There are excellent fellowship opportunities for students accepted to an Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate programme. An employment contract will be given to all selected PhD students during the study time, which is between 3-4 years.
Doctoral candidates eligible for an EMJD Fellowship
Two different EMJD fellowships can be awarded to doctoral candidates:
- Category A fellowships can be awarded to third-country doctoral candidates selected by EMJD consortia who come from a country other than a European country (note 1) and who are not residents nor have carried out their main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years (note 2) in one of these countries. The only exception to this rule applies to third-country doctoral candidates who have previously received an Erasmus Mundus masters scholarship in order to follow an EMMC.
- Category B fellowships can be awarded to European doctoral candidates selected by EMJD consortia as well as to any doctoral candidates selected by EMJD consortia who do not fulfil the Category A criteria defined above.
Fellowship candidates fulfilling the eligibility criteria for both Category A and B – e.g. students with double nationality – must select the Category of their choice. As a result, they are entitled to apply only to one of the two categories of fellowship at a time.
Fellowship candidates must have already obtained a first post-graduate degree or demonstrate a recognised equivalent level of learning according to national legislation and practices (Candidates who will only obtain their postgraduate higher education degree at the end of the academic year preceding the one concerned by the fellowship application, can nevertheless apply for a doctoral fellowship and be selected by the consortium concerned, under the condition that they acquire the required degree prior to the beginning of the joint doctorate programme concerned).
Students not specifically selected for EMJD-DC fellowships might still be able to participate and follow the programme as well, but on an individual basis. These students need to pay all the fees and participation costs requested by the respective universities.
Who can receive an EMJD-DC fellowship?
Only candidates who have applied to and have been accepted by the EMJD-DC consortium, in accordance with its specific students’ application and selection criteria, are eligible for a fellowship. Both category A and B students are welcome to apply to the EMJD-DC PhD programme.
Individuals who have already benefited from an EMJD fellowship are not eligible for a second grant.
Students benefiting from an Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate fellowship cannot benefit from another European Community grant while pursuing their Erasmus Mundus PhD studies.
Students/Doctoral candidates can apply for an Erasmus Mundus fellowship to the Erasmus Mundus Action 1 joint programme (EMMC or EMJD) of their choice but the number of applications must be limited to maximum three different joint programmes.
How many fellowships are offered?
The number of fellowships in this application period is the following:
- 5 fellowships category A
- 1 fellowships category B
Fellowships rules and requirements:
- EMJD-DC PhD students need to spend their study period in at least two of the consortium partner countries. Note that these two countries must be different from the country in which the doctoral candidate has obtained his/her last university degree. The mobility period is, however, tailored to the specific PhD research project.
- EMJD-DC students should participate in the PhD programme in accordance with the terms defined by an, for each student, individual Doctoral Candidate Agreement (template document). Failure to do so could lead to the cancellation of the fellowship.
- EMJD-DC students’ scholarships are awarded exclusively for a full-time enrolment in one of the programme.
How large is the fellowship?
Monthly allowances in the form of employment contracts, depending on the rules at the particular university, will be provided to all successful EMJD-DC candidates during 3-4 years depending on each individual doctoral plan. This applies to both category A and B students.
The basis of these contracts is that all students selected for the EMJD-DC programme should thus be able to participate full-time, independently of the personal financial situation.
The financial conditions are:
- Fixed contribution to the travel, installation and any other types of cost: 7500 € for category A.
- A monthly gross salary of 2800 € (before deduction of any taxes or contributions) that corresponds to a net salary of around 1300-1600 € (to be fixed in the doctoral candidate agreement depending on national legislation).
- Participation costs (tuition fees, supervision fees) and insurance are included in the fellowship. In addition, contribution to e.g. travels to the yearly workshop are provided for up to a certain limit.
For details, see the Erasmus Mundus programme guide at:
Erasmus Mundus Programme Guide [go to page 37 for information on Joint Doctorates]
Fees and participation costs
Fees and other required participation costs to study for a PhD differ between the consortia partner universities. However, for PhD candidates selected for a fellowship for the EMJD-DC programme, participation costs and tuition fees will be provided for and thus waived. This applies in general for both category A and B students.
How can I apply for participation in EMJD-DC, including receiving a fellowship?
Students apply electronically to the EMJD-DC consortium. Based on these applications the selection is made, and competitive candidates may be further interviewed on an individual basis.
What is the evaluation criteria for fellowships?
Applicants who fulfil the minimum requirements are ranked according to the following criteria:
- Academic records and training: 40 %
- Level of English (above min threshold): 10 %
- Quality/recognition of home university: 20 %
- Research experience (Publications, etc): 10 %
- Motivation letter: 10 %
- Reference letters: 10 %
Electronic application form at:
Admission criteria and application process.
A summary of the results from the selection of fellowships from previous editions.
Note 1: European Country: A Member State of the European Union plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Note 2: The five-year reference period for this 12-month rule is calculated backwards as from the submission deadline for Category A applications by the EM consortia to the Agency (i.e. end of next February).