GEM Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027–2029: Fully Funded Master’s in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation
Are you interested in geospatial science, climate change, environmental research, satellite technology or data-driven solutions for global environmental challenges?
- Duration2 years (120 ECTS)
- Who can applyWorldwide
- Application feeFree
Overview
The Erasmus Mundus MSc in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation for Environmental Modelling and Management (GEM) is a joint international programme coordinated by the University of Twente in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Lund University, UCLouvain and the University of Tartu.
For the 2027–2029 intake, selected students can receive a fully funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship covering tuition fees, student insurance and a monthly allowance of €1,400 for up to 24 months.
The programme welcomes eligible international applicants, including students from India. There is no application fee, and applicants who submit a complete application before the deadline are automatically considered for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
The GEM programme focuses on Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation for Environmental Modelling and Management.
It prepares students to use geospatial technologies, satellite imagery, remote sensing, spatial data analysis and environmental modelling to address real-world challenges.
Students learn how to collect, process and interpret geographical and environmental data to support sustainable development, natural resource management, urban planning and environmental protection.
The programme is jointly delivered by four European universities. Students select one of four specialisation tracks and study at two partner universities in different European countries over the two-year programme.
Graduates receive a double master’s degree.
At a glance
About
- Opportunity type
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship
- Host institution
- GEM Consortium, coordinated by the University of Twente
- Location
- Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Estonia
- Duration
- 2 years (120 ECTS)
- Mode
- Full-time, on-campus
- Participating universities
- University of Twente, Lund University, UCLouvain and University of Tartu
- Eligible academic background
- Geography, Geoinformatics, GIS, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Ecology, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering and related disciplines
- Scholarship value
- €1,400 per month for up to 24 months
- Scholarship availability
- Approximately 17–18 scholarships for the 2027–2029 intake
- Event
- Date
- Application portal opens
- 1 October 2026
- Scholarship interview invitations
- February 2027
- Scholarship interviews
- February–March 2027
- Admission and scholarship results
- 31 March 2027
- Programme commencement
- September 2027
Funding
- Application fee
- Free
- Tuition fee
- Fully waived for Erasmus Mundus scholarship recipients
Eligibility
- Study level
- Master’s Degree
- Language
- English
- Age limit
- Free
- Nationality
- Worldwide
- Minimum degree required
- Bachelor’s degree of at least 180 ECTS or equivalent, with First Class or Upper Second Class (2.1) results
- Work experience
- Not mandatory
Who can apply
Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
1. Academic Qualification
Applicants must hold a recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification.
The degree must:
- Represent at least 180 ECTS credits or three years of full-time university education.
- Provide access to master’s-level studies in the country where the qualification was awarded.
- Be awarded by an institution ranked among the top 10,000 universities worldwide in the Webometrics Ranking at the time of application.
Final-year bachelor’s students can also apply if they provide an official university statement confirming their current academic status and expected graduation date.
The final degree certificate and transcript must be submitted before 31 July 2027.
2. Academic Performance
Applicants must have achieved:
- First Class, or
- Upper Second Class (2.1), or an internationally recognised equivalent.
Country-specific minimum CGPA/GPA requirements also apply. Applicants must check the University of Twente’s requirements for their country and educational system.
A Lower Second Class (2.2) degree does not satisfy the minimum academic requirement.
3. Relevant Academic Background
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the programme, including:
- Geography
- Geoinformatics
- Geomatics
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Earth Observation
- Remote Sensing
- Environmental Sciences
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Natural Resource Management
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Land-use Planning
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Civil Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Computer Science
- Data Science
Applicants from other academic backgrounds may also be considered if their previous studies, research or professional experience demonstrate sufficient preparation for the programme.
Previous GIS or Remote Sensing coursework is advantageous. At least 15 ECTS in relevant coursework is highly recommended for the Geospatial Developer and Geospatial Modeller tracks.
4. English Language Proficiency
Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through one of the accepted tests.
Minimum requirements include:
- IELTS Academic: Overall 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each section.
- TOEFL iBT (before January 2026): Overall 100, with at least 25 in each section.
- TOEFL iBT (after January 2026): Overall 5, with minimum scores of 5 in Reading, Listening and Writing, and 4.5 in Speaking.
- PTE Academic: Overall 63, with at least 59 in each section.
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: Overall 176, with at least 169 in each section.
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency: Overall 176, with at least 169 in each section.
- LanguageCert Academic: Overall 70, with specified minimum component scores.
The English test result must be valid and available by 15 January 2027.
Duolingo English Test, IELTS General Training, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator and PTE Academic Online are not accepted.
Some applicants may qualify for an official English-language exemption under the programme’s specified rules. An English-medium instruction certificate alone does not automatically qualify for an exemption.
5. Work Experience
Professional experience is not a mandatory eligibility requirement. However, relevant professional, research or field experience can strengthen an application.
What you get
Selected students receive the following benefits through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s scholarship:
- Full Tuition Fee Waiver: Complete exemption from programme tuition fees.
- Monthly Stipend: €1,400 per month for up to 24 months.
- Student Insurance: Insurance covering medical and dental expenses, emergencies, accidents and other specified risks.
- Living Expenses: Monthly financial support intended to cover accommodation and everyday living costs.
- Travel Expenses: Financial support intended to cover international and inter-European travel.
- Visa and Residence Permit: The monthly allowance can be used towards visa and residence permit expenses.
- Study Materials: Financial support can also be used for a personal laptop and other study-related expenses.
