How to Apply

Introduction
Application Deadlines
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
Admissions Criteria
Language Test Requirements
Required Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
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Introduction

Welcome!

Applications for Euroculture: European Politics, Culture, and Society in a Global Context must be submitted through our Online Application Tool (OAT). The OAT will guide you through the process with helpful questions to ensure a smooth application.

We recommend exploring the tool first to familiarize yourself with the required documents and relevant deadlines. Additional details are available below on this page.

Your application must include all required documents to be considered. Keep reading for a full list of what you need to submit!

Inclusivity Statement

In the Euroculture Online Application Tool, you are asked to disclose (health) conditions that might affect your ability to study this programme, or for which further accommodations may be needed. Importantly, any health information provided at the application stage does not impact your eligibility for the programme.

Euroculture is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible academic environment where every student has the opportunity to participate fully. We encourage applications from students with diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities or health conditions. The information collected on (mental) health conditions  is used solely to provide tailored study advice and to help connect you with relevant study resources or facilities.

We recognize that student mobility and Master-level studies can have an impact on your overall well-being. We encourage you to reflect on your individual circumstances and the potential challenges of international study, and whether the Euroculture programme is an appropriate fit for you based on your current personal circumstances. 

If you have any questions about accommodations, support systems, or how the programme can best support your needs, please feel free to contact euroculture@rug.nl at any time.

A woman with short blonde hair and a brown sweater sitting in a dark room with black chairs.

I saw an advertisement inviting to apply for Euroculture in a paper newspaper accidentally grabbed on a train. That moment changed my career path -- it opened up my horizons, enabled me to travel and study within and outside Europe, make new friendships and establish a connection with the University of Groningen, my current employer.

Zdenka Sokolíčková (2009-2011)

Application Deadlines

Euroculture has 100 study places across our seven European partner universities available every year. Make sure that you:

Application Window 2026-2028

The 2026-2028 application window will open on 20 October 2025. In Europe, academic calendars vary slightly from country to country. This may affect until when you can apply to Euroculture as well. Applying before 01 May 2026 will ensure that you are in time to start at any university in the Euroculture Consortium. If you apply after this date, keep the following in mind:

  • EU/EEA passport holders should apply at least two months in advance of the semester start to ensure sufficient time to register.

  • Non-EU/EEA passport holders should apply at least five months in advance of the semester start to ensure sufficient time to register and arrange for a study visa. Your chosen university will assist you in this process. 

  • You may apply to Euroculture before you officially graduate from your Bachelor Degree, as long as you expect to complete your Bachelor’s Degree before the start of your Euroculture studies. More details can be found in our online application tool.

Application Procedure (2026-2028)

The Euroculture Admissions Board assesses applications on a continuous basis for the duration of the application window. Your application is assessed by your first university of choice, but may be reviewed further by representatives of the Euroculture Board of Admissions from other universities in those cases where additional review is required. The Admissions Board will not evaluate applications before 01 March 2026. After 01 March 2026, you can expect to receive your application result by email between four to six weeks after the submission of your application.

The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus+

The Erasmus Mundus Programme supports top-quality European Master programmes and enhances the visibility and attractiveness of European higher education. Erasmus Mundus provides substantial EU-funded scholarships to a select number of students who have applied for the Euroculture programme within the duration of the scholarship application window. 

  • Erasmus Mundus Scholarships are not offered for the Euroculture intake of 2026-2028. Learn more here.

  • Erasmus+ Mobility Grants and Erasmus+ Placement Grants remain available in 2026-2028 to support self-financing students. For more information, please review our Participation Fees page.

A woman standing in front of a display of multiple European flags inside a modern building with glass walls and a large European Union flag hanging above.

Euroculture has helped me learn how to adapt to changing and challenging circumstances every semester. Thanks to the programme, I have enhanced my self-confidence and problem-solving skills.

Selin Akbaş (2021-2023)

Admissions Criteria

The Euroculture Admissions Board distinguishes between two kinds of admissions criteria:

  • Primary Admissions Criteria 

  • Secondary Admissions Criteria

The Primary Admissions Criteria refer to minimum requirements that have to be met by all applicants in order for an application to be succesful. The Secondary Admissions Criteria refer to experiences and skills that will strengthen the overall quality of your application if you are in possession of them. 

Criteria Description
Motivation A detailed motivation to study the Euroculture programme, including the applicant’s expectations.
Academic Background A Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as International Relations, European Studies, History, Cultural Studies, Literary Studies, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Philosophy, Communication and Media Studies, International/European Law, or Theology.
Academic Quality A degree that meets the quality standards to allow entry to a European Master degree, assessed through the length of studies, quality of academic writing, and grades.
Institution Recognition A degree awarded by a recognized higher education institution.
Academic Writing Experience Experience with academic writing, with submitted research papers or other forms of academic output considered during assessment.
English Proficiency Proficiency in spoken and written English at a level appropriate for a Master-level programme, with specific test score requirements outlined in the Language Test Requirements section.

