If you are looking for an international Master’s programme that combines higher education, research, innovation and international mobility, the MARIHE Erasmus Mundus Joint Master 2027 is an opportunity worth considering.
MARIHE stands for Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education. It is a two-year, full-time Erasmus Mundus Joint Master delivered by a consortium of universities in Europe and Asia. The programme is taught in English and is open to applicants from different academic backgrounds.
For the 2027 intake, applications are currently open, with the first-round deadline set for 21 September 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CEST.
What makes this opportunity particularly interesting is that all selected MARIHE students receive a tuition-fee scholarship, while a limited number are selected for the additional Erasmus Mundus scholarship, which provides a monthly allowance.
📌 MARIHE 2027 at a Glance
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| 🎓 Programme | Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE) |
| 📚 Level | Master’s |
| ⏳ Duration | 2 years / 4 semesters |
| 🌍 Programme type | Erasmus Mundus Joint Master |
| 🗣️ Language | English |
| 🌎 Eligibility | Applicants from around the world |
| 🎓 Previous degree | At least 3 years / 180 ECTS |
| 💰 Tuition | €18,000 participation costs waived for selected students |
| 💶 Erasmus Mundus scholarship | €1,400 per month, maximum €33,600 |
| 🏥 Insurance | Health and accident insurance |
| 📅 2027 intake | September 2027 |
| ⏰ Round 1 deadline | 21 September 2026, 10:00 a.m. CEST |
| 🎥 Round 2 deadline | 11 December 2026, 10:00 a.m. CET |
The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is limited, so being selected for MARIHE does not automatically mean receiving the monthly Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
🎓 What Is the MARIHE Programme?
MARIHE is an international Master’s programme focused on the development and management of research and innovation in higher education.
The programme brings together universities from several countries and gives students an opportunity to study across different higher-education systems and cultures. The consortium currently includes institutions in Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, China and India.
The programme is particularly relevant for people interested in areas such as:
- Higher education
- Educational policy
- Research management
- Innovation
- Internationalisation
- Management
- Leadership
- Regional development
- Project management
- Policy analysis
Importantly, MARIHE does not require applicants to have a Bachelor’s degree in a particular subject. Applicants from different academic backgrounds can apply if they meet the other admission requirements.
💰 What Funding Is Available?
One of the most important things applicants should understand is that MARIHE has different funding levels.
1. Tuition-Fee Scholarship
Every selected student receives a tuition-fee scholarship.
The programme’s published guidelines state that the participation costs for the four-semester programme are €18,000, and these costs are waived for selected students.
This means applicants should not assume that they need to personally pay the €18,000 participation cost if they are selected for MARIHE.
2. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
A limited number of selected students can additionally receive the Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
The current MARIHE funding information states that the scholarship is calculated at:
€1,400 per month
for the duration of the Master’s programme, with a maximum of 24 months, giving a maximum scholarship amount of:
€33,600
The allowance contributes towards travel, visa, installation and living/subsistence costs.
3. Health & Accident Insurance
MARIHE states that all students, including those without an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, receive health and accident insurance meeting the required coverage standards.
⚠️ Important: Not Everyone Gets the €1,400 Monthly Scholarship
This is something applicants should understand before applying.
MARIHE says that tuition-fee scholarships are available to all selected students, but the number of Erasmus Mundus scholarships is limited.
Therefore, we should not describe MARIHE as though every admitted student automatically receives €1,400 every month.
There are essentially two important possibilities:
Selected + Erasmus Mundus scholarship
→ Tuition covered + €1,400/month + insurance.
Selected without Erasmus Mundus scholarship
→ Tuition covered + insurance, with other funding possibilities potentially available.
MARIHE also lists additional funding options, including Erasmus+ Student Mobility funding and special scholarships for certain students without an Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
🌍 Who Can Apply?
MARIHE is open to applicants from all over the world.
The basic academic requirement is a:
🎓 First university degree
Applicants must have completed a first university degree involving at least three years of full-time study, corresponding to 180 ECTS or an equivalent qualification.
The degree does not have to be in a specific subject.
This is an important advantage for applicants from different academic backgrounds.
🇳🇬 Can Nigerians Apply?
Yes. 🇳🇬
Nigeria is specifically included among the countries whose previous tertiary education may qualify an applicant for an English-language test exemption, provided the education meets MARIHE’s stated conditions and English was the sole medium of instruction.
However, Nigerian applicants should not automatically assume that they are exempt from the English requirement.
