About the European Master in Law and Economics
The European Master in Law and Economics (EMLE) has invited applications for its 2027–2028 academic programme. International students, including law graduates from India, can apply for admission and competitive Erasmus Mundus scholarships.
The programme allows students to study law and economics at different international universities during one academic year. Selected scholarship recipients can receive financial assistance of up to €1,400 per month, along with scholarship support for programme costs.
The programme is intended for graduates interested in understanding legal systems through economic analysis. It covers subjects such as competition law, corporate governance, public policy, international law and financial regulation.
Applications for the 2027–2028 intake opened on September 1, 2026. The last date for applicants from India and other non-European countries is December 31, 2026.
About the EMLE Programme
The European Master in Law and Economics is an international postgraduate programme supported under the Erasmus Mundus framework of the European Union.
The programme has been offering interdisciplinary education in law and economics for more than 30 years.
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Unlike a conventional LL.M. programme that focuses mainly on legal doctrine, EMLE combines legal education with economics, public policy and analytical methods.
Students learn how economic concepts can be applied to questions involving contracts, property rights, competition, corporate governance, financial markets and government regulation.
The programme also encourages comparative study of different legal systems.
Universities and Study Locations
One important feature of EMLE is that students can study at more than one international university during the academic year.
The consortium includes universities in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, Poland and Spain, along with non-European academic partners.
Participating institutions include Erasmus University Rotterdam, the University of Hamburg, Ghent University, the University of Bologna and other international universities.
Students may be allocated to different universities depending on their academic interests, programme requirements and the availability of places.
Every student must study at a minimum of two different universities under the programme’s mobility rules.
The allocation is decided by the EMLE administration after considering student preferences and the requirements of the Erasmus Mundus programme.
Admission does not automatically guarantee placement at a student’s preferred universities.
Programme Duration and Academic Structure
The European Master in Law and Economics is a one-year postgraduate programme carrying 60 ECTS credits.
The academic year runs from October to September and is divided into three terms.
The first term generally begins in October and continues until December.
The second term runs from January to March, while the third term begins in April.
Students take academic courses during these terms and complete a master’s thesis as part of the programme.
The thesis is normally submitted in August.
The programme offers specialised academic tracks covering different areas of law and economics.
Successful candidates receive the postgraduate qualification awarded under the arrangements of their allocated universities.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must possess at least 240 ECTS credits or an equivalent amount of previous higher education.
The programme explains that 240 ECTS credits normally correspond to four years of full-time higher education.
These qualifications may have been obtained through a four-year undergraduate degree or a combination of undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
Preference is given to candidates with an academic background in law or economics.
However, applicants holding degrees in other subjects may also apply if they demonstrate a clear understanding of and interest in the economic analysis of law.
A previously completed master’s degree is preferred for certain scholarship considerations but is not compulsory for admission.
The programme does not prescribe a general age limit.
Can Indian Law Graduates Apply?
Yes. Indian nationals are eligible to apply under the non-European applicant category.
Candidates holding a five-year integrated law degree, such as BA LL.B. or BBA LL.B., may apply if their qualifications satisfy the programme’s academic equivalency requirements.
Graduates who completed a three-year LL.B. after an earlier undergraduate degree may also be eligible, subject to assessment of their combined qualifications.
However, the programme requires educational qualifications equivalent to at least 240 ECTS credits. Applicants should not assume that every Indian degree automatically satisfies this requirement.
Students who are completing their degrees may also submit applications.
Such candidates must be able to complete their qualifications before the programme begins and provide their degree certificates within the prescribed period.
The EMLE administration will assess whether the qualifications meet the admission requirements.
Scholarship Amount and Financial Benefits
The EMLE programme offers Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships funded by the European Commission.
The highest-ranked applicants may receive scholarships providing a monthly contribution of up to €1,400.
The amount is intended to help meet expenses connected with international travel, visas, settling into a new country and living costs.
The actual duration of scholarship payments depends on the period for which the student participates in the programme and complies with its mobility requirements.
The programme also provides insurance coverage for EMLE students throughout the academic year.
The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is a competitive award. Not every student admitted to EMLE will receive financial assistance.
Number of Scholarships
The EMLE consortium has funding to award up to 90 full Erasmus Mundus scholarships across six academic years, from 2022–2023 to 2027–2028.
This works out to approximately 15 scholarships per academic year.
According to the programme guidelines, around ten scholarships annually are allocated to the strongest applicants in the overall merit ranking.
Approximately five additional scholarships are reserved for candidates from designated target regions under the Erasmus+ programme.
The targeted regions include certain Western Balkan countries and other regions identified by the European Commission.
Indian applicants can compete for the general merit-based scholarships.
However, they should not assume eligibility for scholarships reserved for particular regions.
EMLE Outreach Scholarship
Apart from the Erasmus Mundus scholarship, the consortium also offers an Outreach Scholarship.
This scholarship is intended for candidates affiliated with higher education institutions who wish to introduce or strengthen teaching and research in law and economics.
The programme provides full tuition fee waivers to up to two eligible applicants annually.
Applicants must submit a short project plan explaining how they intend to incorporate law and economics into their academic work after completing EMLE.
They must also obtain a letter of endorsement from their institution.
The Outreach Scholarship is particularly relevant for university teachers and researchers working in law or economics.