Primary Admissions Criteria 

Criteria Description
International Experience Work or study experience abroad, such as an Erasmus semester, summer schools, or full degree programmes taken in a country other than your own. Other work experiences in an intercultural context are also considered valid.
Mobility Experiences Student mobility experiences, such as semesters abroad or other kinds of exchange programmes, showing preparedness to be mobile and discover different cultures.
Relevant Work Experience Work experience in fields related to Euroculture, such as jobs and/or internships in governmental, inter-governmental, and/or nongovernmental organisations and institutions.
Additional Language Skills Language skills for languages other than English, indicated using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Personal Competences General abilities and qualities relevant for successful participation in Euroculture, including the ability to work and learn in an interdisciplinary and intercultural environment or to handle a demanding workload.
Extracurricular Activities Other extra-curricular activities indicating that you are an active and engaged student outside your degree programme.

Secondary Admissions Criteria 

A panel of five individuals seated at a table during a discussion or meeting, with a presentation slide displayed on a whiteboard behind them. The slide shows names and affiliations.

Euroculture helped me to get a true European experience by offering the opportunity to discover new places and meet individuals I would have never had the opportunity if I had not joined this master's degree.

Richard Blais (2018-2020)

Language Test Requirements

Submitting a Language Test

All applicants must provide proof of English proficiency by submitting test results from any of the following: CAE/CPE, TOEFL or IELTS. The Euroculture Board of Admissions can only accept tests from these aforementioned providers. The minimum test scores required to join the Euroculture Programme are as follows:

Test Minimum Score Notes
IELTS Overall 6.5 No section below 6.5. Only IELTS Academic is accepted.
TOEFL iBT Overall 93 Internet-based test. TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition is also accepted.
Cambridge CAE/CPE CAE (C1) or CPE (C2) Test results may be no older than 5 years. Only CAE and CPE are accepted.

Notes and exemptions:

  • If your score is lower than the scores mentioned above, you will not be eligible for the programme.

  • Any English test other than TOEFL, IELTS, or CAE/CPE is not considered as valid by the Euroculture Board of Admissions.

  • Citizens of the People’s Republic of China are required to submit a TOEFL iBT or IELTS test (no CAE).

Exemptions from the Language Test

Depending on your academic background and experiences, it might not be necessary for you to submit an English language test result. If you wish to be exempted from submitting a language test, you are required to upload a proof of exemption instead. You may only be exempted from submitting a language test result in the following circumstances:

1) You may be exempted from submitting a language test result if you followed a fully English-taught university programme in a country where English is the primary official language for at least one full academic year.

  • As proof of exemption, please upload a Transcript of Records or Statement on the Language of Instruction confirming that English was the language of instruction during your studies. If a transcript or diploma supplement is uploaded, you must make sure that this document explictly mentions the language of instruction. Otherwise, the Board of Admissions may decide to reject your application.

  • If Uppsala is your first university of choice, additional conditions may apply before you can be exempted from the language test on this basis. Please email euroculture@teol.uu.se to confirm whether this exemption can apply to you.

2) You may be exempted from submitting a language test result if you completed an entire Bachelor or Master programme in English (duration: three years minimum for a Bachelor, one year minimum for a Master).

  • As proof of exemption, please upload a Transcript of Records or Statement on Language of Instruction confirming that English was the language of instruction during your studies. If a transcript or diploma supplement is uploaded, you must make sure that this document explictly mentions the language of instruction. Otherwise, the Board of Admissions may decide to reject your application.

  • If Uppsala is your first university of choice and if your your university degree is from Bangladesh or Pakistan, the degree-awarding university must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools for the language test exemption to be valid. 

A professional woman with brown hair, wearing a black blazer, blue shirt, jewelry, and earrings, smiling at the camera against a dark background.

Studying Euroculture has been the most influential chapter in my life so far: Not only has it gifted me contact and friendships with some of the most interesting people I have ever met, it has also introduced me to new countries and cultures as well as prepared me for diverse and challenging work contexts where flexibility and the ability to engage with different perspectives are everything.

Lea Quilitz (2019-2021)

Required Documents

Introduction

The following checklist is designed to help you prepare your Euroculture application. We recommend that you take a careful look at this section and make sure all documents are accounted for before submitting your application.

  1. All submitted documents must be provided in English (except for the research paper / thesis, which can be in any language, accompanied by an English summary). Applications submitted in other languages will not be taken into consideration.

  2. If you fail to provide all of the required documents, your application will not be taken into account,

  3. There is a maximum number of documents you can upload for each category. If you want to upload multiple documents, you should combine them into a singular file. For most document categories, only .pdf files are accepted. 

  4. In case you face problems uploading documents, please check if all of them are in the right format.

  5. Not all documents have to be necessarily submitted by the application deadline. For more information on each document category, please read the below.

