When Luna Martinez, a 22-year-old from Chile, dreamed of studying artificial intelligence across Europe, she thought the cost would keep it out of reach. But starting in autumn 2026, students like her from anywhere in the world will be able to apply for fully funded scholarships to study at some of Europe's top universities through the Erasmus Mundus programme.
The Erasmus+ programme just announced it has selected 87 new projects for 2024, including 37 new Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programmes. These are degree programmes designed and taught by teams of universities working together across different countries.
This year's selected programmes involve universities and organisations from 33 different countries, with another 57 countries represented as partners. That means universities from 90 countries around the world are participating. Each programme is run by an average of 28 different organisations working together.
The new masters cover a remarkable range of subjects, from Medical Image Analysis and Advanced Microscopy with Artificial Intelligence to Nuclear Decommissioning and European Master in Animation. Other options include Semiconductor Chips Integration and Innovation, Law Data and Artificial Intelligence, Infectious Diseases and One Health, and Large Scale Accelerators and Lasers. Students will choose one programme, but that programme takes them through multiple countries during their studies.
The European Union sees this as part of building what it calls the "Union of Skills" — a plan to attract, develop, and keep talented people to help Europe grow and innovate. But the scholarships are open to students everywhere, not just Europeans.
"Erasmus Mundus aims to promote excellence and global reach in higher education," the programme states.
Each of the 37 new programmes will be added to the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue and will open for student applications in autumn 2026. Studies will begin in September 2027. The scholarships cover tuition and living costs, making it possible for talented students from lower-income backgrounds to participate.
For students like Luna, this means a chance to build skills in fields that shape the future — technology, healthcare, environmental protection — while making connections across continents. Applications open soon for programmes that could change everything.