Erasmus Mundus EMABG Scholarship 2027

Multiple Universities

Scholarships
Europe
September 24, 2026

The European Master in Animal Biodiversity and Genomics (EMABG) is a 2-year Erasmus Mundus Joint Master taught in English. The programme focuses on animal biodiversity, genetics, genomics, animal breeding and related areas.

The third intake application period opens on September 15, 2026, and closes on January 15, 2027, for applicants seeking an Erasmus Mundus scholarship. The programme welcomes applicants of any nationality who meet its admission requirements.

Students study at two of the six consortium universities during the programme. The first semester is at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), followed by a second university according to the selected study track.

Quick Details

Item	Details
Programme	European Master in Animal Biodiversity and Genomics (EMABG)
Programme type	Erasmus Mundus Joint Master
Degree level	Master’s
Duration	2 years
Study language	English
Total credits	120 ECTS
Application opens	September 15, 2026
Scholarship deadline	January 15, 2027
Scholarship	EMJM scholarship
Scholarship amount	€1,400 per month for 24 months
Scholarships per intake	Around 15
Study locations	Six European consortium universities
Universities attended	Two universities according to the study track
Application route	EMABG central application database
Application fee	Not specified on the current official source

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What Is the EMABG Programme?

EMABG is an international master’s programme designed for students interested in the scientific and practical challenges related to animal breeding, biodiversity and genomics.

The programme combines areas such as genetics, genomics, biodiversity, animal breeding, bioinformatics, statistics and animal science.

Students begin their studies at NMBU in Norway and then continue at another consortium university according to their selected study track.

The programme has four main study-track themes:

Designing and implementing breeding programmes for small populations
Conservation genomics for rare and endangered breeds and species
One Health: Health and welfare in humans and animals
Understanding biodiversity: Integrative biology
Bioinformatics applied to biodiversity and genomics

The official curriculum currently lists the corresponding mobility options as NMBU-BOKU, NMBU-WUR, NMBU-UGOE, NMBU-APT and NMBU-SLU.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to applicants with a relevant bachelor’s degree and the required academic background.

The main academic requirement is a Bachelor of Science degree of at least 180 ECTS in Animal Science.

Applicants from other relevant bachelor’s programmes may also be considered if they have appropriate knowledge and skills in areas such as:

Mathematics, biostatistics or bioinformatics
Zoology, anatomy or physiology of farm animals
Biodiversity and breeding
Genetics and genomics
Agricultural sciences
Animal production

The consortium evaluates the applicant’s previous academic background to determine whether it is relevant to EMABG.

Applicants who already have a master’s degree can apply. However, the University of Göttingen cannot accept applicants who already hold a master’s degree in a similar field.

International Eligibility

EMABG states that applicants of any nationality may apply if they meet the admission requirements.

Therefore, applicants from outside Europe can apply. However, nationality does not remove the academic, English-language and document requirements.

The programme also distinguishes between Programme Countries and Partner Countries for Erasmus+ scholarship purposes. Applicants should follow the scholarship rules that apply to their nationality and application status.

English Language Requirements

English proficiency is a specific requirement for EMABG.

Applicants must normally submit an accepted English-language certificate meeting the programme’s required scores.

Accepted options include:

TOEFL iBT: minimum 92, including at least 23 in speaking
Academic IELTS: minimum 7.0, including at least 6.5 in speaking
Cambridge C1 Advanced: score 180–210, Grade C
Cambridge C2 Proficiency: score 180–230, Grade C

The certificate must have been taken no more than two years before the application deadline.

The programme does not accept IELTS Online or IELTS One Skill Retake. TOEFL paper-based and TOEFL ITP are also not accepted.

There is an exemption for applicants who completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Australia, Ireland, Canada except Quebec, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States, but the programme specifies additional conditions. The degree must have been fully taught in English, completed on campus, and not be a double-degree programme partly conducted in another country.

