Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in European Forestry Scholarship 2026

Are you interested in an international career? Would you like to learn about forests and forest management in seven European countries with a cohort of students coming from all over the world?

Master of Science in European Forestry (MSc EF) is a top class taught Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme (EMJM) in the field of forest sciences and is one of the first Erasmus Mundus programmes that has been accredited according to the European approach for quality assurance of the joint programmes. The aim is to prepare professionals to tackle the four Grand Challenges in forestry: 1) Climate change and the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disturbances, 2) Lack of biomass for the bioeconomy industry and mitigating CO2 emissions, 3) Declining biodiversity and conversion of forest land to other land uses, and 4) Increasing societal demand for non-market ecosystem services. We will provide students with in-depth knowledge of the “modernised” forest management practices. MSc EF graduates will be awarded a joint or a double degree, depending on their host university in the second year. Intensive collaboration and networking with potential employers ensures high graduate employability worldwide.

In MSc EF, seven European top-class forestry universities collaborate intensively to offer joint study modules in addition to their existing curricula. The MSc EF Consortium consists of the following institutions:

• University of Eastern Finland (coordinator), Finland
• AgroParisTech, France
• University of Freiburg, Germany
• University of Lleida, Spain
• BOKU University, Austria
• Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
• Wageningen University, the Netherlands – a new Full Partner from 2026 onwards

In addition, Associated Partner HEIs in Albania, Brazil, Canada, China, Moldova, Nigeria, South Africa, Ukraine and US and Associated Industrial/Public/NGO Partners worlwide contribute to programme delivery.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 26, 2026
• ValueFully Funded
• Study LevelMasters
• SponsorErasmus Mundus
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) scholarships are available for students on a competitive basis. These scholarships must be applied simultaneously with the study place with the same application form. These scholarships will include student participation costs (including the Consortium fees and full insurance coverage), and a monthly subsistence allowance for the entire duration of the study programme (1 400 EUR/month for a max. of 24 months). These scholarships are available for non-EU/EEA students and EU/EEA students and the total amount of the scholarship is the same for all students. Read more on Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in the European Commission website.

Requirements

1. Degree requirements

A previous Bachelor’s degree in forestry or in related field corresponding to at least 3 year’s of full time academic studies from an institution for higher education is required from all Master’s degree applicants. The degree must be awarded by an internationally recognised university. Applicants who have a previous Bachelor’s degree in forestry or in related field from a recognised university of applied sciences or polytechnic are also eligible.

Admission is conditional if the applicant applies to the programme with a degree that is not finished during the application period. In that case, the applicant must deliver officially certified copies of the final degree certificate and the transcript of academic records to the programme coordinator by 30 July 2026.

Requirements for the educational documents and their translations

2. Language requirements

Applicants must either (1) meet the language proficiency criteria (see below), or (2) reach the minimum required language test results to be considered eligible to the programme. No exceptions will be made and no waivers to the language proficiency requirements are given.

(1) Applicants who hold one of the following do not have to take an English language test

• A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in English-taught programme in EU/EEA -countries, or in Singapore or in South Africa. The applicants from these countries must prove the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be clearly stated on the educational documents. If the documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, applicants must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of their educational institution confirming this.

• A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in an English-taught programme in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.  The applicants prove their language skills with a university degree.

The degree/programme must be taught and assessed entirely in English (at least 50% of the degree must be completed in English). If the applicant verifies language skills with the education degree, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents. 

Online studies or studies completed on offshore campuses outside the accepted countries/area cannot be used to indicate language skills, even if the degree-awarding institution is in one of the accepted countries.

(2) All other applicants have to take one of the following language tests

• TOEFL iBT, overall score 92, with a minimum subscore of 22 in writing and in speaking
• IELTS (academic) overall score 6.5, with a minimum subscore of 6.0 in writing and in speaking
• PTE (academic), overall score 62, with a minimum subscore of 54 in writing and 59 in speaking
• C1 Advanced overall score C or 180, with a minimum subscore of 162 in writing
• C2 Proficiency overall score level C1 or 180, with a minimum subscore of 162 in writing

No other degrees or statements of language proficiency will be accepted.

TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the day they are issued, i.e. the language test needs to be in effect during the application period, from 15 December 2023 onwards.

The language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser.

Requirements and instructions for language test

Selection Process

The applications will be graded using the following criteria:

1. Studies in forestry: 0–40 points (0=poor, 40=excellent), grading will be based on the degree certificate and transcript of academic records
2. Academic excellence: 0–80 points (0=poor, 80=excellent), grading will be based on the transcript of academic records
3. Motivation: 0–30 points (0=poor, 30=excellent), grading will be based on the motivation letter*
4. Work experience/professional qualifications: 0–40 points (0=poor, 40=excellent), grading will be based on the CV
5. International experience: 0–40 points (0=poor, 40=excellent), grading will be based on the CV

*In the motivation letter, the applicant is required to reply to a set of questions:

1. Why do you want to study in the MSc EF programme?

2. If you have already completed one Master’s degree, why would you like to complete another MSc degree in the MSc EF programme?

3. Why should you be selected to the MSc EF programme?

4. What kind of research interests would you have related to MSc EF programme’s academic content?

5. What kind of hopes and wishes would you have related to your future career after graduation from the MSc EF programme?

Applicants are allowed to use generative AI when making the motivation letter. The letter should be maximum one A4 page.

The ranking list is made according to the total score. Whenever two or more applicants have the same total points, the one who has higher score in academic excellence will be placed first. Also, the gender balance of the students can be taken into account if two or more applicants have the same total points and academic excellence.

Application Documents

Certificates

• Bachelor’s degree certificate (and an official English translation of it if needed)
• An official transcript of academic records (and an official English translation of it if needed)
• English language certificate
• A certificate of name change (if applicant’s name has changed after receiving the previous degree)

Other

• A motivation letter (applicant is required to answer a set of questions specified, see below)
• Curriculum vitae
• One passport-size photograph
• A copy of passport / ID

All enclosures are compulsory for the selection process.

In the motivation letter, the applicant is required to reply to a set of questions:

1. Why do you want to study in the MSc EF programme?

2. If you have already completed one Master’s degree, why would you like to complete another MSc degree in the MSc EF programme?

3. Why should you be selected to the MSc EF programme?

4. What kind of research interests would you have related to MSc EF programme’s academic content?

5. What kind of hopes and wishes would you have related to your future career after graduation from the MSc EF programme?

Applicants are allowed to use generative AI when making the motivation letter. The letter should be maximum one A4 page.

Application Deadline

January 26, 2026

How To Apply

Go to Studyinfo portal and read the details and begin the application

• When the application period begins, fill in the online application form and make sure you have attached the required application enclosures (in pdf format). At the application state we require only scanned enclosures attached (uploaded) to the application form. Note that the scanned copies should be from the original documents! Paper copies are not required during the application period.
• Should you have any questions about completing your application, please contact our Admissions Office, admissions[at]uef.fi, tel. +358 29 445 8990. In case you have questions concerning the application requirements, please contact Ms Marjoriitta Möttönen, email. marjoriitta.mottonen(at)uef.fi, tel. +358 50 442 3031.

For more information, kindly visit MSc EF scholarship webpage.