MARIHE has specific rules governing exemptions, and applicants should check whether their previous studies satisfy those rules.
🗣️ English Language Requirement
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency for academic study.
MARIHE currently accepts specific English-language tests, including:
- IELTS Academic: minimum overall 6.5, with no individual score below 5.5
- PTE Academic: minimum 62
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: minimum grade C
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency: minimum grade C1
- TOEFL iBT: specific minimum requirements depending on when the test was completed.
MARIHE specifically states that other documents, such as WAEC or Duolingo, are not accepted as substitutes for its listed English-language requirements.
There can be an exemption for applicants whose previous tertiary education was completed in an eligible country where English was the sole medium of instruction. Nigeria is included in the programme’s listed countries.
💼 Is Work Experience Required?
No.
Work experience is not an admission requirement for MARIHE.
However, relevant professional experience can strengthen an application, particularly experience gained in a higher-education institution.
For example, experience involving:
- Universities
- Colleges
- Education administration
- Research
- Academic programmes
- Education policy
- Higher-education projects
could be useful when explaining your motivation and suitability for the programme.
🎯 What Kind of Applicant Is MARIHE Looking For?
MARIHE places particular importance on the applicant’s motivation and interest in higher education, research and innovation.
Applicants should be able to explain:
- Why they want to study MARIHE
- How the programme connects with their previous education
- How their work experience, if any, relates to the programme
- What they want to achieve professionally
- How MARIHE fits into their future career plans.
This means applicants should avoid submitting a generic motivation letter that could be used for any Master’s programme.
🌏 International Study Experience
MARIHE is not a conventional Master’s programme where students remain in one country for the entire two years.
The programme includes mandatory physical mobility, with students required to complete study periods in at least two different countries, including at least one EU Member State.
This international structure is one of the distinctive features of MARIHE.
Students therefore need to be prepared for:
✈️ International travel
🌍 Living in different countries
🎓 Studying at different institutions
🤝 Working with people from different cultures
📚 Adapting to different academic environments
📅 Important 2027 Application Dates
For the MARIHE 2027 intake, the application process has two rounds.
🟢 ROUND 1
All applicants submit nine mandatory application documents.
Deadline:
📅 21 September 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. CEST
🟠 ROUND 2
Only shortlisted applicants move to the second round.
They will be required to submit one mandatory video.
Deadline:
📅 11 December 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. CET
📝 Application Process
MARIHE uses a two-round selection process.
Round 1
Applicants submit the required documents through the official online application portal.
Eligibility Check
The MARIHE team checks whether the application meets the formal requirements.
Round 1 Assessment
Eligible applications are reviewed and scored by two independent reviewers.
Shortlisting
Successful applicants are invited to Round 2.
Round 2
Shortlisted applicants submit the required video.
Final Selection
The scores from the assessment rounds are used to form a ranking, after which applicants may be placed on:
- Erasmus Mundus Scholarship main list
- Erasmus Mundus Scholarship reserve list
- Tuition Fee Scholarship main list
- Tuition Fee Scholarship reserve list
- Not placed/rejected.
MARIHE Erasmus Mundus 2027: Documents, Selection Process and How to Apply
If you are considering the MARIHE Erasmus Mundus Joint Master 2027, getting the application documents right is just as important as meeting the academic requirements.
MARIHE uses a two-round selection process. All applicants begin with nine mandatory documents, while only shortlisted candidates proceed to the second round and submit a video. The programme warns applicants to pay close attention to the formal requirements because applications that do not meet them may not be considered.
📋 Part 2: What You Need to Prepare
Round 1 — Nine Mandatory Documents
Every applicant must prepare the following:
- MARIHE Application Form
- Passport or National ID
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) in Europass format
- Motivation Letter
- First University Degree Certificate/Diploma
- Official Transcript of Records
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Essay
MARIHE provides templates and specific instructions for several of these documents. Applicants should follow those instructions rather than submitting generic documents prepared for another scholarship.
⚠️ An important CV instruction
MARIHE specifically asks applicants not to include a personal photograph in their CV. This is intended to reduce unconscious bias during the review process. Your identification document and other official documents can still contain a photograph where applicable.
🎥 Round 2: The Video
You don’t need to prepare the video immediately if you are applying.
Only applicants who are shortlisted after Round 1 are invited to Round 2.