Candidates interested in this award must submit the additional documents to the EMLE administration before the application deadline.
The official email for Outreach Scholarship correspondence is application@emle.org.
Subjects Covered Under the Programme
The EMLE curriculum includes several subjects that may interest lawyers and legal researchers.
These include Economic Analysis of Private Law, Competition Law and Economics, Corporate Governance and Finance, Empirical Legal Studies and Economic Analysis of Public Law.
Students can also study the economic analysis of international law, constitutional systems, regulation, taxation and financial markets.
Other subjects cover intellectual property, technology regulation, consumer law and behavioural approaches to legal rules.
Some courses examine how economic evidence is used in competition law proceedings and regulatory decision-making.
The programme also offers opportunities to study law and economics through comparative international perspectives.
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose native language is not English must generally provide recognised evidence of English-language proficiency unless an exemption applies.
For IELTS Academic, the programme requires an overall score of 7.0, with at least 6.0 in each component.
For the older TOEFL iBT scoring system, the published minimum overall score is 95, along with prescribed section-wise requirements.
The programme also accepts the revised TOEFL iBT scoring system introduced in 2026 and certain Cambridge English qualifications.
English test results must not be older than two years, calculated from the application deadline.
Importantly, candidates do not need to submit their English-language test results before the initial application deadline.
The official programme FAQ states that proof of English proficiency is required from admitted students.
Candidates should nevertheless arrange their tests in advance to ensure that they can satisfy the requirements before final admission.
Documents Required
Candidates must submit their applications through the official EMLE online system.
Applicants are required to provide their academic degree certificates and transcripts showing their grades.
Those who have not yet graduated can submit their available academic transcripts.
A one-page motivation letter is an important part of the application.
The letter should explain why the candidate is interested in law and economics and why they wish to join the EMLE programme.
Applicants must also arrange at least one letter of recommendation, although two letters are preferred.
The recommendation letters must be submitted directly by the referees through the online system.
Candidates must additionally provide valid proof of residence.
The document should contain their full name and current address and must have been issued within the prescribed period.
A passport alone is not accepted as proof of residence.
Selection Process
The EMLE programme follows a merit-based selection process.
Applications are evaluated according to academic performance, motivation and the applicant’s connection with law and economics.
The quality of the applicant’s university education carries 40% of the assessment.
The motivation letter accounts for 25%, while the applicant’s academic and professional affinity with law and economics carries another 25%.
Letters of recommendation account for the remaining 10%.
Candidates are ranked according to these criteria.
Admission offers and Erasmus Mundus scholarships are awarded on the basis of the final ranking, subject to the applicable scholarship categories and programme requirements.
The programme expects to communicate admission decisions in March 2027.
Tuition Fees for Students Without Scholarships
Candidates who do not receive an Erasmus Mundus scholarship may still be offered admission to the programme.
However, they must arrange funding for tuition fees and living expenses.
The tuition fee for non-European students is €12,000 for the academic year.
European-category applicants are charged €7,500.
For Indian students applying under the non-European category, the ordinary published tuition fee is therefore €12,000.
Successful self-funded applicants are required to pay the first instalment of €800 after accepting admission.
The remaining tuition fee must be paid by the prescribed deadline.
Students should also account for travel, accommodation, living expenses and any visa-related financial requirements.
Special Requirement for Indian Applicants
The EMLE programme has published an additional notice for candidates whose relevant degrees were issued by Indian universities.
Applicants who wish to study for one or more terms at the University of Hamburg may generally be required to obtain an APS certificate.
Certain exemptions may apply, including for recipients of particular publicly funded scholarships.
The certificate verifies the authenticity of academic qualifications for the relevant German admission and visa procedures.
Indian applicants interested in studying in Hamburg should check this requirement well in advance.
The EMLE administration has clarified that obtaining an APS certificate does not guarantee allocation to Hamburg.
How to Apply?
Interested and eligible candidates must apply through the official EMLE application portal.
Applicants should create an account and complete the online application form for the 2027–2028 academic year.
They must upload their academic documents, motivation letter and proof of residence.
Candidates should also provide the professional email addresses of their referees so that recommendation requests can be sent directly through the application system.
Applicants interested in Erasmus Mundus funding should indicate their scholarship interest by selecting the relevant option in the form.
The programme may subsequently contact eligible candidates regarding further scholarship requirements.
Candidates should review all submitted information carefully before completing their applications.
Only fully completed applications, including at least one submitted recommendation letter, will be considered.
Official Application Portal: https://apply.emle.org/
Official Programme Application Page: https://emle.org/application-2/
Official Scholarship Information: https://emle.org/application-2/#scholarships
Official Programme Website: https://emle.org/
Official Email for Application Queries: application@emle.org
Official General Enquiries Email: info@emle.org
Application Deadline
The application process for the 2027–2028 European Master in Law and Economics programme opened on September 1, 2026.
The last date for applicants from India and other non-European countries is December 31, 2026.
The programme specifies a deadline of 11:59 PM Central European Time for non-European applications.
European-category applicants have until January 15, 2027.
Indian applicants should follow the December deadline and ensure that their recommendation letters and supporting documents are submitted before it.
The EMLE administration expects to announce admission decisions in March 2027.
Successful applicants will begin their academic programme in October 2027.
