The MARIHE Erasmus Mundus Joint Master 2027 does exactly that. It is now open for applications. The programme combines full tuition coverage, worldwide health insurance, and a €1,400 monthly living allowance for Erasmus Mundus scholarship winners.
MARIHE stands for Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education. It is the only Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme designed specifically for future leaders in higher education, research policy, and institutional reform.
The application deadline is September 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CEST. The programme begins in September 2027.
If you want to work where education, research, and global development intersect, this programme was built for you.
Scholarship at a Glance
| Programme Type | Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) |
| Duration | 2 years, full-time (120 ECTS) |
| Monthly Stipend | €1,400 (Erasmus Mundus Scholarship winners) |
| Tuition Coverage | Full tuition fee waiver for all selected students |
| Insurance | Worldwide health and accident insurance |
| Eligible Applicants | Graduates from all fields, worldwide |
| Application Deadline | September 21, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CEST |
What Is MARIHE and Why It Matters
Higher education across the world is under immense pressure. Universities must internationalize, digitalize, prove social value, attract research funding, and manage institutional complexity.
MARIHE was built to train the people who will lead that transformation.
The programme describes itself as the only Erasmus Mundus Joint Master focused on future higher education leaders and change-makers. That is not marketing language. It reflects the niche this degree occupies globally.
No other Erasmus Mundus programme targets higher education management, research governance, and innovation policy at this level. For professionals who want to work within universities, ministries, research agencies, international organizations, or education consultancy firms, MARIHE gives a direct academic pathway into that world.
Financial Benefits in Full
This is one of the most financially comprehensive master’s programmes available through Erasmus Mundus.
Every student selected into MARIHE receives:
- Full tuition fee waiver for the entire two-year programme
- Worldwide health and accident insurance throughout the studies
- Erasmus+ student mobility funding, where applicable
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship recipients receive an expanded package:
- Full participation costs and tuition fees covered
- Worldwide health and accident insurance included
- €1,400 monthly allowance toward travel, visa, relocation, and living costs
The consortium also awards an additional scholarship for students from deprived backgrounds or first-in-family candidates. Two places per intake are reserved for this support.
This layered funding structure means MARIHE takes financial barriers seriously. The scholarship is not a partial discount. It is a genuine pathway for students who could not otherwise afford to study across multiple European and Asian countries for two years.
What You Will Study in MARIHE
MARIHE is an interdisciplinary programme. It sits at the crossroads of education, public policy, research management, institutional governance, and international development.
Core academic and professional themes include:
- Higher education systems and comparative education policy
- Research and innovation management
- University governance and institutional transformation
- Entrepreneurship and innovation in academic environments
- Internationalization strategies in higher education
- Academic leadership and university administration
- Research-intensive institutions and global university alliances
- Education consultancy and policy analysis
- Cross-cultural academic cooperation and institutional strategy
Students do not study these themes from a single national perspective. The multi-country consortium structure means you encounter different systems, regulations, and institutional cultures across the two years.
The MARIHE Consortium Universities
MARIHE is coordinated by the University for Continuing Education Krems in Austria. Its international partner universities span Europe and Asia:
- Tampere University – Finland
- Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences – Germany
- Eötvös Loránd University – Hungary
- University of Aveiro – Portugal
- Beijing Normal University – China
- Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology – India
This consortium is what gives MARIHE its cross-continental character. Students gain exposure to higher education systems across Central Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, East Asia, and South Asia. That breadth is nearly impossible to replicate in a single-country master’s programme.
Who Should Apply
MARIHE is a strong fit if you are interested in any of the following career directions:
- University management or academic administration
- Education policy at national or international level
- Research management or innovation consultancy
- International education organizations or multilateral bodies
- Quality assurance and accreditation agencies
- Think tanks and education reform institutes
- Doctoral research in higher education studies
- Start-ups or social enterprises in education and research
The programme attracts applicants from public administration, social sciences, economics, management, international relations, education, humanities, and STEM backgrounds. No single field is required. What matters is your motivation and your vision for working in or around higher education systems.
Eligibility Requirements
MARIHE is open to applicants from any country worldwide. You are eligible if you meet these conditions:
- You hold a first university degree with a minimum duration of three years of full-time study, equivalent to at least 180 ECTS credits
- Your degree can come from any subject discipline
- You have sufficient English language proficiency for a full English-taught international master’s programme
- You are available for two years of full-time international study beginning September 2027
- You can demonstrate clear motivation for a career connected to higher education, research systems, institutional reform, or related policy areas
There is no requirement for a specific undergraduate discipline. A strong, convincing motivation letter showing why you want to work in higher education and research is central to a competitive application.
What Makes a Strong Application
Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria is the starting point. A competitive MARIHE application goes considerably further.
Strong applicants typically demonstrate:
- A clear and specific career goal connected to higher education or research systems
- Evidence of engagement with education, research, or policy in their previous studies or work
- A well-structured motivation letter that explains what they want to change and why
- Language proficiency that reflects genuine readiness for international, multilingual academic environments
- Academic results that support their research and analytical capacity
The selection panel looks for applicants who can articulate what higher education systems need to change and how they intend to contribute to that change. Generic motivation letters do not compete with candidates who have thought deeply about these questions.
Career Paths After MARIHE
MARIHE graduates build careers across a wide range of sectors. Former participants have gone on to work in:
- Universities as managers, researchers, and policy advisors
- National and regional ministries of education and research
- European and international higher education organizations
- Quality assurance and accreditation bodies
- Research funding agencies and councils
- International development organizations and NGOs working in education
- Education consultancy firms and think tanks
- Doctoral programmes in higher education studies at leading universities
The combination of Erasmus Mundus recognition, multi-country study experience, and MARIHE’s niche academic focus creates a distinctive professional profile that few other master’s programmes can match.
Application Deadline and How to Apply
The deadline to apply for MARIHE 2027 is September 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CEST.
To apply, follow these steps:
- Visit the official MARIHE website at marihe.eu
- Review the admission requirements and scholarship criteria
- Prepare your application documents, including your motivation letter, academic transcripts, degree certificates, and proof of English language proficiency
- Submit your complete application before the deadline
Late or incomplete applications are not considered. Begin your preparation well before September to give your motivation letter and supporting documents the attention they require.
A Master’s Programme Built for the Future of Higher Education
The MARIHE Erasmus Mundus Scholarships 2027 offer something genuinely rare. A fully funded, internationally mobile, research-driven master’s degree focused on one of the most important sectors in global development: higher education itself.
Full tuition waiver. Worldwide insurance. A €1,400 monthly stipend. Study across Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, China, and India. Graduate into careers that shape how universities and research systems function worldwide.
The application deadline is September 21, 2026. The programme begins September 2027.
If you want to lead change in higher education, research governance, or education policy, visit marihe.eu and apply before the deadline.
