Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO Scholarship 2026 | Fully Funded Master’s Scholarship in Europe (Deadline: 30 November, 2025)

Applications for the 2026/27 Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO Scholarship for international students are now open. It is an international master’s program funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus Mundus program.

It focuses on tropical biodiversity, ecosystems, and sustainable management. Students study in Europe and tropical regions, combining classroom learning with real-world field experiences in places such as rainforests, coral reefs, and mangroves.

The program prepares graduates for global careers in conservation, environmental research, and sustainability. It’s ideal for students who want hands-on training, cultural exchange, and a degree recognized across several partner universities.

Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO Scholarship Summary

Host Countries	Multiple (Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America — depending on study track)
Program Name	Master’s in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems – TROPIMUNDO
Location	Courses are offered across partner universities in Belgium, France, Italy, and tropical regions such as Cameroon, Malaysia, Colombia, and Sri Lanka
Eligible Nationalities	All
Degree Level	Master’s degree
Program Duration	2 years
Application Fee	$0
Deadline	30 November 2025

Participating Universities

There are both European / Programme Countries partners and Partner (tropical / non-European) universities. Here are several of them (list not exhaustive, but includes main ones):

Region	Universities / Institutions
Europe / Programme Countries	Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) – Belgium; Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) – France; Université de Guyane – French Guiana; Università degli Studi di Firenze – Italy
Tropical / Partner Countries	Université de Dschang (Cameroon), Université de La Réunion, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, University of Ruhuna (Sri Lanka), Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia), Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (Senegal), University of the Philippines Diliman, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie

Benefits of the Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO Scholarship

• Full or partial funding for many students via Erasmus Mundus scholarships, and for certain priority countries via VLIR-UOS funding under Mundus tropicalis.
• Tuition fee support and mobility support (travel, insurance) for scholarship holders.
• Field exposure in tropical ecosystems (a whole semester of courses + field schools in tropical regions), which offers hands-on learning in real environments.
• Interdisciplinary curriculum, combining biology, ecology, conservation, data/informatics, governance, etc.
• Joint degree issued by the European institutions involved in your trajectory, plus additional certifications (Europass Certificate, etc.).
• Cultural and language immersion, working in different countries, and adapting to different ecological, social, and scientific settings.
• Awards & recognition: Best Student Award and Thesis Award, which encourage excellence.

Study Tracks / Specialisations (“Trajectories”)

The programme offers multiple “specialisation tracks” / trajectories depending on the ecosystems, skills, and partner universities. Some of the specialisation topics include:

• Evolution of tropical flora and vegetation
• Faunistic assemblages (fauna diversity)
• Biodiversity data & databases: biogeographical, genetic, GIS, management of collections (herbaria, etc.)
• Study of dynamics, diversity, and evolution of ecosystems like tropical rainforests, woodlands, mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs
• Conservation & restoration ecology; sustainable management, governance of biodiversity
• Tropical ethnobotany; exploitation and valorisation of natural resources; conservation of traditional ecological knowledge.

Each student’s path (“trajectory”) is composed of four semesters:

• Semester 1 (in Europe): introductory courses to build foundational common competences.
• Semester 2 (in a tropical region): field courses + theoretical courses in situ.
• Semester 3 (Europe again, but specialisation): advanced/specialised courses at a European partner different from the first.
• Semester 4: Master’s Thesis (research) supervised jointly by institutions in the consortium. Returns to the starting European university.

Eligibility Requirements of the Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO Scholarship

To apply, these are the main eligibility criteria:

• A Bachelor’s degree (Science) equivalent to 180 ECTS from an accredited university, majoring in Biology, Natural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Proof of language proficiency: English; in many trajectories, also French and/or Spanish, depending on which universities or trajectories you select. (CEFR B2 for required languages). Extra‐curricular language courses may be offered if needed.
• Strong academic record; the selection is competitive and based on excellence.
• No restriction on nationality: both EU and non-EU students are eligible.

Required Documents for Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO Scholarship

You’ll need to prepare several documents, which you can typically upload as PDFs via the online application system. These include:

1. Bachelor’s degree certificate (or proof you will obtain it before the programme begins) and transcripts (marks, grades) from all years of study.
2. Proof of language proficiency (English, and if required by your trajectory, French and/or Spanish). E.g., international tests or evidence that part of your study was in that language.
3. Motivation/cover letter explaining why you want to join TROPIMUNDO, your interests, background, and future goals.
4. Letters of recommendation / academic references. Usually from professors or supervisors who can speak about your academic/research ability.
5. Proof of identity (passport or national ID) and a passport-type photograph.
6. In some cases, proof of other relevant experience or activities (e.g., field work, volunteering, work in environmental sciences) over recent years is required.
7. Additional documents as required by specific trajectories (for example, if your trajectory demands French proficiency, a certificate, or other special prerequisites).

How to Apply for the Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO Scholarship

Here are the steps to apply:

1. Watch for the application call
2. The call for Erasmus Mundus scholarships plus self-funded applicants opens once a year (roughly in October/November).
3. Sometimes, there are second calls for self-funded students if places remain available.
4. Register / Create an account on the TROPIMUNDO Application, Information and Management (AIM) tool. This is the portal through which you submit your application.
5. Fill out the application form online, selecting your preferred trajectory/specialization and the required partner universities. Be careful to match your language skills with the trajectory requirements.
6. Upload all required documents as PDFs in the online system. Ensure that multiple-page documents are merged into single PDFs as needed.
7. Submit before the deadline. For example, for some recent calls, the deadline has been 30 November for scholarship applicants.
8. Selection: Applications are evaluated by a Selection Committee composed of local coordinators from partner institutions. Excellence is a major criterion.
9. If awarded a scholarship, arrange all necessary details, including visa, enrollment, and insurance. For self-funded applicants, the same trajectory applies, but funding is your responsibility.
10. Student Agreement: Once accepted, you’ll sign a student agreement specifying your responsibilities, etc.