About this opportunity
NOHA, the Network on Humanitarian Action, is an association of universities that has run a joint master's degree in humanitarian action since 1993, and it is described as the first master's programme in humanitarian studies. It was selected again as an Erasmus Mundus programme in 2025, so the 2027 to 2029 cohort carries Erasmus Mundus scholarships. The degree takes two years, four semesters and 120 ECTS.
The shape of the programme is where it gets interesting. You start at a home university for a Foundation Period, move to a host university for a Specialisation Period, then work through a Contextualisation Period and finish with a Research Period back at your home university. Teaching runs in English, Spanish or French depending on the universities you attend, and the delivering universities are Aix-Marseille Universite, University of Malta, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Universidad de Deusto, University College Dublin, Uniwersytet Warszawski and Uppsala universitet, with eleven global partner universities alongside them.
This is a scholarship route, not an open door. Candidates need a first cycle degree, a Bachelor at EQF level 6, in a discipline relevant to humanitarian action, a recognised language certificate at the level the chosen universities require, and a completed application with every compulsory attachment. If you want the Erasmus Mundus grant, your degree must be finished by the 15 December 2026
Application timeline
The application window for scholarship candidates runs from 1 October 2026 to 15 December 2026, and the portal states the
Application timeline
as 23. 59 GMT.
Because the same application system also carries a self funded route with its own timetable, check the current
Application timeline
shown on the programme page for the route you are applying under before you submit.
What you receive
- Erasmus Mundus scholarship places for the 2027 to 2029 cohort
- A two year joint master's degree worth 120 ECTS across the NOHA university network
- International mobility through four stages: Foundation, Specialisation, Contextualisation and Research periods
- Study in English, Spanish or French depending on your home and host university
- Teaching from more than 150 in house experts and field experienced guest lecturers
- Specialisations across the network including resilience, forced migration and human security, humanitarian analysis and intervention design, humanitarian policy and practice, and armed conflict and humanitarian action
- Access to an alumni community of over 3,500 graduates working in humanitarian relief and international cooperation
- A joint master's degree title awarded under Erasmus Mundus, a programme selected again for European Commission funding in 2025
Who can apply
- A completed application submitted through the online application system, including all compulsory attachments
- A minimum of a university first cycle degree, a Bachelor at EQF level 6, in a discipline of relevance to humanitarian action
- A recognised qualification in the language or languages of instruction of the universities you plan to attend: English at C1, French at C1, Spanish at B2
- For the Erasmus Mundus student scholarship, you must have completed your degree studies by the 15 December 2026 application deadline
- Candidates are chosen from both Programme Countries and Partner Countries under the Erasmus Mundus scholarship rules
- The application system is open to candidates from all world regions, with different numbers of scholarship places allocated across regions
Who should not apply
- Applications without every compulsory attachment are treated as incomplete
- Language evidence below the level required by your chosen universities does not qualify
Documents to prepare
- Copy of passport
- Certified copy of diploma
- Certified copies of academic transcripts
- Curriculum vitae in English
- Reference letters
- Proof of the language qualification for each language of instruction you rely on
- For Erasmus Mundus scholarship candidates, a residence certificate issued by your municipality within the 12 months before the deadline, in Dutch, English, French, German, Maltese, Polish, Spanish or Swedish
- A certificate from your place of work, study or training, issued by that employer or institution within the 12 months before the deadline, with a certified English translation if it is not already in English
How to apply
- Read the common minimum eligibility criteria on the NOHA application portal before you begin
- Choose your home and host universities and check the specialisation and language requirements each one carries
- Collect certified copies of your diploma and transcripts, your passport copy, your CV in English and your reference letters
- Request the residence certificate and any work, study or training certificate so both fall within 12 months of the deadline
- Register on the NOHA joint online application system and complete every compulsory field and attachment
- Submit the application before 23.59 GMT on 15 December 2026 if you are applying for the Erasmus Mundus grant
Selection process
- Type and level of academic qualifications
- Type and level of research experience
- Type and level of professional experience, including practical experience in humanitarian action with governmental, intergovernmental and non governmental organisations
- Motivation and concern for humanitarian issues
- Level of linguistic abilities
- Recommendations
- Results of interviews, where applicable
- Nationality and gender balance
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Which deadline applies to the Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
The scholarship application window runs from 1 October 2026 to 15 December 2026, and the portal states the closing time as 23.59 GMT on 15 December.
Can I apply if I have not finished my degree yet?
For an Erasmus Mundus student scholarship you must have completed your degree studies by the 15 December 2026 application deadline. The portal also carries a question on applying without a diploma in hand, so check the guidance there for your situation.
Do I have to choose my universities before I apply?
You select the universities you want to attend as part of the application, and the language requirement follows from that choice. The portal asks whether your selection is binding at the application stage, so read that entry before submitting.
What language level do I need?
A recognised qualification at C1 in English, C1 in French or B2 in Spanish, for the language or languages of instruction of the universities you plan to attend.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
