Erasmus Mundus PlantHealth Joint Master 2027-2029

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Applications for the Erasmus Mundus PlantHealth Joint Master are now open for the 2027-2029 cohort. The first call, which allows applicants to compete for Erasmus Mundus scholarships, is open from 1 October to 31 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.

The PlantHealth programme is an international two-year Master’s degree focused on plant health, integrated crop protection and sustainable agriculture. It brings together five institutions in Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

PLANTHEALTH PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

The PlantHealth Erasmus Mundus programme trains specialists capable of protecting crops against diseases, pests and weeds while reducing the environmental impact of agricultural practices.

The programme directly addresses several global challenges: climate change, the emergence of new pests and pathogens, the international spread of harmful organisms, food security, reducing pesticide use and developing more sustainable crop protection methods.

The programme notably covers:

• plant pathology;
• entomology;
• nematology;
• weed science;
• molecular biology;
• population biology;
• epidemiology;
• diagnosis of diseases and pests;
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM);
• agroecology;
• sustainable crop-system management;
• statistics and research methods;
• international regulations relating to plant health.

PlantHealth also places strong emphasis on practical applications: laboratory work, field visits, case studies, internships, research projects and the Master’s thesis.

RESPONSIBLE CONSORTIUM

PlantHealth is organized by five European institutions in four countries:

• Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Spain — coordinating institution;
• Università di Padova (UNIPD), Italy;
• University of Göttingen (UGOE), Germany;
• L’Institut Agro, France;
• AgroParisTech, France.

The partners also collaborate with research institutes, agricultural organizations and companies in the plant protection sector. These relationships notably contribute to teaching, internships and thesis opportunities.

AVAILABLE TRACKS

The curriculum is structured in two stages. The first year (M1) provides a common scientific foundation. The second year (M2) allows students to choose a specialization according to the type of crops, climate and plant-health issues they wish to explore in greater depth.

MOBILITY WITHIN THE PLANTHEALTH PROGRAMME

International mobility is mandatory. Each student must study at at least two universities located in two different countries. The M2 must therefore necessarily be completed in a country different from the one where the M1 was undertaken.

In practical terms:

If the M1 is completed in Valencia, Spain

Students may notably continue their M2:

• in Padua, Italy;
• in Göttingen, Germany;
• or in the joint L’Institut Agro/AgroParisTech track in France.

If the M1 is completed in Padua, Italy

Students may notably continue their M2:

• in Valencia, Spain;
• in Göttingen, Germany;
• or in France with L’Institut Agro and AgroParisTech.

In the application form, each applicant indicates their preferred mobility scheme. However, the consortium specifies that this choice is not guaranteed. Final allocation depends in particular on the applicant’s academic profile and the need to distribute students among the different institutions.

DEGREES AWARDED

Unlike some Erasmus Mundus programmes that award a single joint degree, PlantHealth awards a double degree.

Each student receives:

• a degree awarded by their M1 university;
• a second degree awarded by their M2 institution;
• a joint document specifying the curriculum completed within the PlantHealth Master’s programme;
• the corresponding ECTS transcripts and European Diploma Supplements.

ERASMUS MUNDUS PLANTHEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS 2027-2029

The Erasmus Mundus PlantHealth scholarships include:

• 100% coverage of Master’s participation fees;
• mandatory insurance coverage;
• other mandatory academic costs associated with the programme;
• a stipend of €1,400 per month for a maximum of 24 months.

Applicants who submit their application during the first call may also be considered for PlantHealth Consortium Scholarships when funding is available. These awards take the form of a waiver of participation fees.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible, applicants must hold or be completing a Bachelor of Science degree worth at least 180 ECTS credits, generally corresponding to at least three years of full-time higher education.

The degree must be in:

• agronomy;
• agricultural sciences;
• or a closely related scientific field.

The applicant’s academic background must also include at least: 4 ECTS in Plant Health, Crop Protection or equivalent training.

APPLICATION FOR ERASMUS MUNDUS PLANTHEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications are submitted entirely online through the official PlantHealth portal. The deadline to apply is 31 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.

Only applicants who apply during this first call can be considered for:

• an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarship;
• or a PlantHealth consortium fee waiver.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

The online application notably includes:

• a CV (the Europass format is recommended but not mandatory);
• the Bachelor’s degree certificate or, for final-year students, the appropriate supporting document;
• complete academic transcripts;
• other university degrees and transcripts, if the applicant already holds a Master’s degree or PhD;
• proof of B2-level English proficiency;
• two letters of recommendation;
• the Declaration on Honour available through the portal;
• any relevant additional documentation, for example publications or proof of refugee status.

Documents must be submitted in English where required and accompanied by appropriate translations when necessary.

SELECTION PROCESS

PlantHealth states that selection is highly competitive and admits a maximum of 30 students per cohort. The academic evaluation is divided as follows:

• 60%: academic record and applicant merit;
• 20%: letters of recommendation;
• 20%: personal motivation.

The consortium also applies a specific policy when awarding scholarships:

• 80% of scholarships must be awarded to the highest-ranked applicants, while seeking regional balance when the quality of applications allows;
• 20% of scholarships may be reserved for highly ranked applicants facing particular vulnerabilities: refugees, applicants from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, applicants with specific needs or low incomes; this share may also contribute to gender balance.

IMPORTANT DATES

• 1 October 2026 at 12:00 CET: first call opens;
• 31 December 2026 at 23:59 CET: deadline for Master’s applications and Erasmus Mundus scholarships;
• end of February 2027: expected publication of admissions and scholarship recipients;
• 20 May 2027: second call opens;
• 15 June 2027: second call closes, reserved for self-funded applicants or applicants funded by an external source;
• end of August / start of the 2027 academic year: Intake 12 begins;
• 2027-2029: two years of study, 120 ECTS credits and mandatory mobility in at least two countries.

CONTACT AND INFORMATION

PlantHealth is coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de València in Spain. For any questions, you can contact : [email protected]. Applicants should first consult the official pages covering the application procedure, the calendar and the available funding before finalizing their application.

Apply now!

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