Erasmus Mundus Joint Master on Climate Change and Diversity (CCD-STeDe) – Funded Master’s Degree for International Students

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master on Climate Change and Diversity: Sustainable Territorial Development (CCD-STeDe) is now open for applications for the 2026–2028 academic cycle. This Erasmus Mundus Joint Master offers a unique, fully structured two-year Master’s degree designed to train experts in sustainable territorial development within the context of global climate change and environmental emergencies. The CCD-STeDe programme is open to students from all countries worldwide, with generous Erasmus Mundus scholarships available for top-ranked applicants.

The first call for applications for the CCD-STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master is open until 15 February 2026, making this a timely opportunity for students interested in climate change, sustainability, territorial development, and diversity-focused policy and practice.

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Background: About the CCD-STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master

The CCD-STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master is a 120 ECTS programme jointly delivered by a consortium of five international universities and supported by professional partners active in sustainable development and local democracy. The programme is coordinated by the University of Padova (Italy) and brings together two EU and three non-EU universities, along with EU and non-EU professional partners, ensuring a strong international, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented learning environment.

This Erasmus Mundus Joint Master aims to prepare graduates to address the challenges of climate change, environmental sustainability, and territorial development through innovative, inclusive, and multilingual education. The programme combines in-person, blended, and online teaching formats, making it adaptable to diverse academic and professional contexts.

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Eligibility Criteria for the CCD-STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master

Who Can Apply

• Applications are open to students from all countries worldwide

• Candidates from EU and non-EU countries are eligible

• The programme welcomes applicants interested in climate change, sustainability, development, geography, territorial management, and related fields

Educational Requirements

• Applicants must meet the admission requirements for a Master’s degree as defined by the consortium universities

• The programme leads to a second-cycle (Master’s level) qualification worth 120 ECTS

Scholarships and Funding Eligibility

• 20 Erasmus Mundus scholarships per year are awarded to the best-ranked students worldwide

• Scholarships are distributed across the four academic paths

• Other applicants may be admitted under:

  • Partial financial support

  • Fee waivers

  • Self-funded status

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Programme Details: Structure, Duration, and Study Paths

Programme Duration

• 2 years (2026–2028)

• Total credits: 120 ECTS

Teaching Format

• In-presence (on-campus)

• Blended learning

• Online learning

• Multilingual instruction depending on the academic path

Academic Paths Offered

The CCD-STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master is organized into four academic paths, each combining different universities, languages, and disciplinary approaches:

1. Climate Change, Sustainability, Development

   • Universities: University of Padova (Italy) and Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (Ecuador)

   • Teaching languages: English and Spanish

2. Regional and Local Studies

   • Universities: University of Padova (Italy) and Universidade da Madeira (Portugal)

   • Teaching languages: English and Portuguese

3. Territorial Management

   • Universities: University of Padova (Italy) and Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (Burkina Faso)

   • Teaching languages: English and French

4. Environmental Management

   • Universities: University of Padova (Italy) and University of Johannesburg (South Africa)

   • Teaching languages: English and French

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Partner Universities and Professional Partners

University Consortium

• University of Padova (Italy) – Programme Coordinator

• Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (Quito, Ecuador)

• Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (Burkina Faso)

• Universidade da Madeira (Portugal)

• University of Johannesburg (South Africa)

Professional Partners

• European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) – France/Italy

• Via Via Tourism Academy – Belgium

• Fundación Pachamama – Ecuador

• GISHub Association – Padova, Italy

ALDA supports the programme as a professional partner, aligning with its mission on sustainable development and local democracy.

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Degrees Awarded

Upon successful completion of the programme, students will receive either a double degree (Paths 1, 2, and 3) or a joint degree (Path 4).

All students receive:

• Laurea Magistrale in Sustainable Territorial Development – Climate Change Diversity Cooperation, awarded by the University of Padova (Italy)

Depending on the academic path, students also receive one additional degree:

• Maestría de investigación en Cambio Climático, Sustentabilidad y Desarrollo – Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (Ecuador)

• Mestrado em Estudos Regionais e Locais – Universidade da Madeira (Portugal)

• Master recherche en Géographie, Spécialité: Aménagement du Territoire – Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (Burkina Faso)

• Master on Environmental Management – University of Johannesburg (South Africa)

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How to Apply for the CCD-STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master

• Registration for the first call is currently open

• Applicants must submit their applications through the official CCD-STeDe application platform

• Detailed admission requirements, documentation, and procedures are available on the programme website

Applicants are encouraged to review the programme structure, academic paths, and scholarship conditions carefully before applying.

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Important Dates and Deadline

• First call application deadline: 15 February 2026

• Academic period: 2026–2028

Early submission is strongly recommended due to the competitive nature of Erasmus Mundus scholarships.

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Application Portal

Additional programme information is available here.

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The CCD-STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master on Climate Change and Diversity offers a prestigious, internationally coordinated Master’s programme focused on sustainable territorial development, climate change, and environmental diversity. With Erasmus Mundus scholarships, multilingual instruction, and degrees from leading universities across Europe, Africa, and Latin America, CCD-STeDe provides a strong academic and professional foundation for students committed to addressing global environmental challenges.

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