Important: Applicants should not assume that studying in English in another country automatically provides an exemption. The official EMABG rules limit this exemption to the countries and conditions listed above.

What Does the EMABG Scholarship Cover?

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship provides:

€1,400 per month
Scholarship duration of 24 months
Tuition fees covered by the programme
Insurance covered by the programme
Support intended to cover food
Accommodation costs
Travel costs
Visa costs

The programme states that there are a limited number of scholarships, around 15 per intake.

The scholarship should therefore not be understood as an automatic benefit for every admitted student. Applicants compete for a limited number of Erasmus Mundus scholarships.

Important Funding Conditions

The official programme also lists several practical conditions that applicants should understand.

Scholarship holders:

Cannot receive subsistence costs in their country of residence at the time of application.
Must initially pre-finance their travel expenses to the first-year university or the university hosting the Welcome Course.
Receive the scholarship payment into a European bank account after arrival.
Must cover their own accommodation costs during the Welcome Course, Summer School or Graduation Event.

These conditions are important because receiving a scholarship does not necessarily mean that every expense is paid in advance.

What Documents Are Required?

The current EMABG application procedure lists the following documents and application materials:

Bachelor’s degree certificate
The certificate must be issued by the university and be dated, signed and stamped. An English translation is required if the document is not in English.
Transcript of records
The transcript should show courses, grades, grading scale and average grade. All years of the programme must be included.
Passport scan
The personal-information and photograph page is required.
Current residence certificate
This must be in English or translated into English. Several forms of residence evidence are accepted under the official rules.
Curriculum Vitae
The programme prefers the Europass format and asks applicants to include education, work experience, additional training, publications and research projects or theses where relevant.
Photograph
English-language certificate
Applicants must provide an accepted English-language qualification unless they qualify for the specified exemption.
Preferred study-track letter
Applicants must identify their preferred three study tracks and explain why they want those tracks. The programme specifically states that this is not a general motivation letter.
Two recommendation letters
The letters should come from two different professors or employers.
Motivation video
Applicants must submit a 1–2 minute MP4 video explaining why they want to join the programme. The maximum file size is 50 MB.

All application documents must be submitted through the EMABG application database. The programme states that only complete applications submitted through this database are considered.

How to Apply

The application is submitted through the EMABG central application database, coordinated through BOKU.

Step 1: Check the academic requirements

Confirm that your bachelor’s degree and previous courses provide the required background in animal science or relevant areas such as genetics, genomics, statistics, biodiversity and animal production.

Step 2: Check the English requirement

Prepare an accepted English certificate that meets the required overall and speaking scores, unless you qualify for the official exemption.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

Prepare your degree certificate, transcript, passport, residence document, CV, photograph, language certificate and recommendation letters.

If your academic documents are not in English, prepare the required official English translations.

Step 4: Select your preferred study tracks

Choose your preferred three study tracks and explain your reasons clearly in the required study-track letter.

Step 5: Prepare the motivation video

Record the required 1–2 minute personal motivation video in MP4 format. The programme emphasizes personal motivation and experience rather than general information copied from the website.

Step 6: Register in the EMABG application database

Create your application through the official EMABG application system and upload the required documents in PDF format where required.

Step 7: Submit before the deadline

For the Erasmus Mundus scholarship, submit the complete application by January 15, 2027.

You do not need to submit a separate EMABG application directly to each partner university.

What Happens During Selection?

Complete applications that meet the admission requirements are evaluated by the EMABG selection committee.

The current selection criteria are:

50% Diploma/Transcript of Records
- 20% academic excellence
- 30% academic relevance to EMABG
20% Motivation Video
20% CV
10% Recommendation Letter

The programme states that it does not hold selection interviews.

The selection process also aims to maintain geographical and gender balance and apply equal-opportunity principles. In most cases, the consortium can select a maximum of two candidates per country.

