PlantHealth is a two-year Erasmus Mundus master’s degree about keeping crops healthy. The full name is Erasmus Mundus Master Degree in Plant Health in Sustainable Cropping Systems. You learn how to protect plants from pests and diseases without harming the environment.
Students from any country can apply. The programme takes up to 30 students and offers Erasmus Mundus scholarships. This guide explains the universities, study path, entry rules, documents, funding and the steps to apply.
Quick facts for the next intake
(Last checked: October 9, 2026.)
| Item | Details |
| Intake | Intake 12 (2027–2029) |
| First call | Opens 1 October 2026 and closes 31 December 2026 (CET) |
| Exact cut-off | Before 1 January 2027, 00:00 CET |
| Results | End of February 2027 |
| Second call | 20 May to 15 June 2027 (self-funded only, no Erasmus Mundus scholarships) |
| Places | Up to 30 students |
| Self-funded fees (last published, 2026–28 intake) | €4,500 per year (EU/EEA/Swiss), €5,500 per year (others) |
Important: only students who apply in the first call can get an Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
What is the PlantHealth Master’s?
It is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree. It lasts 2 years and gives 120 ECTS credits. Five universities in four countries run it together.
You study plant protection from the science side and the practical side. Topics include crop science, crop protection, population biology, molecular biology and statistics. In the second year you choose a field to specialise in, such as integrated pest management in a certain type of farming.
The universities
- Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain)
- Università di Padova (Italy)
- University of Göttingen (Germany)
- AgroParisTech (France)
- L’Institut Agro (France)
How the two years work
Year 1 (called M1): everyone studies the same basic courses. You choose to start at the Universitat Politècnica de València in Spain or the Università di Padova in Italy. All M1 courses are in English.
Year 2 (called M2): you move to a university in a different country from your M1 country. You specialise there, and the last semester is your master’s thesis.
| M2 university | What you specialise in |
| Universitat Politècnica de València | Mediterranean crops in orchards and greenhouses |
| Università di Padova | Temperate fruit crops, ornamental plants and landscape |
| University of Göttingen | Temperate crops, arable crops and crops for energy |
| L’Institut Agro and AgroParisTech | Tropical horticulture and temperate vegetable crops |
You pick your preferred route in the application. The PlantHealth Board gives you the final route, and it may not be your first choice. The board looks at things like even spread across the universities and your academic profile.
You are selected for both years together. You cannot do only one year.
Also Read: GLOCAL Erasmus Mundus Program | Master in Global Markets, Local Creativities
Read this before choosing France
M2 is taught in English at every university except the French ones. At AgroParisTech and L’Institut Agro, the classes are in French. The programme gives all students language classes. It also offers a free two-month intensive summer course before Year 2 in France. Even so, the programme advises you to start learning French in your home country first.
Degrees you get
You receive two master’s degrees, one from your M1 university and one from your M2 university. You also receive a joint curriculum document from the coordinator. It lists the courses and requirements of the PlantHealth programme.
Who can apply
You need a Bachelor of Science degree of 180 ECTS in agronomy, agricultural sciences or a related field. This usually means a 3-year full-time bachelor’s. Your studies should include at least 4 ECTS in plant health or crop protection, or something equal.
If your background is not in agriculture, the team checks your transcript to see whether you know enough to follow the courses.
Final-year students can apply. You upload a letter from your university saying you are in your last year. You also upload your latest transcript. If you are selected, you must finish your bachelor’s degree before the programme starts. If you do not, your selection is cancelled.
English rules
You need English at level B2, unless English is your first language. These tests are accepted:
- IELTS
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge English (CAE, CPE, FCE)
- ISE (Trinity College London)
- ESOL
- Oxford Test of English
- PTE (Pearson)
These are not accepted: Duolingo, TOEIC, free online courses, and certificates from universities or private language schools.
Another way: a letter from your university saying your whole bachelor’s degree was taught in English. A test certificate is still better and makes your application stronger.
Documents you need
All documents are uploaded online. Nothing is accepted by post or email.
