Erasmus Mundus
The Erasmus Mundus programme is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education which promotes the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world.
The programme aims to enhance the quality and attractiveness of higher education and to promote cross-cultural understanding through cooperation with partner countries (which are not EU members). It supports European top-quality Master Courses and Joint Doctorates and the attractiveness of European higher education in third countries.
The European Union provides EU-funded scholarships for third country nationals participating in these Master Courses and Joint Doctorates, as well as scholarships for EU-nationals studying at Partner universities throughout the world.
All Erasmus Mundus Master and Doctoral programmes lead towards double or multiple degrees, since it is obligatory to study at least at two universities in the consortium.
Erasmus Mundus programme has a budget of 930 million euros, of which 90% is intended for scholarships, and the rest is granted as direct support to participating universities for organizational preparations.
Erasmus Mundus programme comprises three actions:
Action 1 - Erasmus Mundus Master Courses (Action 1A) and Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates (Action 1B) constitute the central component around which Erasmus Mundus is built.
They are high quality Master and/or Doctoral level programmes offered by a consortium of higher education institutions in at least three different EU and/or third countries. The courses must be integrated in order to be selected under Erasmus Mundus, which means that they have to foresee a study period in at least two of the three institutions and lead to the award of a recognised double, multiple or joint degree.
Action 2 - Erasmus Mundus Partnerships (former External Cooperation Windows).
Action 2 provides support for the establishment of cooperation partnerships between EU and targeted third countries’ higher education institutions with the objective of organising and implementing structured individual mobility arrangements between European and third country partners. Scholarships length varies depending on the priorities defined for the third country concerned, the level of studies or the particular arrangements agreed within the partnership, for both European and third country individuals (students, scholars, researchers, professionals).
Action 3 - Enhancing attractiveness
Erasmus Mundus also supports projects aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of and the interest in European higher education.
It supports activities that improve the profile, visibility and accessibility of European higher education as well as issues crucial to the internationalisation of higher education, such as mutual recognition of qualifications with third countries. Higher education institutions and other public and private organisations active in the field of higher education play a key role in this action.
EM activities can be implemented by mixed networks of organisations active in the field of higher education composed of at least 3 participating organisations from European countries and 2 from third countries.
Erasmus Mundus II phase, lasting from 2009 to 2013, continues and extends the scope of activities already launched during the first phase (2004-2008).
Detailed information on the programme can be found in the TEMPUS Office Serbia official website.
