In 2026, joint degree programs—where you study at two or more universities and receive a single diploma signed by all institutions—willcontinue to receive priority funding from international bodies. These programmes aim to promote global mobility and offer some of the most comprehensive financial awards available.
1. The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM)
In Europe, Erasmus Mundus is the best programme for getting joint degrees. At least three universities in different countries collaborate on these programs.
- • The Award: Full financial support, including full tuition coverage, a monthly stipend of €1,400, and help with travel and installation costs (up to €7,000, depending on where you live).
- Deadlines for 2026:
- Most programmes (like Global Studies) have a deadline of February 28, 2026, for the 2026/2027 scholarship cohort.
- • October to December 2026: The application period for the 2027/2028 intake begins.
- Look for specialised groups like GLOCAL (Global Markets and Local Creativities) or EGEI (Economics of Globalisation and European Integration), which are currently giving out 2026 scholarships.
2. Graduate Scholarship from Japan and the World Bank (JJ/WBGSP)
Mid-career professionals from developing countries enrolled in “Partner” master’s programmes can benefit from this programme. Many of these programs offer joint degrees between Japanese and Western universities.
- • The prize includes full tuition, a monthly living allowance (for food and housing), round-trip airfare, and $600 for travel each trip.
- Deadlines for 2026:
- The first window closed on February 27, 2026.
- • Window 2: Opens until May 29, 2026, for programs that start in the second half of the year.
- • Requirement: Since getting your bachelor’s degree, you must have worked in a paid development-related job for at least three years.
3. The Fulbright Foreign Student Programme (Joint Research)
The Fulbright program has a “Visiting Student Researchers” track for the 2026/2027 cycle. This is like a joint research year for PhD students.
- • The award includes round-trip airfare, a monthly stipend, an allowance for settling in, and an allowance for books and computers.
- Deadlines for 2026:
- Nigeria: The deadline for applications for the school year 2026/2027 is June 1, 2026.
- South Africa: The deadline for applications for the 2026/2027 cycle was April 13, 2025. (Note: Fulbright often works on a very early cycle, so you should check for the 2027/2028 window opening in early 2026.)
- Focus: It lets PhD students who are studying in their home country do one year of their doctoral research at a university in the United States.
4. GREAT Scholarships (UK Joint-Taught Focus)
A lot of the time, these GREAT awards go to one-year Master’s programmes, but in 2026, they will also support joint-taught modules between UK and international partners.
- The Award: At least £10,000 towards tuition for a one-year postgraduate course.
- Deadlines for 2026: Different schools have different deadlines, but they usually fall between March and June 2026. Some examples are UCL, Imperial College London, and the University of Warwick.
- Target: Only people from Nigeria, Egypt, and Pakistan can apply for the 2026/2027 cycle.
5. Tips for Applying for a “Joint Degree” Strategically
- The “Double Acceptance” Rule: For many joint degrees (especially those that aren’t part of Erasmus Mundus), you have to be accepted by both universities or the consortium before you can get the scholarship.
- West African applicants must ensure that their NIN links to their digital academic records by 2026. The World Bank and Erasmus programmes now use automated verification to ensure that the names on transcripts and passports match.
- English Minimums: Because there will be a lot of competition in 2026, most joint programmes have raised their English requirements to at least an IELTS score of 7.0 or a TOEFL iBT score of 90–100.