Shortlisted candidates must submit one mandatory video through the MARIHE application portal. The exact topic and length should be taken from the current MARIHE Guidelines for Applicants rather than guessed from information on other websites.
Missing the Round 2 video deadline means the applicant is excluded from the student selection process.
🗓️ MARIHE 2027 Application Timeline
The current timetable is:
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Round 1 application deadline | 21 September 2026, 10:00 a.m. CEST |
| 📩 Eligibility check | After submission |
| 🔎 Round 1 assessment | After formal eligibility check |
| 🎯 Shortlisting | Applicants are notified |
| 🎥 Round 2 video deadline | 11 December 2026, 10:00 a.m. CET |
| 🏆 Final selection | After both assessment rounds |
The programme’s official application page confirms that the 2027 intake is open and that the application period closes on 21 September 2026.
🧠 How MARIHE Assesses Applications
This is one of the most useful things applicants should understand before submitting their documents.
Round 1
MARIHE currently gives the following weighting:
- 40% — Academic Quality
- 40% — Motivation & Career Alignment
- 20% — Personal Skills
Academic quality is assessed through your academic records, while motivation and career alignment are considered through documents such as your motivation letter, CV and recommendation letters. Personal skills include qualities such as resilience, collaboration, intellectual curiosity and leadership potential.
Round 2
The video is assessed on:
- 50% — Motivation
- 50% — Communication Skills
The final selection gives 80% weight to the Round 1 score and 20% to the Round 2 score.
What does this mean for applicants?
It means that a strong academic record alone is not enough.
Your application should tell a convincing story:
Your education → your experience/interests → why MARIHE → your career goals → how you intend to contribute to higher education.
That is much stronger than simply saying that you want a scholarship because you need financial support.
🇳🇬 Important Information for Nigerian Applicants
Nigerian applicants should pay particular attention to the English-language requirement.
MARIHE states that an English test exemption may be possible when previous tertiary education was completed in an eligible country with English as the sole medium of instruction. Nigeria is included on MARIHE’s list.
However, this should not be treated as an automatic exemption for every Nigerian applicant.
If your circumstances are unclear, MARIHE advises applicants to contact the Secretariat before submitting the application.
This is important because the programme has formal document requirements and applicants are responsible for making sure their application is complete.
📄 What If Your Degree Certificate or English Test Result Is Not Ready?
There is a useful provision for applicants who are waiting for either:
- Their first university degree certificate, or
- Their English-language test certificate.
MARIHE allows a late submission arrangement only for application document 5 (degree certificate) and document 7 (English test certificate).
Applicants must submit the appropriate statement through the application portal before the normal application deadline and then provide the missing certificate by:
📅 11 December 2026
If the required document is not provided by that date, the application can be rejected for formal reasons.
So applicants should not assume that every missing document can be submitted later.
🌍 International Mobility Is Part of the Programme
MARIHE is designed as an international study experience rather than a Master’s degree completed entirely at one university.
The programme requires enrolled students to undertake physical study periods in at least two different countries, including at least one EU Member State.
The current programme structure includes study periods involving countries such as:
🇦🇹 Austria
🇫🇮 Finland
🇩🇪 Germany
🇭🇺 Hungary
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇨🇳 China
🇮🇳 India
The exact mobility/specialisation path depends on the programme structure and selected specialisation.
This is therefore an excellent opportunity for someone who genuinely wants international academic and professional exposure, but applicants should also be prepared for the practical realities of moving between countries.
💰 A Very Important Funding Point
There is a difference between tuition coverage and receiving the Erasmus Mundus monthly scholarship.
MARIHE states that the €18,000 participation costs are covered for all students selected to participate. Students without an Erasmus Mundus scholarship receive a tuition-fee waiver from the consortium.
However, the Erasmus Mundus scholarships are limited.
Therefore:
Getting selected for MARIHE does not automatically mean that you will receive the Erasmus Mundus monthly scholarship.
Applicants can apply for participation with or without an Erasmus Mundus scholarship. MARIHE actually recommends considering the tuition-fee scholarship option because the Erasmus Mundus scholarships are highly competitive.
💶 Other Funding Possibilities
Students who do not receive an Erasmus Mundus scholarship may still have other funding possibilities.
MARIHE lists:
Erasmus+ Student Mobility
Eligible students may be able to receive approximately €300–€400 per month, depending on the country and study/internship period, for up to 12 months. Funding availability is not guaranteed for every cohort.
