Everything you need to apply for the Erasmus Mundus AISS programme, win the scholarship, and land in Tallinn legally — written from the perspective of someone who just went through it, with extra care for Nepali / South Asian applicants.
The whole process takes about 10 months. Most failure happens at steps 2 and 6 — paperwork preparation and visa scheduling. Both are solvable if you start early.
Bachelor's degree in CS / IT / related, English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent), strong motivation. AISS accepts students from anywhere in the world.
The paperwork phase. Start months in advance — transcripts and recommendation letters take longer than you think.
Applications open ~October, close ~February for the August intake. One application gives you a shot at the Erasmus Mundus scholarship automatically.
Short online interview with consortium faculty. Mostly about your motivation, background, and what you'd bring to the cohort.
Decisions land around April–May. The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is a separate award on top of admission.
Schengen visa for Estonia (the first host country). Apply as soon as you have the admission letter — appointments fill up fast.
The EMJMD (Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree) scholarship covers tuition for all four semesters plus a monthly living allowance. You apply once for AISS — the scholarship consideration is automatic.
✦ Figures are the official Erasmus Mundus rates for cohorts beginning 2026. Confirm on the consortium’s site — they update annually.
Estonia visaYou only apply for one visa — the Estonian D-type long-stay visa. Mobility to Porto and Tampere is handled internally through Erasmus once you're in.
Book your visa appointment within 3 days of receiving the admission letter. Slots in May–June fill up faster than most applicants expect.
Estonia outsources visa intake. From Nepal, applications route through VFS Global, New Delhi. Confirm current arrangement on the Estonian MFA site — it changes every few years.
Typically 15–30 working daysafter biometrics. Don't book a non-refundable flight before the visa is in your hand.
Most Erasmus Mundus material is written for EU citizens. These are the things I had to learn the hard way as a Nepali applicant.
Get your degree, transcripts, and birth certificate apostilled at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu. Takes 2–5 working days. Embassies will reject un-apostilled originals.
If any document is in Nepali, get it translated by a registered translator and notarised. Always carry the original + translation together.
Estonia's visa officers expect 6 months of statements showing a stable balance. Sudden lump-sum deposits raise flags — start preparing your account months early.
Nepal currently routes Estonia visa applications through VFS Global in New Delhi. Build the India travel + visa application into your timeline.
Get the Central Police Clearance from Mahanagariya Prahari Karyalaya, Kathmandu. Valid for 6 months — don't get it too early.
Some embassies want the police clearance also apostilled. Confirm with VFS before submission to avoid a second trip.
Working on a one-page printable timeline you can pin above your desk. Until then, keep an eye on the journey log — it updates as the deadlines hit.
