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15 Oct 2026
Erasmus Mundus scholarship 2027

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027: Deadlines and How to Apply

Categories EU, Scholarships, Study Abroad

Applications for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship 2027 intake are opening programme by programme this autumn, and several deadlines fall between December and January. There is no central application. According to the European Commission’s Erasmus+ page, students apply directly to the institution running their chosen Joint Master’s, and each programme’s website lists its own steps, requirements and dates. That makes the next few weeks the time to build a shortlist.

In this guide

How Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters work

An Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s is a degree delivered by a consortium of universities in several countries, so students typically study in at least two of them. The Commission says some programmes offer full scholarships to the best-ranked students worldwide, covering participation costs and contributing to travel, visa and living costs. Not every student on a programme receives one. You can read the Commission’s own announcement of the latest 87 selected projects.

What the scholarship covers

The Commission page does not state amounts. Two guides published this year, which are not official sources, give a rate of EUR 1,400 a month for up to 24 months and say that cost contributions depend on programme conditions. Scholarships Central describes this as a contribution toward eligible costs rather than a guaranteed lump sum. Treat these figures as indicative and confirm the amount on the programme page before you rely on it. Students who have previously held an Erasmus Mundus scholarship cannot receive another, according to the same guide.

Deadlines to expect

The Commission says applications usually open between October and January for courses starting the following academic year. VisaWise Travel reports that most programme deadlines for the 2027-28 intake fall between December 2026 and January 2027, many around mid-January, with a few in February or March, and that some close earlier. A second guide says the newly selected 2027 programmes were expected to open in autumn 2026 for a September 2027 start. Because no central calendar exists, the only reliable date is the one on each programme’s own page.

Who can apply

You need a bachelor’s degree or be in your final year and graduate before the master’s begins. Applicants with equivalent learning can apply if the degree-awarding country recognises it. Each programme adds its own academic, language and mobility requirements, and some ask for work experience or a research proposal. Typical documents include transcripts, a motivation letter, references, a CV and an English test score unless waived.

A practical plan

Consider a hypothetical applicant. Amina is a Pakistani graduate in public health. She lists six programmes, notes each portal’s deadline, and asks her referees for letters in October instead of December. Because the guides do not set a limit on the number of applications, she applies to several but writes a separate motivation letter for each. She also checks visa rules for each study country. If you want to compare other awards, see our reports on the Commonwealth Master’s scholarships and the Gates Cambridge scholarship. Our visa eligibility checker can help with the study-country visa side.

Erasmus Mundus questions

Is there one Erasmus Mundus application?

No. You apply directly to the institution running each Joint Master’s programme, according to the European Commission.

When are the deadlines?

They vary. One guide reports most fall between December 2026 and January 2027, but the only reliable date is on each programme’s website.

How much is the scholarship?

The Commission page gives no figure. Unofficial guides cite EUR 1,400 a month for up to 24 months, so confirm with the programme.

Who can apply?

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree, or in their final year and graduating before the master’s starts, subject to each programme’s own criteria.

Can I apply to more than one programme?

The guides we read set no universal limit, but individual programmes may have their own rules.

Does admission guarantee funding?

No. Scholarships are competitive, and admission to a programme does not guarantee one.

Sources

15 Oct 2026
October 2026 Visa Bulletin

October 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 and EB-3 Dates Move Back

Categories Immigration, Visa Updates, Work Permits

The October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the first for fiscal year 2027, moved several employment-based green card cut-off dates backwards. The State Department says some categories for applicants from the rest of the world retrogressed to keep issuances within the quarterly and annual limits. According to the bulletin itself, the worldwide final action date is 1 January 2025 for EB-2, 15 May 2024 for EB-3 and 1 January 2022 for Other Workers. EB-1 remains current.

In this report

The October final action dates

These are the employment-based final action dates for applicants charged to all countries other than those listed separately, taken from the State Department table:

  • EB-1: current.
  • EB-2: 1 January 2025.
  • EB-3 (skilled and professional workers): 15 May 2024.
  • Other Workers: 1 January 2022.

The bulletin says only that some categories “retrogressed” to hold issuances within the fiscal year 2027 limits and that the department will monitor demand and adjust as needed. The pages I could read do not state what the earlier dates were, so this report does not quantify how far they moved. Grape Law describes EB-2, EB-3 and Other Workers as the categories affected.

