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International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD) 2027
Two-year joint master in rural development across 15 universities, training experts in agricultural and rural strategies, rural economics and policy, with Erasmus Mundus scholarships for top-ranked applicants.
| Amount / funding | Erasmus Mundus scholarship: contribution to participation costs (tuition fees, library and laboratory costs, full insurance coverage and other mandatory costs) + contribution to travel and installation costs + monthly subsistence allowance for the programme duration. VLIR-UOS scholarships are NOT available for intake 2027. Ghent University Top-up Grants (partial tuition waiver + €654 per month) may be offered to selected candidates from OECD-DAC-list countries. |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 28 February 2027 (non-European students and all scholarship-seeking students; European students not seeking a scholarship: 31 May 2027) |
| Start date | September 2027 |
| Level | Master's |
| Funding type | full |
| Field |
About this scholarship
Two-year (120 ECTS) International Master of Science in Rural Development jointly organised by 15 universities, preparing experts in integrated rural development through comparative study and mobility, with Erasmus Mundus scholarships for top-ranked candidates each year. VLIR-UOS scholarships are explicitly not available for intake 2027.
Minimum requirements
Bachelor's degree; English proficiency (recent Academic IELTS score of 6.5, TOEFL iBT of 80, CEFR B2 issued by a European university language centre, or Cambridge CAE Advanced). Two-year programme (120 ECTS) jointly organised by 15 universities in rural development, with the first semester (General Entrance Module, 30–35 ECTS) at Ghent University. Non-European students and all scholarship-seeking students: 28 February 2027. European students who do not wish to apply for a scholarship: 31 May 2027. Tuition: €4,500 per year for European students, €9,000 per year for non-European students. Erasmus Mundus scholarships are awarded to a selection of top-ranked candidates each year, with final selection at the IMRD selection committee meeting at the end of March or early April. VLIR-UOS scholarships are not available for intake 2027.
Application checklist
- Apply for admission to the IMRD programme through Ghent University
- Submit by 28 February 2027 if you are a non-European student or any scholarship-seeking student (European students not seeking a scholarship: 31 May 2027)
- Prepare proof of English proficiency (recent Academic IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80, CEFR B2 from a European university language centre, or Cambridge CAE Advanced)
- Prepare degree certificate, transcripts and motivation materials
- Note that selection is finalised at the IMRD selection committee meeting at the end of March or early April
Application tips
- Treat 28 February 2027 as the real scholarship deadline even if you are European — the later 31 May date is for European students who do not want a scholarship.
- Do not plan around VLIR-UOS for 2027: Ghent's own listing states no VLIR-UOS scholarships are available for intake 2027.
- The programme is jointly organised by 15 universities with extensive mobility, so check the mobility tracks and first-semester General Entrance Module at Ghent before choosing tracks.
- Top-up Grants are a separate, partial award for DAC-list candidates — do not present them as a full scholarship in your planning.
Always verify deadline, amount and eligibility on the official page before applying. Values marked ESTIMATE are based on a previous cycle and are not confirmed for the current round.
Tags: Rural development, Agriculture, Erasmus Mundus