrator of these scholarships. You apply to the consortium that runs the course, and the OeAD does not handle study applications at all.
What an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master actually is
An EMJM course is delivered by a consortium of at least three higher education institutions from different countries. You study at at least two of them, so you move between countries during the degree. The course usually lasts two years. Master's students from all over the world can apply, and scholarships go to outstanding students who have successfully applied to one of the EMJM courses.
The OeAD describes the scholarship as full-time and worth EUR 1,400 a month. That is the figure to plan around, but the consortium's own course page is where you confirm what the money covers and how long it runs.
How the money works and what it does not cover
The EUR 1,400 monthly scholarship is the headline support. It is not the same as an Austrian university tuition waiver, and it does not replace the compulsory student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) of EUR 26.20 per semester that all students pay. If your EMJM route brings you to an Austrian public university, the tuition rules depend on your nationality and on how long you have been studying: EU/EEA students pay no tuition only within the standard duration of the programme plus two semesters, and most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. Confirm the tuition position with the institution before you accept a place.
Our own directory lists one Erasmus Mundus programme among the English-taught programmes in this guide. That is a count from our catalogue, not a statement about how many EMJM courses exist across Europe.
Who applies, and when
You apply directly to the consortium, not through a central Austrian portal. Most master's programmes take applications between October and January for courses starting the following academic year, but that is a general pattern and not a rule for every EMJM course. Contact the consortium for its dates. The Erasmus Mundus catalogue also warns that some courses listed there no longer offer scholarships, so check the current status of the specific course before you build your plans around it.
Admission itself is organised by each institution, not centrally. There is no central application portal, and the OeAD does not process study applications. If you are also considering a standard Austrian master's, the general deadline at public universities for most bachelor's programmes is 5 September for the winter semester and 5 February for the summer semester, but other programmes and applicants from outside the EU/EEA can have different deadlines. Always take the date from the institution's own page.
Other scholarships in Austria you can compare
EMJM is one entry in a wider list. Our scholarships section sets out the options, including the Ernst Mach Grant worldwide, the Ernst Mach Grant for studying at an Austrian university of applied sciences, the Ernst Mach Grant ASEA-UNINET, the Ernst Mach Follow-Up Grant and CEEPUS. Each has its own eligibility and its own application route, so read the funder's page rather than assuming one form covers all of them. The full scholarship directory is where those entries sit side by side.
If you want to see which Austrian institutions teach in English before you choose a route, browse all universities in Austria. Our catalogue lists 65 Austrian higher education institutions and 589 programmes with English among their languages of instruction, imported from the Austrian national register: 455 are taught in English only and the rest in German and English. Those are our own counts, and they are useful for narrowing the field, not for replacing the institution's own programme page.
Visas, fees and the practical side
If you are from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland and you stay more than six months, you need a Residence Permit, Student. The application fee on oesterreich.gv.at is EUR 218, and the authority decides within 90 days. The residence authority decides on permits; no guide can promise you one. Check migration.gv.at and oesterreich.gv.at for the current wording before you apply.
One practical trap: an EMJM scholarship does not automatically sort out your Austrian enrolment paperwork, and the two processes run in parallel. Keep the consortium's admission letter and the university's enrolment requirements separate in your planning. If a figure matters to your budget, ask the institution or the consortium rather than relying on a general page.
| Item | What the facts say | Where to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| EMJM scholarship | EUR 1,400 a month, full-time, for successful applicants | The consortium running the course |
| Course length | Usually two years, at least three institutions, study at two | The consortium's course page |
| Application window | Most master's programmes: October to January | The consortium, for its own dates |
| ÖH-Beitrag | EUR 26.20 per semester, compulsory | The institution |
| Tuition at public universities | EU/EEA: no tuition within standard duration plus two semesters; most others: EUR 726.72 per semester | The institution |
| Residence Permit, Student | EUR 218 application fee; decision within 90 days | oesterreich.gv.at and migration.gv.at |
Sources
- OeAD, programmes A to Z
- EACEA, Erasmus Mundus catalogue
- Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at), as of October 2026
- Study in Austria, application and admission
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of international students
- oesterreich.gv.at, Residence Permit, Student
- Study in Austria, tuition
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Erasmus Mundus scholarship in Austria?
The OeAD says EMJM provides full-time scholarships of EUR 1,400 a month for excellent students who have successfully applied to one of the courses. That is the figure to plan around, but confirm the details with the consortium running your course.
Do I apply through an Austrian university or the OeAD?
Neither. You apply directly to the consortium that runs the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master. The OeAD does not handle study applications, and there is no central application portal.
When are Erasmus Mundus applications due?
Most master's programmes take applications between October and January for the following academic year, but that is a general pattern. Contact the consortium for its own dates, and check whether the course still offers scholarships.
Does the scholarship cover my residence permit and tuition?
The scholarship is a monthly living allowance of EUR 1,400. It does not replace the compulsory ÖH-Beitrag of EUR 26.20 per semester or any tuition that applies to you. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland also need a Residence Permit, Student, with a EUR 218 application fee on oesterreich.gv.at.