- International Exposure: Study at two European universities in different countries.
- Double Master’s Degree: Receive two master’s degrees after successfully completing the programme.
Total scholarship allowance: €33,600 over 24 months, in addition to the tuition fee waiver and student insurance.
Important: Tuition fees and insurance are paid directly by the programme. Students must manage their travel, accommodation, visa and other personal expenses using the monthly scholarship allowance.
Fields & areas
Applicants must select one of the following four tracks when submitting their application.
1. Geospatial Planner
- Universities: University of Tartu, Estonia and University of Twente, Netherlands.
- Focus: Urban planning, environmental planning, spatial data analysis and environmental assessment.
- Suitable backgrounds: Geography, Urban Planning, Environmental Science and Civil Engineering.
2. Geospatial Analyst
- Universities: University of Tartu, Estonia and UCLouvain, Belgium.
- Focus: Environmental monitoring, spatial modelling, geovisualisation and land monitoring.
- Suitable backgrounds: Geography, Environmental Science, Data Science and Computer Science.
3. Geospatial Developer
- Universities: Lund University, Sweden and University of Twente, Netherlands.
- Focus: Geospatial programming, satellite data processing, geospatial AI and remote sensing.
- Suitable backgrounds: Computer Science, Geoinformatics, Engineering and related disciplines.
4. Geospatial Modeller
- Universities: Lund University, Sweden and UCLouvain, Belgium.
- Focus: Spatial modelling, environmental simulations, Earth system monitoring and geospatial AI.
- Suitable backgrounds: Environmental Science, Geoinformatics, Earth Observation and Ecology.
Applicants can apply to only one specialisation track. Changing tracks after admission is not permitted.
How to apply
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
- Bachelor’s degree certificate or equivalent qualification.
- Official academic transcripts.
- Certified English translations, where applicable.
- Valid English language proficiency certificate.
- Copy of a valid passport.
- Curriculum Vitae using the official GEM CV template.
- Official university statement for final-year students, if applicable.
The CV must not exceed two pages and should follow the official GEM template.
Applicants are also required to provide information about their intended financial arrangements for the two-year programme through the application form. A separate financial plan document or proof of funds is not required.
Follow these steps to apply:
- Visit the official GEM application website.
- Review the academic, English language and country-specific eligibility requirements.
- Select one of the four specialisation tracks.
- Prepare your academic documents, English test certificate, passport and CV.
- Complete the online application through the University of Twente’s application portal.
- Submit all required documents before 15 January 2027.
- Complete your application to be automatically considered for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship. No separate scholarship application is required.
- Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a recorded online scholarship interview.
Approximately the top 25 applicants per study track may be invited for the interview stage. Only candidates invited to and completing this interview remain eligible for Erasmus Mundus scholarship consideration.
Selection is based on academic performance, relevant educational background, English proficiency, CV, programme suitability and interview performance.
Participating Universities
The programme brings together four European universities:
- University of Twente, Netherlands: Specialises in natural resources, Earth observation and geospatial innovation.
- Lund University, Sweden: Focuses on Earth and environmental sciences.
- UCLouvain, Belgium: Offers expertise in agriculture and land-use planning.
- University of Tartu, Estonia: Focuses on socio-ecological systems and urban planning.
Are There Any Application Fees or Hidden Charges?
The official GEM website confirms that there is no application fee.
For students awarded the Erasmus Mundus scholarship:
- Tuition fees are fully waived.
- Student insurance is covered.
- The €1,400 monthly allowance is intended to cover living, travel, visa and study-related expenses.
However, students should understand that the programme only pays tuition and insurance directly. Other expenses must be managed using the monthly scholarship allowance.
For applicants who do not receive the scholarship, the estimated self-funded costs are:
| Expense | Non-EU Students |
|---|---|
| Tuition fee for 24 months | €19,800 |
| Visa, residence permit and other additional costs | €400 |
| Estimated living expenses for 24 months | €30,000 |
| Estimated total | €50,200 |
These estimates are for self-funded students, not scholarship recipients. International and local travel, inter-European mobility and a personal laptop are the student’s responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can Indian students apply for the GEM Erasmus Mundus Scholarship?
Yes. Indian students are eligible to apply. The programme welcomes international applicants who meet its academic and other admission requirements.
2. Is the GEM Erasmus Mundus Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. Selected students receive a full tuition fee waiver, student insurance and a monthly allowance of €1,400 for up to 24 months.
3. Is there an application fee?
No. The official GEM application website confirms that there is no application fee.
4. Is work experience mandatory?
No. Relevant professional, research or field experience is an advantage but is not a formal eligibility requirement.
5. Can final-year bachelor’s students apply?
Yes. Final-year students can apply by providing an official university statement confirming their current enrolment and expected graduation date. Their final degree documents must be submitted before 31 July 2027.
6. Can students from Computer Science and Data Science backgrounds apply?
Yes. Computer Science and Data Science are among the relevant academic backgrounds. Applicants should demonstrate that their previous education provides suitable preparation for the selected specialisation.
7. Can I apply without IELTS?
Applicants must meet the English language requirement through an accepted test or qualify for an officially recognised exemption. Duolingo is not accepted.
8. How many Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available?
Approximately 17–18 Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available across the four specialisation tracks for the 2027–2029 intake.
9. Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?
No. All applicants who submit a complete application before the deadline are automatically considered for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
10. Can I apply to multiple specialisation tracks?
No. Applicants can select only one track. Changing tracks after admission is not permitted.
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