About this opportunity
ILSPSD, the International Law of Security, Peace and Sustainable Development programme, is a two year joint master's run by six European degree awarding institutions and a network of thirty associate partners. It trains the next generation of international lawyers and policy makers, and its curriculum sits international law alongside politics, sustainability and security studies.
Mobility is the spine of the programme. Over 24 months you study in three or more countries, starting at Leuphana University of Luneburg in Germany, then moving through the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals, the University of Glasgow, Universite libre de Bruxelles, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa and the University of Tartu. The final semester is given over to a research dissertation, with an optional work placement.
The money is clear. The Erasmus Mundus scholarship pays EUR 1,400.00 per month and covers the full 24 months of enrolment, treating travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs, and scholarship recipients are exempt from tuition fees. In total 70 Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available across four intakes, with roughly a quarter awarded to each intake.
Any region of the world can apply, and the programme does not fence African candidates out. One rule matters: no more than 10 per cent of the scholarships available on ILSPSD go to students of the same nationality, apart from students from targeted regions, so the place you compete for depends on where your degree came from as much as how strong it is. Scholarship applicants must already have finished their undergraduate degree, while conditional admission is reserved for self funded students who will complete within the intake year.
What you receive
- EUR 1,400.00 per month for the full 24 months of the programme
- Travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs covered by the scholarship
- Exemption from tuition fees for Erasmus Mundus scholarship recipients
- 70 Erasmus Mundus scholarships across four intakes, with about 25 per cent awarded to each intake
- Study in at least three countries across six partner universities in Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Portugal and Estonia
- A choice of four specialisation tracks, including international law and international security, security and conflict, globalization, law and security, and international law and human rights
- Summer schools, legal clinics, guest lectures and practitioner interaction alongside formal teaching
- A final semester for a research dissertation, with an optional work placement
- A network of thirty associate partners beyond the six degree awarding institutions
Who can apply
- An undergraduate degree of a minimum 180 ECTS within the European Higher Education Area, or its equivalent, from a fully accredited institution, provided the degree grants access to master's level studies in the country where it was issued
- If your studies sit outside the ECTS area, your workload must be converted at 1 ECTS per 25 to 30 total study hours, and the conversion statement uploaded with your diploma and transcript
- For Leuphana's LLM track in Semester 1, a minimum of 60 ECTS completed in law
- For Leuphana's MA track in Semester 1, a minimum of 60 ECTS in relevant subjects such as law, political science, international relations, European studies, war and security studies, sociology, political economics and human geography
- For the University of Glasgow track in Semester 3, a 2.1 Honours degree in Law, or a UK 2.1 Honours or international equivalent in international relations, politics or a relevant social science or humanities subject
- For Universite libre de Bruxelles in Semester 3, an LLB, master's degree or equivalent with at least 240 ECTS, or four years of studies, in law or a relevant subject
- For the University of Tartu in Semester 3, a Bachelor's or master's degree or equivalent with at least 60 ECTS of law or law related courses
- Universidade NOVA de Lisboa sets no additional Semester 3 requirement
- Applicants for an EMJM Student Scholarship must have finished their undergraduate studies by the time of application
- Applicants whose first language is not English, and whose undergraduate degree was not completed in English, must meet the programme language requirement
- Students from any region of the world may apply, with no more than 10 per cent of scholarships awarded to students of the same nationality, apart from students from targeted regions
Who should not apply
- Conditional admission for an unfinished undergraduate degree is available only on the self funded route, not for scholarship applicants
- The consortium states it cannot provide individual pre checks of entry requirements before submission
Documents to prepare
- Diploma and transcript of records from your degree awarding institution
- A written statement from your degree awarding institution of the working hours needed for each course, if your transcript does not show ECTS
- Your ECTS conversion calculations using the formula of credit hours per week in class and self study, multiplied by weeks per semester, divided by 25
- For self funded applicants still completing a degree, an official transcript stating you will finish in the intake year and can hand in the certificate before 31 August of that year
- Proof of English language ability if your first language is not English and your degree was not taught in English
- A supporting personal statement covering relevant work and practical experience
- Academic references
How to apply
- Read the Step by Step Application Guide on the programme site before you open the form, as the programme asks every applicant to do
- Decide which Semester 1 track you are applying to at Leuphana, the LLM or the MA, and check you meet its 60 ECTS requirement
- Check the Semester 3 entry requirements of the specialisation track you intend to choose
- Prepare your diploma, transcript, ECTS conversion evidence, language proof, personal statement and references
- Open the online application form, which became available on 1 October 2026
- Submit on the scholarship platform at awards.leuphana.de before 4 January 2027 at 23:59 CET
- If you are funding your own studies instead, the self funded platform stays open until 31 March 2027 at 23:59 CEST, with a EUR 500.00 deposit due by 31 May 2027
Selection process
- The Applications and Scholarship Selection Committee of the ILSPSD Consortium assesses every application
- On scholarship applications: academic merit 50 per cent, supporting personal statement including relevant work and practical experience 40 per cent, quality of academic references 10 per cent
- On self funded applications: academic merit 51 per cent, supporting personal statement including relevant work and practical experience 49 per cent
- Shortlisted scholarship candidates are interviewed in February or March 2027, with preliminary results in March or April 2027 and final results in April or May 2027
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Which deadline applies if I need scholarship funding?
The scholarship deadline of 4 January 2027 at 23:59 CET applies. The later date of 31 March 2027 is only for self funded applicants, so do not plan on waiting until March.
Do I need a law degree?
Not for every route. Leuphana's LLM track requires 60 ECTS in law, while the MA track accepts 60 ECTS in relevant subjects including political science, international relations, European studies, war and security studies, sociology, political economics and human geography.
Can I apply before I graduate?
Only as a self funded student, and then conditionally, with an official transcript confirming you will finish in the intake year. Scholarship applicants must have completed their undergraduate degree by the time they apply.
Is there a cap on applicants from one country?
Yes. As a general rule no more than 10 per cent of the scholarships available on ILSPSD go to students of the same nationality, with an exception made for students from targeted regions of the world.
Important disclaimer
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