Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The Erasmus Mundus MARIHE Scholarship 2027 is fully funded. It pays your tuition, worth about 18,000 euros over the two years, and gives you 1,400 euros a month to live on, for a two-year master’s degree that you study across several universities in Europe. The full name is the Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education, and that is exactly what it is about: how universities are run, funded, and improved.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host countries | Europe (partner universities in Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, and Portugal, with options in China and India) |
| Provider | MARIHE consortium, funded by the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus programme |
| Study level | Two-year master’s degree |
| Funding | Fully funded: tuition covered (about 18,000 euros over two years) plus 1,400 euros a month |
| Who can apply | Students from any country who hold a first university degree |
| Fee | No application fee stated |
| Deadline | 21 September 2026, 10:00 CEST |
What is the MARIHE master’s?
MARIHE is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master. So it is a single master’s degree taught by a group of universities together, and you move between them as you study. You start in one country and spend later terms in others, so you finish with one degree and experience of several education systems.
The subject is higher education itself. You learn how universities are managed, how they are funded, how education policy is made, and how to bring in change and new ideas. So it is a good fit if you already work in a university, a ministry of education, or an education charity, or if you want to.
The money comes from the European Union through the Erasmus Mundus programme, which funds joint master’s degrees like this one and opens them to students from anywhere in the world, including Africa.
What you get
- Your tuition covered, worth about 18,000 euros across the two years.
- A monthly stipend of 1,400 euros, to help with rent, food, travel, and daily costs.
- The chance to study in more than one European country under one degree.
The 1,400 euros a month is meant to carry your living costs while you study. It is a real, usable amount in most of the partner cities, though you will still want to budget carefully, especially in the more expensive ones. So confirm the exact terms in the MARIHE guidelines before you count on any figure.
What will you actually study?
This is a focused degree, not a general one, so be clear-eyed about it. You will study higher education management, research and innovation in universities, education policy, and how institutions change. So if that is the world you want to work in, few scholarships fit it better. If you are looking for engineering, medicine, or computer science, this is not the one, and there is no shame in that. We post fully funded master’s scholarships in those fields on the site every week, so go find yours.
This one suits people who care about how universities work. So if that is your world, you will feel at home in it.
Who can apply
- You are a student from any country. This one is open worldwide.
- You hold a first university degree, a bachelor’s or its equivalent.
- You can show strong English. The listings point to TOEFL iBT 92 or above, IELTS 6.5 or above, PTE 62 or above, or a Cambridge C1 or C2 certificate.
- You have a real interest in higher education, research, or education policy, which you will need to show in your application.
Is there an age limit?
The program does not advertise an age limit. Erasmus Mundus master’s degrees are open to recent graduates and to working professionals alike, so if you finished your first degree a while ago, that on its own does not stop you. Check the MARIHE guidelines to be sure, then apply on the strength of your background.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
Yes, you need to prove your English, and the accepted tests include TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Cambridge certificates. Still, there are exemptions if you did your degree in English in certain countries. There are also exemptions if you did your degree in English in certain countries, so check whether that is you first. Read the exact requirements on the official page so you know what you need.
Can I apply with a low GPA?
Erasmus Mundus programs look at your whole application, not just one number. So your motivation, your work in or around higher education, and how well you explain why you want this specific degree all count. A modest GPA with a sharp, focused application can still compete. Read what MARIHE asks for and put your energy into the parts you can still shape.
Is it really free?
The scholarship pays your tuition and gives you a monthly stipend, and no application fee is listed on the official page. Apply only through the official MARIHE page linked at the end of this post.
What you need to apply
You apply online through the MARIHE portal. Because the deadline is close, gather these now:
- Your degree certificate and academic transcripts.
- Your CV.
- A motivation letter, explaining why higher education and why MARIHE.
- Proof of English, or proof you qualify for an exemption.
- Reference letters, if the application asks for them.
- A copy of your passport.
How to write the motivation letter
Your motivation letter is the heart of this application. The panel wants to know why you, and why higher education. So do not write about wanting to study in Europe. Write about the university or education problem you care about. Maybe your own university had a broken admissions system, or your country needs better research funding, and you want to be the person who understands how to fix it. One real, specific reason beats a page of general ambition. Write it yourself, keep the language plain, and make your interest in higher education impossible to miss.
How to apply, step by step
- Check the basics. You hold a first degree and you are genuinely interested in higher education.
- Open the official MARIHE page (the button is at the very end of this post) and read the guidelines for applicants.
- Check the English requirement and whether you qualify for an exemption. Do this first, because time is short.
- Get your documents together from the list above.
- Write your motivation letter yourself, and make it specific.
- Fill in the online application and submit before 10:00 CEST on 21 September 2026.
- Watch your email for updates from the MARIHE Secretariat.
How they choose
The consortium reads your grades, but it reads your motivation and your fit for the field just as closely. This is a specialized degree, so they want people who clearly belong in it. So your letter, your background in or near higher education, and your references carry real weight. Show that you know what the degree is about and that you have a reason to want it.
Deadline
Applications close on 21 September 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CEST.
The deadline is close, about ten days away, so this is a start-today one. If your documents and your English proof are ready, you can put together a strong application in the time left. Write your motivation letter first, and submit a day early, because the MARIHE portal has been busy this cycle.
Do you work in or want to work in higher education? Tell us in the comments what you would want to change.
Related reading
- Chevening Scholarship 2027/2028 (Fully Funded)
- Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026/27 (Fully Funded Tuition + Stipend)
- Reuters Institute Journalist Fellowship at Oxford 2026/27 (Fully Funded)
- Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Scholarship 2027 (Fully Funded)
Stay with us
Get every new fully funded scholarship the moment we post it.
- Join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaYCHkaHQbS75dDgTc3E
- Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nk_consultancy_ltd
