Webinar Erasmus Mundus Joint Master TELME 2026

Webinar Summary

Program Purpose and Structure

TELME is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s program focused on language teaching and related professional and research fields. It prepares students for roles such as language teachers, curriculum designers, teacher trainers, researchers, and leaders in multilingual and multicultural education.

The two-year program comprises 120 ECTS—60 per year—and requires students to study in two different countries, neither of which may be their country of residence. Graduates receive a double degree awarded by the two universities where they study.

The five partner universities are in France, Finland, Spain, Ireland, and Poland. The program covers English, French, German, and Spanish.

Language Tracks and Mobility

Students choose one of six language pairs. The selected pair determines which universities and study locations are available:

• English and French: Year one may be in Ireland, France, Poland, or Finland. The French-language year may be in France, Poland, or Finland.
• English and Spanish: Spanish in year one at Burgos, Spain, followed by English in year two in Turku, Finland.
• English and German: English in year one in Ireland, followed by German in year two in Finland.
• Spanish and German: Spain in year one, followed by Finland in year two.
• Spanish and French: Spain in year one, followed by France, Poland, or Finland in year two.
• German and French: German in year one in Finland, followed by French in France or Poland.

Places are limited at some universities, so applicants may be asked to rank their university preferences. The jury tries to accommodate those choices, but placements depend on available capacity.

Academic Features

The partners contribute expertise in areas including:

• French as a foreign language, multilingualism, and language policy
• Minority-language education and Nordic multilingualism
• TESOL, applied linguistics, and educational technology
• Spanish as a foreign language and inclusive education
• Intercultural communication and the teaching of additional or less commonly taught languages

Program-wide themes include language pedagogy, multilingual and inclusive learning environments, intercultural communication, language-learning processes, research skills, and the use of digital tools, including AI-related tools in teaching contexts.

Students participate in two shared in-person events: an intensive week hosted in Rennes and a graduation event hosted by Åbo Akademi University in Finland. The webinar stated that the graduation is planned for June 2029.

All students take part in a two-year collaborative research project on linguistic landscapes, involving data collection and analysis, a multilingual dataset, and open-access publishing. Other shared components include an online module on TESOL and blended learning environments, and a second-year cycle of conferences.

The program may lead to work in teaching, teacher training, curriculum and course design, program coordination, or further research, including doctoral study.

Funding and Tuition

The webinar announced about 12 Erasmus Mundus scholarships for the second cohort. Each scholarship provides €1,400 per month for up to 24 months, intended to cover living, travel, and relocation costs. Awards are competitive and based on academic criteria, not applicants’ financial circumstances.

Scholarship recipients do not pay the program tuition fee. Self-funded students pay €6,500 per year (€13,000 for two years) and follow the same academic program and assessment process.

An Erasmus+ mobility grant may also be available for the first year, although the amount was described only as a few hundred euros per month.

Applicants were strongly encouraged to investigate other public, private, or local funding options while applying, since those schemes may have earlier deadlines. The program provides health and travel insurance to all students, including self-funded students.

Eligibility and Application Instructions

Academic or Professional Background

Relevant degrees may include translation, interpreting, language teaching or pedagogy, curriculum design, linguistics or applied linguistics, intercultural communication, or education with a language specialization.

Applicants with other degrees may still be considered if relevant work experience—such as language teaching—supports their application. Applicants uncertain about their eligibility were advised to contact the program administration.

Language Proficiency

Applicants must have at least B2 in two of the four TELME languages: English, French, German, or Spanish. If English is not one of the chosen pair, applicants must also have at least B1 English.

Native speakers do not need to provide a certificate for their native language. Where formal tests are unavailable, expired, or impractical, a university-issued language-level attestation may be accepted.

Required Documents and Motivation Materials

Applicants should prepare:

• Passport
• Degree certificate and transcripts
• Language evidence
• CV (the Europass format was recommended)
• At least one reference letter
• Relevant academic publications, if available
• A motivation letter of no more than 1,000 words
• A video of no more than two minutes

The video must demonstrate proficiency in both languages of the chosen track and explain the applicant’s interests and goals. Applicants should not speed up the recording to meet the time limit.

Document Format and Submission

Documents must be uploaded as PDFs. They may be in English, French, Spanish, or German; certified translations are not required for those languages.

All materials must be uploaded to the online application platform. Sending documents by email does not substitute for uploading them to the application.

AI Restrictions

AI tools are not permitted for writing, scripting, editing, or otherwise producing the motivation letter or video. Applications suspected of using AI may be ruled ineligible.

Evaluation and Timeline

Applications are scored out of 100:

• Academic record and potential: 30 points
• Motivation video: 25 points
• CV and experience: 20 points
• Motivation letter: 15 points
• Holistic merit: 10 points

At least two evaluators from different partner universities review each application. Evaluators are selected in relation to the applicant’s language track. The final jury decides admissions, scholarships, and mobility placements. The holistic-merit category allows the jury to recognize relevant strengths or experiences not fully captured elsewhere in the scoring grid.

According to the webinar, applications for the second cohort open 3 October 2026 and close 10 January 2027. Results are expected at the end of March and will initially be conditional on confirmation of language eligibility.

The webinar described follow-up information sessions and individual confirmation steps in April. Scholarship offers must be accepted by mid-April. Self-funded students who accept must pay a booking fee by the end of April to begin visa arrangements.

Applicants may appeal a non-admission or scholarship decision within 10 days of notification. The webinar said there is no scholarship waiting list for reallocating an offer within the same cohort.

Visas and Practical Arrangements

Visa rules differ by destination and nationality, so students should check requirements early. The program administration offers guidance, but students are responsible for completing their visa applications.

The presenters recommended beginning the visa process around four months before travel. Students going to Ireland may need separate visas for Ireland and later travel to countries in the Schengen area.

If a visa is refused, students were encouraged to reapply; the administration may help them address the reasons for refusal.

Changes to a mobility route may sometimes be possible for a substantial reason, in consultation with the teaching team, but not simply because a student changes their mind.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Christine, program coordinator, identified as being from the University of Rennes
• Elaine Reen, University of Limerick
• Debas, lecturer of English at Åbo Akademi University
• Judy/Juli Bessel (name varies in the auto-generated subtitles), administrative coordinator for TELME
• Mary Larivara, Åbo Akademi University
• Dominica, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
• Antonio, University of Burgos
• Joanna, introduced as a representative of Adam Mickiewicz University; the auto-generated subtitles make the name and presentation difficult to verify
• Additional representatives of the University of Rennes, University of Burgos, and Adam Mickiewicz University appear to speak, but their names or remarks are not reliably captured in the subtitles

Organizations and Institutions Discussed

The webinar discussed the five TELME partner universities and the European Commission, which funds the Erasmus Mundus scholarships.