India and China

Applicants born in India and mainland China have their own dates. For India, the October table shows EB-1 at 1 February 2023, EB-2 at 1 November 2013, EB-3 at 1 January 2014 and Other Workers at 1 January 2014. For mainland China it shows EB-1 at 1 July 2023, EB-2 at 1 October 2021, EB-3 at 8 January 2022 and Other Workers at 1 October 2019. The bulletin also notes that the annual Other Workers limit is reduced under NACARA, by about 150 numbers for fiscal 2027, and that the religious workers category is extended through 11 December 2026.

What a final action date means

A date in the table means the category is oversubscribed, and visa numbers are available only to applicants whose priority date is earlier. Consider a hypothetical case. Maricel is a Filipino nurse whose employer filed an EB-3 petition and whose priority date is 1 March 2024. Because the Philippines is charged to the worldwide column, that date is earlier than 15 May 2024, so her number would be available if everything else is in order. A colleague with a priority date of 1 August 2024 would wait. Which chart applies to an applicant can differ, so check the State Department bulletin and your own case.

The bulletin governs when a visa number is available. It does not replace the other rules affecting green card applicants. For those, read our reports on the public charge rule for I-485 filers and the H-1B $100,000 payment.

What to watch next

The State Department publishes a new bulletin each month and says it will keep adjusting dates. Dates can move forward as easily as back, and a retrogression does not mean a petition is denied. Employers and applicants should ask their attorney whether to file for adjustment of status now or wait, since that depends on the chart USCIS accepts for the month. Our visa eligibility checker can help you compare routes if the US wait does not suit you.

October 2026 Visa Bulletin questions

What changed in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin?

The State Department says some employment-based categories for rest-of-world applicants retrogressed to keep fiscal year 2027 issuances within limits.

What is the EB-2 date for most applicants?

The worldwide EB-2 final action date is 1 January 2025.

What is the EB-3 date for most applicants?

The worldwide EB-3 final action date is 15 May 2024, with Other Workers at 1 January 2022.

Is EB-1 affected?

EB-1 is listed as current for all chargeability areas, though India and China have dates.

Does retrogression cancel my petition?

No. It affects when a visa number is available. Your priority date is kept, and dates can advance again.

Where can I check my own priority date?

On the State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin page, or with an immigration attorney who can read your case.

Sources

15 Oct 2026
Australia student visa changes

Australia Student Visa Changes From 2 October 2026

Categories Study Abroad, Visa Updates

New Australia student visa changes took effect on 2 October 2026. Most temporary visa holders can no longer apply for a Student visa from inside Australia, and most new international students can no longer include family members in their application. The rules are set out on the Australian government’s Study Australia site. Current Student visa holders are not affected, and applications lodged before 2 October are assessed under the old rules.

In this report

Who can no longer apply from inside Australia

According to Study Australia, working holiday and Skills in Demand visa holders are among those who must now apply from overseas, and they must also be outside Australia when the visa is granted. Student visa holders generally cannot lodge another Student visa application onshore either. The exemptions listed include students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Defence, doctoral, primary and secondary study, students who need up to 12 more months with the same provider, those moving from a completed course to a higher level, and cases where a provider has defaulted. ICEF Monitor reports that the list of affected visa classes widened between the 17 September announcement and the start date.

Family members

For a first or further Student visa, family members generally cannot be included unless an exemption applies. Study Australia lists doctoral students, nationals of Pacific and ASEAN countries, recipients of fully funded foreign government scholarships, and DFAT or Defence-sponsored students. Families already in Australia can be included in a new application if they were on the earlier visa or application before 2 October and the student is eligible to apply onshore. Family members cannot be added after a Student visa is granted, and that rule has no exemptions. ICEF notes that one source describes the dependant restriction as having “no exceptions” while listing exemptions, so rely on the government wording.

Consider a hypothetical case. Arjun is an Indian master’s applicant who planned to bring his spouse. Unless he qualifies for an exemption, such as a doctoral place or a qualifying scholarship, the new rules mean he should plan on applying without her. He should confirm his category on the government site or with a registered migration agent before paying any fee.

Changing providers

ICEF reports that non-school students must now stay with their principal course provider for 12 months before transferring, up from six, until a new transfer stream begins on 1 July 2027. Transfers are limited to courses at the same level or higher, and moving from higher education to vocational training onshore is no longer allowed. Business Today reports the same 12-month rule. If a course or provider turns out to be unsuitable, you may have to stay enrolled longer before moving.