Selection Timeline

For the current application cycle, the official programme provides the following general timeline:

September 15, 2026: Application period begins
January 15, 2027: Scholarship application deadline
February 2027: Selection meeting
Beginning of March 2027: Results are expected to be communicated
April 2027: Scholarship and admission documentation for selected candidates
August 2027: Start of the study programme / Welcome Course

The exact dates of individual notifications may change, so applicants should monitor the official EMABG application system and email after submitting their application.

What Will You Study?

The curriculum is different according to the selected study track, but the programme includes advanced subjects related to animal science and genomics.

Examples of subjects listed in the current curriculum include:

Animal breeding
Population genetics
Molecular evolution
Genomics
Bioinformatics
Statistical genetics
Breeding informatics
Biodiversity
Conservation genetics
Animal health and welfare
Animal production
Sustainable food systems
Quantitative genetics
Molecular genetics
Biostatistics
Computational biology
Research methods

Students also complete a master’s thesis.

For example, the NMBU-Wageningen track includes courses related to breeding laboratories, advanced statistics, population and quantitative genetics, wildlife conservation genetics, molecular ecology and genomics.

The NMBU-SLU track includes genome analysis and bioinformatics.

This makes the programme particularly relevant to applicants whose academic interests connect animal science with modern genetics, genomic data and biodiversity research.

Important Points Before Applying

The scholarship is competitive

There are around 15 Erasmus Mundus scholarships per intake, so meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee a scholarship.

Your academic background matters

The selection system gives 50% of the evaluation to the diploma/transcript category, including academic performance and the relevance of previous courses.

Applicants should therefore pay close attention to how their previous studies connect with animal science, genetics, genomics, statistics, biodiversity or breeding.

The motivation video must be personal

The programme specifically evaluates personal motivation and experience in the motivation video. A generic explanation copied from the programme website is not what the selection criteria are designed to reward.

Do not submit separate applications to every university

The EMABG application is submitted through the central application database. The programme specifically tells applicants not to send additional EMABG applications directly to consortium members.

Complete applications are important

Only complete applications submitted through the official database are considered for selection.

Check your documents early

Applicants whose academic documents are not in English need official English translations. Residence documents also have specific requirements, so preparing them shortly before the deadline may create problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the EMABG Scholarship 2027 deadline?

The deadline for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship application is January 15, 2027.

When does the EMABG 2027 application open?

The third intake application round opens on September 15, 2026.

Is EMABG a master’s programme?

Yes. EMABG is a 2-year master’s programme with 120 ECTS credits.

Is the EMABG programme taught in English?

Yes. The programme is taught in English, and applicants must meet the specified English-language requirements unless they qualify for the stated exemption.

Can international students apply?

Yes. The official application page states that EMABG welcomes applicants of any nationality who meet the admission requirements.

How much is the Erasmus Mundus EMABG scholarship?

The current official EMABG information states that the EMJM scholarship provides €1,400 per month for 24 months.

How many scholarships are available?

The programme states that there are around 15 scholarships per intake.

Does the scholarship cover tuition?

The official EMABG scholarship page states that tuition fees and insurance are covered by the programme for scholarship holders.

Do I need IELTS for EMABG?

Applicants normally need an accepted English-language certificate. Academic IELTS is one accepted option, with a minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum speaking score of 6.5.

Applicants should not assume that IELTS is the only option because TOEFL and Cambridge qualifications are also accepted under the current rules.

Can I apply if I already have a master’s degree?

Yes, but there is an important restriction: the University of Göttingen cannot accept students who already hold a master’s degree in a similar field.

Can I apply while I am still completing my bachelor’s degree?

Yes, under specific conditions. Non-EU students can apply if they complete their studies by March 15, while EU students can apply if they graduate by July 1. The programme requires confirmation from the university by the application deadline.

Do I need a motivation letter?

The current application procedure asks applicants to submit a letter explaining their preferred study tracks. The programme explicitly says that this is not a general motivation letter.

Applicants must also submit a separate motivation video of 1–2 minutes.