Erasmus+ Scholarship for Indian Students 2026 — Complete Guide (Erasmus Mundus, Eligibility, Apply)

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The Erasmus+ Scholarship is the European Union’s flagship student exchange programme — and one of the most valuable opportunities for Indian students studying at a European university. If you are already enrolled at a European university or at an Indian university with an Erasmus+ partnership, you can apply for a funded exchange semester in another European country, with a monthly grant of €400–€800.

What is Erasmus+ and How Can Indian Students Benefit?

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth, and sport. For students, the most relevant strand is Erasmus+ Higher Education Mobility — which funds students to study or do an internship in another country for 3–12 months.

• Monthly grant: €400–€800 depending on destination country (Programme Countries) or €700–€1,200 (Partner Countries like India)
• No tuition fees at the host university during the exchange semester
• Credits transfer back to your home university
• Two pathways for Indian students: Study at a European university with Erasmus+ agreement, OR apply via your Indian university if it has an Erasmus+ partnership

Two Types of Erasmus+ for Indian Students

Type 1: Erasmus+ Exchange During European Studies

If you are already enrolled at a European university (e.g. University of Lithuania, University of Barcelona, TU Berlin), you can apply for an Erasmus+ exchange to spend one semester at a partner university in another EU country. Your home university handles the application internally.

Type 2: Erasmus+ Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD)

This is the most prestigious — a full Erasmus Mundus scholarship for a joint master’s degree across 2–3 European universities. Fully funded: tuition, travel, living allowance, and health insurance.

Programme	Field	Countries Involved	Grant
ERASMUS+ Master in European Law	Law	Germany, France, Spain	€1,000/month + tuition
EMJMD in Big Data Management	IT / Data Science	France, Spain, Poland	€1,000/month + tuition
EMJMD in Sustainable Energy	Engineering	Germany, Sweden, Italy	€1,000/month + tuition
EMJMD in International Public Health	Medicine/Health	Belgium, Spain, Portugal	€1,000/month + tuition
EMJMD in Food Innovation	Food Science	Italy, France, Germany	€1,000/month + tuition

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship — Full Amount Breakdown

Component	Amount	INR Equivalent
Monthly Living Allowance	€1,000/month	~₹92,000/month
Tuition Fee	Fully covered (€9,000–€18,000/yr)	₹0
Travel Allowance	€2,000–€4,000 (lump sum)	~₹1.84L–₹3.68L
Installation Grant	€1,000 (one-time)	~₹92,000
Health Insurance	Covered during exchange	₹0
Total 2-Year Value	~€38,000	~₹35 Lakh

Erasmus+ Eligibility for Indian Students

• Currently enrolled at a recognised university (India or Europe)
• Completed at least 1 year of higher education
• Strong academic record (no minimum GPA specified, but 60%+ recommended)
• English or host country language proficiency
• For Erasmus Mundus: bachelor’s degree completed, strong SOP, 2 recommendation letters

How to Apply for Erasmus+ as an Indian Student

For Erasmus Exchange (already in Europe)

1. Check your university’s international office for Erasmus+ partner universities
2. Apply internally through your university before the internal deadline (usually October or March)
3. Get nominated by your university and receive invitation from host university
4. Complete the Learning Agreement (list of courses to take at host university)
5. Apply for grant through your university’s Erasmus+ coordinator

For Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (from India)

1. Browse programmes at erasmus-mundus.eu and select 2–3 that match your field
2. Check each programme’s specific deadline (most are October–January for September intake)
3. Prepare: bachelor’s transcripts, SOP, 2 recommendation letters, English certificate, CV
4. Apply directly on the programme website (not through a central portal)
5. Results announced March–May

Top Erasmus Mundus Programmes for Indian Students 2026

There are 150+ Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programmes. Best fits for Indian students include:

• Computer Science / IT: EMJMD in Big Data Management, Distributed Computing, Software Engineering
• Engineering: EMJMD in Sustainable Energy, Advanced Materials, Computational Mechanics
• Business/Economics: EMJMD in International Economics, Finance and Economics
• Public Health: EMJMD in Global Health, International Public Health
• Environmental Science: EMJMD in Environmental Sciences, Water and Coastal Management

FAQs — Erasmus+ Scholarship for Indian Students

Can Indian students apply for Erasmus+ from India?

Yes — through two routes. Indian students already enrolled at a European university can apply for an exchange semester. Indian students in India can apply for Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees directly. Both routes provide funding.

What is the difference between Erasmus+ and Erasmus Mundus?

Erasmus+ is the broad EU programme covering student mobility, internships, and exchanges. Erasmus Mundus is a specific strand within it — fully-funded joint master’s degrees taught across 2–3 European universities. Erasmus Mundus is more prestigious and more competitive.

How competitive is the Erasmus Mundus scholarship?

Very competitive — acceptance rates are typically 5–10%. However, applying to 5–8 programmes simultaneously is common and recommended. Strong SOP, clear research motivation, and relevant academic background are key factors.