Erasmus Mundus IMSISS Scholarship 2026

The IMSISS Consortium, led by the University of Glasgow, is delighted to announce that the International Masters in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies degree programme has successfully been awarded new funding from the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. This is a tremendous outcome and will mean that IMSISS will be able to continue to provide scholarships for students applying for entry between 2026 and 2029. With this funding, IMSISS will be able to award 70 fully funded scholarships to students from around the world, offer enhanced employability and skills development opportunities to students, and further develop relations with university partners globally.

The International Master in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies (IMSISS) specializes in teaching students the complex, challenging realities of international security faced by a wide range of actors, from nation-states and international organizations to multinational corporations. Globalization and increased interdependency have radically changed the way we understand security in relation to the state, society, the economy, and even the biosphere. There is a growing demand for greater attention and coordinated responses from the international community, including not only individual countries but also international organizations such as the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) and security alliances such as NATO.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: January 8, 2026
2. Value: Fully Funded (Tuition, Insurance, Travel/Installation support, Monthly stipend)
3. Study Level: Master’s
4. Sponsor: Erasmus Mundus
5. Course to Study: International Master's in Security, Intelligence & Strategic Studies (IMSISS)
6. Eligible Country: All countries

Eligibility Criteria for Erasmus Mundus IMSISS Scholarship 2026

1. A strict 2:1 UK Honours degree or international equivalent with backgrounds in humanities and social sciences, for example Politics, International Relations, History, Peace Studies, Area and Cultural Studies, Law, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, Human Geography, Computing Science, Literature, Philosophy, Organizational Studies, Social and Public Policy, Global Studies, Psychology, Media Studies and Journalism, Modern Languages, Economics, Environmental Studies, Management or Business.
2. Applicants with backgrounds in Computer Science, Engineering or Philosophy will not be eligible for Pathway B (University of Trento).
3. Applicants who have indicated a preference for Pathway B (Trento) will also be required to demonstrate proficiency in another language other than English or Italian.
4. You can check your country-specific requirements on our country information pages. International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of pre-Masters courses.
5. Academic Background:
6. The programme is open to students from various academic backgrounds and we encourage those who have been in employment for some time to consider applying.
7. Can work experience be considered in lieu of qualifications?
8. Yes – the same academic background list as above applies, but if there is a lower GPA but with work experience, applicants can be considered (if they have a degree in the above listed content)
9. English Language Requirements:
10. You can find out more info on English language requirements here
11. Pathway B (Trento) Language Requirements:
12. The requirement for the Trento pathway is English and a second language, not including Italian, at Level B2 or above. Students need to prove skills for a second language, not including Italian, at Level B2 or above through one of following:
13. a secondary school diploma acquired in any third language other than English/Italian, or a degree certificate (undergraduate or masters) acquired in any third language;
14. a certificate from a recognised testing institution that makes clear reference to CEFR level B2.
15. Previous knowledge of Italian is not required. The University of Trento will provide Italian classes for those who choose to study there.

Documents Required for Application

The following documents are required:

1. This form, with all fields completed and with your preferred study track clearly marked
2. CV (any format is acceptable, Europass is preferred)
3. Two supporting references on headed paper
4. Must be dated within 24 months from the date of submission of the application
5. Must be on institutional headed paper or with an official stamp. A reference can be submitted directly to erasmusreferences@glasgow.ac.uk from the referee’s institutional address. References will not be accepted from a personal email address
6. Must be signed with an electronic or wet-ink signature. A typed name is not sufficient
7. At least one of the two references should be an academic reference. One may be a professional reference where it is not possible to obtain two academic references. It must be from a relevant employer with which you held employment at some point within the 12 months prior to the date of submission of the application. The reference must be dated within the past 24 month from the date of submission of the application
8. Transcripts of all university-level academic studies to date (undergraduate and any postgraduate studies) in both original language and, if applicable, in an official English translation. Studies earlier than university are not required
9. Degree Certificates of all university-level academic studies to date (undergraduate and any postgraduate studies) in both original language and, if applicable, in an official English translation
10. Proof of English-language proficiency (see IMSISS English Language Requirements online information)
11. Colour scan of current passport photo page (candidates with multiple nationalities must decide at the application stage under which one nationality to apply)

Applicants who want to be considered for Pathway B (University of Trento) must also submit the following:

1. Evidence of knowledge of a second language at Level B2 (not being English or Italian)

Please note, in order to be considered for the programme, you MUST have submitted ALL of the above documents by the submission deadline. The only exception to this is English language proficiency certificates, and final degree certificates and transcripts where an applicant is still currently studying. To be considered for scholarship, the necessary documents, including proof of English-language proficiency, must be provided by the specified scholarship deadline of 8th January 2026 at 1300 UK time.

Note: Conditional offers An applicant who is completing the final year of his/her first degree or who has yet to provide the required evidence of proficiency in English will be considered for entry to the IMSISS programme but will not receive an unconditional offer of a place on the programme until we have received his/her final degree and/or English language test results. In such cases, you may be made a conditional offer on finishing your degree at the required grade and/or obtaining the required English language test results. This documentation must be submitted to the IMSISS via the University of Glasgow before you can enrol on the IMSISS programme.

Supporting Personal Statement:

Please be as precise as you can when writing your Supporting Personal Statement. Do not repeat yourself and do not exceed the word limit (600 words). You should make sure that you address the following issues in your personal statement:

1. You should outline your motivation for choosing the IMSISS programme (i.e., how it complements and develops your previous studies; how it relates to your career path; how it relates to your personal and academic interests).
2. Explain why you think you are a good candidate for the programme, given your previous studies and the courses offered on the programme in both years. Briefly indicate what you see as being the topic of your Year 2 dissertation (this can change later).
3. You should highlight your participation in conferences, internships, non-governmental organisations, summer schools, and other socially sensitive or political activity; as well as any prizes/awards received, even if these activities are not specifically connected to the area of Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies.

Benefits of Erasmus Mundus IMSISS Scholarship 2026

The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship includes:

1. Full coverage of tuition fees, including deposit (in collaboration with the IMSISS consortium)*
2. Full insurance coverage
3. An optional contribution to student travel and installation costs (intended to assist with practical costs such as visas, residence permits, temporary accommodation etc.)
4. A monthly subsistence allowance for the entire duration of the EMJM study programme

* A portion of the tuition fee is covered via the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. The remaining amount is covered by the IMSISS consortium. Scholarship recipients are not liable for any tuition fees.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Erasmus Mundus on www.securityintelligence-erasmusmundus.eu to apply

Please complete this form and upload as a PDF document to your International Master in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies (IMSISS) application (standard University of Glasgow Application for Graduate Studies) under the “Scholarship Form” document section, along with all other supporting documentation.

For more information, kindly visit IMSISS webpage.

Application Deadline

January 8, 2026

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Erasmus Mundus IMSISS Scholarship 2026