An Erasmus Mundus scholarship in Denmark is not something you apply for through a Danish central system. You pick a specific joint master's course that involves a Danish institution, and you apply to that course directly, usually between October and January for the following academic year. The scholarship money comes with the programme, and the programme decides who gets it.
Let's walk through how it actually fits together.
What an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master actually is
These are master's courses run jointly by a Danish institution and another European university or college. You study across more than one place, and you come out with a joint or multiple degree rather than a single-country one.
Study in Denmark says the programme is open to both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students, and that scholarships are available for specific master's courses. It also links to a list of approved Erasmus Mundus Master courses in Denmark, which is the sensible place to start shortlisting.
If you want to see what else is on offer alongside these, our scholarship directory lists Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships next to schemes like the Danish State Scholarships at Aarhus University and the Danish Government Scholarships at the University of Copenhagen.
What the scholarship covers
According to the European Commission, an Erasmus Mundus scholarship covers your participation costs and contributes towards travel, visa costs and a living allowance. The awards go to the best-ranked applicants worldwide, so it is a competition, not an entitlement.
The Commission does not publish a single flat figure that applies to every course, and neither do we. If you want the actual amount for a specific programme, ask that programme, the participation costs and the allowance are set at course level.
Who can apply
You need a bachelor's degree, or you need to be in your final year of one. Either way, you must have graduated before the master's course begins. That last point catches people out: being nearly finished is fine at application stage, but not at enrolment.
There is no EU/EEA restriction on who can apply, the programme is open to students from inside and outside the EU/EEA. The competition for the funded places is worldwide, which is why the Commission describes awards as going to the best-ranked students.
How and when to apply
In most cases you apply between October and January for courses starting the following academic year. You apply directly to the chosen programme, not centrally.
This is the opposite of undergraduate entry in Denmark, where applications go through www.optagelse.dk and are then assessed by the institutions, with deadlines of 15 March and 5 July at 12 noon CET. Don't mix the two up. For a master's, the deadline belongs to the course consortium, and it can differ from course to course.
Study in Denmark is explicit that you must contact the individual Erasmus Mundus master's courses about scholarships and application procedures. Do that early, the consortium is the only body that can tell you its deadline, its document list and whether scholarship consideration is automatic with your application or a separate tick-box.
A short checklist
- Find the approved Erasmus Mundus master's courses in Denmark via Study in Denmark.
- Shortlist two or three that match your background.
- Email each consortium about scholarship eligibility, deadlines and required documents.
- Prepare your bachelor's transcript, degree certificate (or proof of final-year status) and whatever else the course asks for.
- Submit directly to the programme before its deadline, aim to be done well before January.
Erasmus Mundus versus other Danish scholarships
It helps to know how this sits beside the national schemes. Here is the comparison, using only what our directory lists:
| Scheme | Who runs it | Where you apply |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships | A consortium including a Danish institution and another European university or college | Directly to the joint master's course |
| Danish State Scholarships at Aarhus University | Aarhus University | The university |
| Danish Government Scholarships at the University of Copenhagen | University of Copenhagen | The university |
| DTU Tuition Fee Waiver for International MSc Students | DTU | The university |
| SDU Tuition Fee Waiver Scholarships (Sønderborg MSc and Vejle BSc) | SDU | The university |
| Aalborg University Master's Scholarship | Aalborg University | The university |
Notice the difference in shape. Erasmus Mundus is a joint degree with mobility built in; the others are scholarships attached to a single Danish institution. If you want one campus and one city, the national schemes may suit you better. If you want to study in two places, Erasmus Mundus is the structure for you.
One funding point that matters for EU/EEA applicants: higher education in Denmark is free of charge for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and for students entitled to the same status as Danish citizens under EU law. Other full-degree students pay tuition set by each institution. For an Erasmus Mundus course, the participation costs are set by the consortium, so check what applies to you rather than assuming.
You can browse the institutions involved through our universities section, and if you want the full set rather than a shortlist, see all universities in Denmark. We list 24 Danish higher education institutions and 422 programmes imported from the Study in Denmark register.
Practical things people forget
Permits if you are from outside the EU/EEA
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland normally need a residence permit for study before arriving. You apply through the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI), and the details live on nyidanmark.dk. SIRI decides on permits; the institution decides on admission. Don't rely on a forum post for either.
Credits and quality rules
All Danish higher education institutions use ECTS credits and follow national rules on teacher qualifications, degree structures and examinations. That makes it easier to compare courses, but read the specific programme page for how the joint degree splits its credits between partners.
Confirm the details
Tuition fees and application deadlines on this site are shown as listed in the Study in Denmark register. Confirm them with the institution before you rely on them. Check studyindenmark.dk for the approved course list, su.dk if you end up studying a full Danish degree and want to know about student support, and the programme itself for anything scholarship-related.
The short version: find the course, email the consortium, apply directly before the January window closes.
Sources
- Study in Denmark, scholarships
- Study in Denmark, how to apply
- Study in Denmark, tuition fees and scholarships
- Study in Denmark, guarantee for a quality experience
- Study in Denmark, residence permits for non-EU/EEA citizens
- European Commission, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship in Denmark?
You apply directly to the specific joint master's course that involves a Danish institution, not through a central Danish system. In most cases applications open between October and January for the following academic year. Contact the course consortium for its exact deadline and documents.
Who is eligible for an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship?
You need a bachelor's degree, or you need to be in your final year and graduate before the master's begins. The programme is open to both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students, and awards go to the best-ranked applicants worldwide.
What does the Erasmus Mundus scholarship pay for?
The European Commission says it covers participation costs and contributes towards travel, visa costs and a living allowance. The exact amounts are set at course level, so ask the individual programme rather than relying on a general figure.
Do I apply to Erasmus Mundus through optagelse.dk?
No. Optagelse.dk coordinates undergraduate applications, with deadlines of 15 March and 5 July at 12 noon CET. Erasmus Mundus master's applications go straight to the course consortium, usually between October and January.