Finances
Overview
Information about the admission and scholarship selection process is available on the Apply to GEM page. This page focuses on tuition fees, scholarship benefits, payment arrangements and living costs.
Before applying to the Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation for Environmental Modelling and Management (GEM) programme, it is important to understand the expected costs and available funding opportunities.
The deadline for self-funded applicants is the same as for all GEM applications. Please consult the Apply to GEM page for the current application deadlines.
Following a successful academic assessment by the GEM Consortium, applicants will receive an invoice for the applicable tuition fee.
Applicants who require a detailed invoice for an external scholarship provider or sponsoring organisation may contact us at gem-msc-itc@utwente.nl.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees depend on your country of residence and are based on the European Commission's classification of participating and associated countries.
EU Member States and 3rd countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme (EU) | Other Countries (Non-EU) |
|---|---|
Member States of the European Union (EU): Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden. | ALL OTHER COUNTRIES |
Third countries associated to the Programme: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye. |
|
Estimated costs for self-funded students
Cost estimation for self-funded students | EU Countries | Non-EU Countries |
|---|---|---|
Tuition fee whole course 24 months | 5,500 | 19,800 |
Estimated additional costs (visa, residence permit, sundry costs such as passport photos, smart card, and deposit) | 400 | 400 |
Estimated living allowance for 24 months (incl. housing)
| 30,000 | 30,000 |
Estimated total costs (in Euros) | 35,900 | 50,200 |
Important notes:
- Fees are in euros and are subject to change.
- Living expenses are estimated at approximately €1,250 per month and may vary depending on the country and city where you study.
- Students are responsible for covering: international and local travel costs; inter-European mobility costs; the purchase of a personal laptop.
- The tuition fee includes: Complete student insurance; programme-related fieldwork and field trips
Applicants should ensure they have sufficient financial resources to cover all costs throughout the programme.
Payment conditions
After being admitted to the programme, students will receive an invoice for the tuition fee.
Students may pay the tuition fee in two equal annual instalments.
Payment 1 | Due date | Payment 2 | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
50% of total costs | 1 May 2027 | 50% of total costs | 1 May 2028 |
Failure to pay by the specified deadline may result in non-registration for the following academic year. Further payment details and deadlines will be communicated together with the admission offer.
Alternative funding opportunities
As competition for Erasmus+ scholarships is extremely high, applicants are strongly encouraged to explore alternative funding sources.
Please be aware that the period between admission decisions and tuition fee payment is short. Check whether your scholarship can be deferred to a later intake if necessary.
We also recommend:
- Exploring scholarship opportunities in your home country.
- Investigating student loan options.
- Consulting your employer regarding educational funding opportunities.
Additional information on funding opportunities offered through GEM partner universities is available below:
Erasmus+ Scholarships
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Scholarships
The GEM programme offers a limited number of prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) Scholarships, funded by the European Union.
Across four student intakes, the programme has been awarded 70 Erasmus+ scholarships:
- 50 scholarships are open to all eligible applicants.
A limited number of scholarships may be allocated to applicants from specific regions according to European Commission funding provisions applicable to the GEM project. For the 2027-2029 intake, approximately 17-18 scholarships are available across the programme's four specialisation tracks.
Because the number of scholarships is limited and competition is intense, applicants should always consider alternative funding options as part of their study plans.
What does the scholarship cover
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for selected students. It includes:
- Full tuition fee waiver
- Student insurance including emergency assistance, medical and dental expenses, accidents, social & medical repatriation, liability, legal assistance, home contents and luggage.
- Monthly allowance of €1,400 for up to 24 months
The monthly contribution is intended to cover:
- Accommodation and living expenses
- Travel costs
- Visa and residence permit expenses
- Study materials and laptop costs
- Other personal expenses
Important
Only the tuition and insurance are paid directly by the programme. Students are responsible for managing all other costs using the monthly scholarship allowance and should budget carefully throughout the programme.
Additional scholarships for specific regions
To support diversity and global participation, a number of scholarships are designated for students from specific regions of the world. These scholarships form part of the overall Erasmus+ scholarship allocation and are awarded according to priorities established by the European Commission.
Scholarships allocation
Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence and the ranking established through the selection procedure.
In addition, the GEM Consortium aims to ensure a diverse and international student cohort. Where applicable, scholarship allocation may take into account geographic balance considerations in line with Erasmus Mundus programme objectives and funding provisions. Consequently, the number of scholarship recipients from a single country or region may be limited.
Scholarship conditions
Applicants offered an Erasmus Mundus scholarship must comply with the following conditions:
- You must not previously have received an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD), Erasmus Mundus Master Course or Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate scholarship.
- You may receive another EU-funded scholarship to participate in the same programme.
- Any scholarship awarded based on false information or fraudulent declarations must be repaid.
- Scholarship payments are made on a monthly basis.
- Your two GEM study periods must take place in countries other than your country of residence at the time of enrolment in order to meet the Erasmus Mundus mobility requirements.
- Selected students may be asked to provide documentation confirming their country of residence at the time of enrolment.