- CV (no fixed format, Europass is recommended)
- Degree certificate
- Full transcript of records
- English certificate, or the university letter above
- Two recommendation letters
- Declaration on honour (the template is in the upload section)
- Other helpful papers, such as publications or proof of refugee status (optional)
Your degree and transcript must be official. They need a stamp, seal or barcode from your university. You do not need to legalise them at this stage. If you are selected, you may have to provide legalised copies or sworn translations later.
Recommendation letters
- You must use the official PlantHealth template from the application portal.
- The letter must have the official letterhead, with the name, logo and address of the university or company.
- It must show the referee’s contact details, including an institutional or work email and a phone number.
- It must have a signature and the official stamp or seal.
Small rules that cause big problems
- Each upload box takes one PDF of up to 1 MB. Join several files into one PDF and make it smaller if needed.
- The motivation box in the form has a limit of 1,000 characters, including spaces.
- Fill in everything in English.
- You cannot edit an application after you submit it. To fix a mistake, you must make a new account and apply again. The system counts only your latest application.
- Incomplete applications are not considered.
The Erasmus Mundus scholarship
The scholarship covers:
- 100% of tuition fees, full insurance and mandatory academic costs
- €1,400 per month for up to 24 months. It is meant to cover travel, visa, settling-in and living costs.
The rules:
- It is open to EU and non-EU students.
- You cannot apply if you already received an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarship before.
- You cannot get other EU grants at the same time.
- Only first-call applicants can receive it.
How scholarships are shared out
- 80% go to the best-scored candidates. They are spread evenly across world regions, as long as the quality is good.
- 20% go to high-scoring applicants in a harder situation. This includes refugees, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, people with special needs and low-income applicants. It is also used to improve gender balance.
How your application is scored
- Academic record: 60%
- Reference letters: 20%
- Personal motivation: 20%
Your marks and transcript count the most.
Other funding options
- PlantHealth Consortium scholarships: a tuition fee waiver for strong candidates in the first call. It does not cover travel or living costs, but you can combine it with other funding.
- Special needs funding: help with essential costs. You must ask before the programme begins.
- Erasmus+ mobility grant for Year 2: for self-funded students. It is about €350 a month plus about €300 for travel, and the amount depends on the destination.
- Paid thesis internships: if you do your thesis in a company, you may get a monthly payment. This is common in France and Germany.
- Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans: EU-backed loans without collateral.
Self-funded option
If you pay yourself, you can apply in the first call or the second call. The last published fees are €4,500 per year for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and €5,500 per year for others. Fees cover tuition, insurance, language courses and the final conference. They do not cover living, travel, visa or housing costs.
How to apply
- Check that you meet the entry rules and have your English proof ready.
- Ask two referees for letters on the official template. Give them time.
- Make your documents official, then turn each into one small PDF.
- Create an account on the PlantHealth application portal.
- Fill in the form in English and choose your preferred study route.
- Upload your documents and write your motivation.
- Submit before the deadline.
The system does not always send a confirmation email, so keep a record that you submitted.
Apply now for PlantHealth Erasmus Mundus Program
Tips for a Stronger Application
- Your grades matter most. Your academic record is 60% of the score.
- Choose referees who know your work. Letters are 20% of the score, and a letter missing a stamp or signature can hurt you.
- Use your 1,000 characters well. Be short and clear about why plant health and why this programme.
- Show your plant health background. Your transcript should show crop protection or plant health courses.
- Think about the French option before you rank your route.
After the programme
The programme says its graduates find work easily in the global plant health sector. Typical areas are crop protection, research, agricultural companies and public institutions. The programme also works with associate partners and guest lecturers from the sector. The degree can also lead to further study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Students from any country with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy, agricultural sciences or a related field.
Can I apply if I’m still in my final year?
Yes, with a university letter and your latest transcript. You must finish your degree before the programme starts.
Is there a scholarship?
Yes, but only for applicants in the first call.
How much is the monthly scholarship?
€1,400 per month for up to 24 months.
Do I need IELTS?
You need B2 English proof. You can use a recognised test or a letter from your university saying your whole bachelor’s degree was taught in English.
Can I choose my universities?
You can state your preference, but the board assigns your final route.
What if I disagree with my result?
You can appeal, but only on procedural grounds such as a correctly uploaded document that was missed. The committee does not re-score your academic assessment.