Special Scholarships
MARIHE also offers special scholarships for students from deprived backgrounds and/or first-in-family students who do not hold an Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
There can be up to two such scholarships per intake, with each worth up to €6,000 toward travel and visa costs.
This makes it important not to assume that an applicant who misses the main Erasmus Mundus scholarship has no possible financial support.
⚠️ Costs You Should Still Plan For
“Tuition-free” does not mean that every expense associated with studying abroad disappears.
MARIHE states that its participation costs do not cover expenses such as:
- ✈️ Travel from your home country
- 🛂 Visa and passport costs
- 🏠 Accommodation
- 🍽️ Living expenses
- 📄 Translation and legalisation of documents
- ✈️ Travel between mobility locations
- 📚 Books and other personal study expenses
MARIHE also notes that costs incurred before the programme starts, such as visa, legalisation, travel and housing costs, have to be financed by the student and are not reimbursed through the first Erasmus Mundus payment.
This is why applicants should prepare financially even when applying for a scholarship.
📝 How to Make Your Application Stronger
Based on MARIHE’s published assessment criteria, applicants should concentrate on quality rather than simply submitting many documents.
1. Make your motivation specific
Explain why MARIHE specifically fits your goals.
Avoid writing:
“I want to study abroad because it will give me a better future.”
Instead, connect your previous education, experience and future plans with the programme’s focus on higher education, research and innovation.
2. Make your CV relevant
Your CV should clearly show your education, experience, projects, achievements and activities that support your application.
And remember the MARIHE instruction: do not put a personal photograph in your CV.
3. Choose recommenders carefully
Your recommendation letters should come from people who can genuinely discuss your academic ability, motivation, skills or relevant experience.
4. Take the essay seriously
Don’t treat the essay as another formality.
Follow the official template, answer the requested topic and respect the specified length.
5. Prepare for the possibility of a video
If you reach Round 2, the video becomes important because communication skills account for half of the Round 2 assessment.
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Before submitting your application, check for these issues:
❌ Missing one of the mandatory documents
❌ Ignoring the official templates
❌ Submitting documents in an unacceptable format
❌ Using a generic motivation letter
❌ Adding a photograph to the CV despite the programme’s instruction
❌ Assuming every Nigerian applicant automatically qualifies for an English-test exemption
❌ Waiting until the last minute to upload documents
❌ Assuming the €1,400 monthly Erasmus Mundus scholarship is guaranteed
❌ Forgetting that travel, visa and living expenses may still need to be covered
❌ Missing the Round 2 video deadline after being shortlisted
MARIHE says that applications that do not meet the formal requirements may not be considered, so document preparation deserves serious attention.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is MARIHE fully funded?
It depends on what you mean by “fully funded.” Participation/tuition costs are covered for all selected students, but the additional Erasmus Mundus scholarship is limited. Other living, travel and visa costs may depend on the funding package received.
Can Nigerians apply?
Yes. MARIHE is open internationally, and Nigeria is included among the countries where previous tertiary education may qualify for an English-test exemption when the programme’s conditions are met.
Do I need work experience?
No. Work experience is not a mandatory admission requirement, although relevant experience can strengthen your application.
Do I need IELTS if I studied in English in Nigeria?
Not necessarily. MARIHE provides an exemption route for eligible applicants whose tertiary education was completed in Nigeria with English as the sole medium of instruction. Check the official conditions carefully.
How many documents are required?
There are nine mandatory documents in Round 1. Shortlisted applicants then submit one video in Round 2.
When is the 2027 application deadline?
The Round 1 deadline is 21 September 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CEST. Shortlisted applicants have until 11 December 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CET to submit the Round 2 video.
🚀 Final Advice for Applicants
If you are seriously interested in MARIHE 2027, don’t wait until the final week.
Start by downloading the current applicant guideline and application templates. Then prepare your academic documents, CV, motivation letter, recommendation letters and essay carefully.
Most importantly, don’t build your application around the question:
“How can I get the scholarship?”
Build it around:
“Why am I a strong fit for MARIHE, and what will I do with this opportunity?”
That approach is much more closely aligned with the programme’s published assessment criteria, particularly its emphasis on academic quality, motivation, career alignment and personal skills.
🔗 Official Application
The official MARIHE application portal is available through the programme’s official “How to Apply” page. MARIHE states that applications are accepted electronically through its online portal and that applications sent by email or other channels are not accepted.
MARIHE Official Application & How to Apply