What is still to come

Study Australia says a Transfer stream within the Student visa is planned, with details still in development. Family restrictions for Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants will also be introduced, with no timing given. The page adds that the 485 application charge rose to A$5,750 on 1 July 2026, with applicants from Pacific Island countries, Timor-Leste and ASEAN states excluded from the increase. For earlier changes, see our reports on Australian visa application charges and the skilled visa salary thresholds.

What applicants should do

Check whether you are inside or outside Australia when you plan to lodge, whether you fit an exemption, and whether your family can travel with you. Keep evidence of any earlier lodgement date. If you are comparing destinations, our visa eligibility checker can help you check your options. Anything that depends on your own circumstances is a question for a registered migration agent.

Australia student visa questions

When did the Australia student visa changes start?

They took effect on 2 October 2026 for applications lodged from that date. Applications lodged earlier are assessed under the rules at lodgement.

Can a visitor or working holiday maker apply for a Student visa in Australia now?

Generally no. Study Australia says most temporary visa holders can no longer apply for a Student visa while in Australia and must apply from overseas.

Can I bring my family on a Student visa?

Generally not, unless an exemption applies. Study Australia lists doctoral students, Pacific and ASEAN nationals, some fully funded foreign government scholarship holders and DFAT or Defence-sponsored students.

Can I add family after my visa is granted?

No. Study Australia says family members cannot be added after a Student visa is granted and that this rule has no exemptions.

How long must I stay with my provider before switching?

ICEF reports 12 months for non-school students until 1 July 2027, when a new transfer stream starts.

Are current Student visa holders affected?

Study Australia says current Student visa holders are not affected by these changes.

Sources

14 Oct 2026
Oman free zone regulations

Oman Free Zone Regulations: What Foreign Investors Get

Categories Business

Oman has issued new Oman free zone regulations that bring its 2025 law on special economic and free zones into operation. Gulf News reported on 20 September 2026 that the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) issued them as Resolution No. 81/2026, implementing Royal Decree No. 38/2025. For foreign founders and property investors, the rules cover ownership, residency, licensing and buyer safeguards. The report does not state an effective date, so confirm that with OPAZ.

What this covers

Ownership and capital

The underlying law lets foreign investors hold 100 percent of operators, enterprises and real estate developers, according to a KPMG Oman summary of the law. Enterprises and developers are exempt from a minimum capital requirement, subject to approvals. Developers may sell units to non-Omanis on a freehold basis. Gulf News says the new regulations let expatriates acquire freehold ownership of units in qualifying developments and cover licensing for projects and off-plan sales.

Tax and customs incentives

KPMG describes a 10-year income tax exemption from the start of commercial operations. It may be extended twice for activities of a special nature, which the executive regulations are to specify. The exemption excludes banks, financial institutions, insurers and reinsurers, telecommunications companies, construction companies, and land and maritime transport companies. Goods moving into or out of the zones are not subject to customs duties. Existing incentives and approvals for current operators stay in place until their operating periods end.

Gulf News says the new framework also covers incentives and exemptions, but its article gives no figures. Founders should read the Royal Decree text on the OPAZ website and the resolution itself rather than rely on summaries.

Licensing and residency

A digital one-stop shop is the main channel for investor services. According to Gulf News, applications for land, property, licences, approvals, permits and certificates go through it, with electronic links to government authorities. KPMG adds that a branch of the Directorate General of Passports and Civil Status will sit in each zone to issue visas, permits and clearances to non-Omanis on site.

The residency provisions apply to expatriate investors, foreign property owners and their spouses and first-degree relatives, subject to the applicable legislation. The article gives no thresholds, durations or fees, so none can be quoted here.

Buyer safeguards

For anyone buying off plan, the safeguards matter most. Gulf News reports that developers must meet financial and technical conditions before marketing units, and that withdrawals from escrow accounts are regulated. These are conditions on the developer, not guarantees to the buyer, so due diligence on the developer and the project licence is still necessary.

What is still unclear

Several points remain open. The Gulf News report gives no effective date and no numerical thresholds. KPMG notes that the law’s executive regulations were expected within one year of issuance and would set timelines, transitional rules and qualifying conditions. A hypothetical founder, such as a Nigerian entrepreneur planning a logistics or light-manufacturing business, would need to check three things before committing: which zone is open for licensing, whether the planned activity falls under an excluded sector, and what residency route applies to the founder’s family.

For comparison with other Gulf jurisdictions, read our guides to the UAE commercial companies law amendments and Saudi company registration for non-Saudi firms. Our company formation page explains the setup options we cover, and the visa eligibility checker can help with the residency side.

