The Erasmus Mundus GOALS Scholarship for 2026 is now open, offering a solid opportunity for anyone who wants to build a future in sport management, leisure governance, or the rapidly expanding digital side of the sports industry. The scholarship supports the GOALS International Master’s Programme, a two-year, English-taught joint degree run by five respected European universities.
If you’re looking for a globally oriented sport-management master’s with full financial support and plenty of practical exposure, this guide walks you through everything you need to know about what the programme offers, what the scholarship covers, and how to successfully apply.
About the GOALS Master’s Programme
GOALS, short for Governance and Administration of Leisure and Sports, is a 120-ECTS Erasmus Mundus Master’s created by a consortium that includes:
- University of Lille (France)
- University of Lisbon (Portugal)
- Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania)
- Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland)
- LUNEX University (Luxembourg)
The programme blends academic training with real-world projects and policy-focused learning. As you move through the partner universities, you get to see how different sport systems work and build practical experience along the way. By the final semester, you’ll complete an internship or research placement that ties everything together.
It’s designed to prepare you for roles across the sport ecosystem — from organisations, federations, and event companies to clubs, consultancies, and other fast-growing areas of the industry.
Scholarship Benefits
The GOALS scholarship takes the financial weight off your shoulders and covers everything you’ll need to complete the programme comfortably. You get:
- Full tuition paid for
- A €1,400 monthly stipend for 18 months
- Support for travel, visas, and accommodation
- Extra help during each mobility period
- Funding that continues through your internship or research placement
It’s easily one of the more generous Erasmus Mundus offers, especially with the built-in mobility across multiple European universities.
Who Can Apply
The programme welcomes applicants from all over the world. What matters most is that your academic background fits the programme’s focus.
You’re eligible to apply if you hold a Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS or equivalent) in a related field, such as:
- Sport management
- Management or business administration
- Sport studies (PE, coaching, fitness, wellness)
Final-year students are also encouraged to apply. You’ll just need to provide official proof of enrollment, and if admitted submit your final degree certificate by 30 August 2026.
English Requirements
Since the programme is taught entirely in English, non-native speakers must provide proof of B2-level proficiency. Accepted certificates include:
- IELTS: 6.0–6.5
- TOEFL iBT: 88
- Cambridge First or Advanced
- Or proof of two years of full-time study in English
Also Apply: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026: Fully Funded Study Opportunity in the UK
Required Documents
Your online application should include:
- Your Bachelor’s degree certificate, or official proof that you’re still completing it
- Transcript of records
- CV (Europass format recommended)
- English language certificate
- Passport or EU ID
- Two recommendation letters (uploaded directly by your referees)
- Motivation responses completed within the application platform
If any of your documents were issued in a language other than English, you’ll need to upload both the original version and an official English translation.
How to Apply
The application process is simple and designed to be as clear as possible:
1. Online Application
Complete the online application form, upload your documents, and wait for the confirmation email.
2. Initial Review
The consortium reviews all applications. Strong candidates proceed to the interview.
3. Interview
Shortlisted applicants join a 20-minute online interview covering motivation, relevant experience, and sport-related perspectives. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions.
4. Final Selection
Scores combine the application review (50%) and interview (50%). Results are published as:
- Main list (scholarship or self-funded)
- Reserve list (contacted if places open)
5. Student Agreement
Admitted students sign the GOALS Student Agreement before enrolling.
Application Timeline for 2026
- Applications open: 17 October 2025
- Deadline: 22 February 2026
- Interviews: March–April 2026
- Final results: April 2026
ALSO:
Apply for the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme 2026-2027
After You Join the Program
Once admitted, you’ll spend two years studying across the partner universities. The programme covers sport management, digital transformation, organisational analysis, and policy, with each mobility period giving you fresh insight into how sport systems function across Europe.
In your final semester, you’ll choose between:
- an internship within a sport organisation, or
- a research placement
Both options are designed to give you solid, hands-on experience before graduation.
Admissions are competitive, so if the programme aligns with your goals, now is the perfect time to take the next step.
Apply for the Erasmus Mundus GOALS Scholarship.
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