# Document Type Description
1 Degree Certificate(s) PDF (Certified Translation) Official copy of your Bachelor's or Master's diploma(s). If not in English, include certified translations.
2 Transcript of Records PDF (Certified Translation) Official list of grades and courses taken. Include certified translations if not in English.
3 English Language Test Results PDF Valid TOEFL, IELTS, or CAE/CPE scores. Exemptions apply under specific conditions.
4 Recommendation Letters PDF (2 files) Two letters: one academic, one professional. Must be recent (within 1 year) and in English.
5 Curriculum Vitae (CV) PDF Detailed CV in English, highlighting academic and professional experiences.
6 Passport or Identity Card Scan PDF Clear scan of the page containing your photo, name, and nationality.
7 Passport-sized Photo Image File Recent color photo, suitable for official documents.
8 Research Papers/Theses (if applicable) PDF Academic papers or theses relevant to your field of study.
9 Motivation Letter PDF Personal statement outlining your motivation for applying to the Euroculture programme.

Note: All documents must be in English (except for research papers/theses, which can be in any language with an English summary). Ensure all documents are uploaded in PDF format, and combine multiple documents into a single file where possible. Applications missing any required documents will not be considered.

(Certified translations* of) Degree certificate(s) / diploma’s (BA, MA, etc.): minimum 1 file, maximum 3

*Certified means that the translation has to have official stamps from the university or from a notary who states that the document is a true translation of the original. If your degree certificate and/or transcript of records are not in English, you should provide us with a certified translation in English as well as the original, all in one .pdf file. Please make sure that your degree and/ or transcript of records are official documents issued by your university and include information about the length of your studies.

If you have not yet completed your Bachelor degree before the deadline, please include a statement from your university with your expected graduation date.

(Certified translations* of) Transcripts of records (list of grades and courses): minimum 1 file, maximum 3

  • Please make sure that your degree and/ or transcript of records include information about the length of your studies.

  • If you have not yet completed your Bachelor degree before the deadline, pleaseupload your most recent transcripts.Those applying for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship must hold their Bachelordegree, or proof of graduation, by the application deadline.

English test results**: 1 file required

  • CAE/CPE, IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT tests are regarded as valid tests by the Euroculture Admissions Board. Any other English test will not be considered as valid.

  • Applicants from China are asked to only send IELTS or TOEFL iBT test results (not CAE/CPE)

  • If Uppsala is your first university of choice and you take a TOEFL test: in addition to uploading a test taker score report with your application, please notify the Educational Testing Service that you wish to make your score available online to Uppsala University (Uppsala Universitet) in Sweden – the institution code is 0247.

  • Only the following candidates do not have to take an English test:

    • Students who had English as their language of instruction during the entire duration of their Bachelor programme (minimum duration: 3 years)

  • Candidates who are exempted from taking an English Test (except native speakers) must upload a proof of exemption

    • A proof of exemption can take the form of a statement from a faculty official confirming that the language of instruction of your Bachelor programme was English. Alternatively, in some academic cultures, it is explicitly mentioned on the transcript of records or the diploma supplement what the language of instruction of your programme was. In those cases, please upload these documents instead. Do note that regardless of what you upload, it should be explicitly stated somewhere in the uploaded document what the language of instruction of your Bachelor programme was. It is not sufficient to simply upload a transcript or diploma that is in the English language.

2 recommendation letters: 2 files required

One of these letters has to be an academic letter, the other one might be from a relevant non-academic organisation, or company (former employer). The letters should be:

  • Written in English (regardless of the university you apply for);

  • Be presented on the official letterhead of the institution(s) they come from and signed by the referee;

  • Contain the referee's affiliation, their contact details and explicitly mention the relation to the applicant;

  • If available, a stamp of the institution;

  • Be dated, and cannot have been written longer than 1 year prior to the date on which you submit your application.

You are expected to scan the letters and upload them yourself. In some countries, the academic culture forbids disclosure of such documents. In such a case, your referees should send their letter to us by email at euroculture@rug.nl, mentioning your name. The letter may be addressed to the Admissions Board of the Euroculture programme.

CV : 1 file required

Your CV should be written in English and entail both your academic and professional experiences, including any extra-curricular work you might have done at the university (membership of an association, etc.). The Europass CV format, while recommended, is not required. 

Scan of a (valid) passport or identity card: 1 file required

Scan the page(s) of your passport or identity card that contain your photo, name, date of birth, nationality, document expiration date, document number. Usually it is the first page of your passport. For non-EU/EEA students, we advise to use a passport or identity card to be valid for the entire duration of the programme.

Digital passport-sized photo: 1 file required

Upload a passport/ID-sized photo. Please do not scan the photo directly from your passport! Alternatively, a high-quality image that clearly presents your face (such as a profile picture from social media) may also be uploaded. 

Papers and/ or thesi(e)s (if applicable): 1 file required

While all documents to be uploaded have to be written in English, you may upload these papers/ thesi(e)s in the language that you wrote them in. We would like an English summary of the paper (max. 2000 characters including spaces) that you think fits best with the Master Programme. You will be asked to type this directly in the application form.

Motivation letter

You are asked to write a motivation letter in English, no longer than 5000 characters (including spaces).