Oman free zone questions

Who issued the new Oman free zone regulations?

The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones issued them as Resolution No. 81/2026, according to Gulf News.

Can foreigners own 100 percent of a company in Oman’s free zones?

KPMG’s summary of Royal Decree 38/2025 says foreign investors may hold 100 percent of operators, enterprises and real estate developers.

Is there a tax exemption?

KPMG describes a 10-year income tax exemption from the start of commercial operations, extendable twice for special activities, with exclusions such as banks, insurers and telecoms.

Can expatriates buy freehold property?

Gulf News says the regulations let expatriates acquire freehold ownership of units in qualifying developments.

When do the regulations take effect?

The Gulf News report does not state an effective date. Check with OPAZ.

Sources

14 Oct 2026
UK Erasmus+ visa rules

UK Erasmus+ Visa Rules: What Changed on 8 October 2026

Categories Study Abroad, Uk

New UK Erasmus+ visa rules took effect on 8 October 2026, preparing the immigration system for the UK’s return to the exchange programme. The changes sit in Statement of Changes HC 584, laid on 3 September 2026, and they cover visitors, sponsored students and the Government Authorised Exchange scheme. The explanatory memorandum says the UK and the EU agreed association to Erasmus+ in 2027, so the visa rules arrive first.

In this guide

Visitors on Erasmus+ projects

According to the memorandum, visitors may study at state-funded schools and academies on Erasmus+ projects for placements of up to six months. Participants under 18 need permission from a parent or guardian and from their home institution. Erasmus+ participants may also join training, courses, traineeships of up to 30 days, job shadowing and sports coaching. Host organisations do not need to sponsor Erasmus+ visitors.

Separately, the changes let all visitors take part in workshops, debates and skills competitions, per the summary from Lewis Silkin. Visitors coming for training no longer need to show the training is unavailable in their home country.

Sponsored students

The student route is adapted in several ways. Erasmus+ students can be sponsored even when the course does not lead to an approved qualification. Sponsorship may cover courses at RQF level 2, but only for Erasmus+ participants at participating sponsors. Erasmus+ courses can include work placements from the start, even for sponsors on probationary status, and are exempt from the usual placement-length limits. Hosts must hold a valid student sponsor licence.

The Government Authorised Exchange change

Erasmus+ is added to the list of Government Authorised Exchange schemes. The memorandum calls this facilitative: it creates no new route and does not change how sponsorship works. The Department for Education endorses the scheme, and IRARA Services Ltd, appointed by the department, acts as overarching sponsor. The memorandum expects significant growth in exchange visas from a base of 7,235 in the year ending March 2026.

Consider a hypothetical case. Beatriz is a Brazilian master’s student whose university is in a partner arrangement under the programme. Once the UK is associated, she might spend a term at a UK university. The route would not need a standard multi-year study visa for a short exchange, but the exact route depends on the course and sponsor. She would check the sponsor’s licence and the length of her placement first.

Other changes from 8 October

The same statement carries other rule changes unrelated to Erasmus+. Skilled Workers recognised as modern slavery victims may gain wider work rights after a positive Conclusive Grounds decision, as Free Movement reports. Biometrics rules for varied applications and fee-waiver rules for extensions also changed for applications made on or after 8 October. Read the statement of changes itself for the exact wording.

What exchange students should do

Do not book travel on the strength of a summary. The association itself takes effect in 2027, and the memorandum does not give a specific start date. Check with your home university, which will know the date it can nominate students, and with the UK host, which must hold the right sponsor licence for student-route placements. Students comparing the UK with other options can read our guide to the Graduate Route changes from January 2027, our report on ETA enforcement for visa-exempt travellers and our deadline guide for the Chevening scholarship. A quick check on your own case is available through our visa eligibility checker.

UK Erasmus+ questions

When do the UK Erasmus+ visa rules start?

The rule changes apply to applications and entries from 8 October 2026, under Statement of Changes HC 584.

When does the UK rejoin Erasmus+?

The explanatory memorandum says the UK will associate from 2027. It does not give a more specific date.

Can Erasmus+ students be sponsored for non-qualification courses?

Yes. The student route now allows sponsorship even when the course does not lead to an approved qualification.

Do UK hosts need to sponsor Erasmus+ visitors?

No. The memorandum says hosts do not need to sponsor Erasmus+ visitors.

How long can a visitor attend a UK school on Erasmus+?

Visitors may study at state-funded schools and academies on Erasmus+ projects for up to six months.

Sources

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