Admissions
By joining the EMA Programme, you are joining a global network of students, alumni and faculty who strongly believe in the power of education as a force for positive change in the world.
The EMA 2026-2027 application period has closed
In case of questions, first check the FAQs, and in case of additional clarifications, contact the EMA Secretariat through the “Request info” form.
Thank you!
EMA Online Open Day
Join us for a Q&A session on Zoom and learn more about the overall
EMA experience, from application to career pathways
Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 1.30 PM CET
Deadline for non-EU Candidates, EU Candidates, and all candidates who wish to be considered for financial assistance:
Deadline: 12 February 2024
Deadline for EU citizens (Requests for financial assistance will not be considered in this call):
Deadline: 16 April 2024
In order to be evaluated, all applications must be filled out in English and accompanied by the following documents:
- Official transcript of records and degree diploma (if currently enrolled in a degree course which constitutes the minimum entry requirement: an updated transcript of records and proof of degree conclusion and expected date of award is necessary)
- Curriculum vitae
- 2 reference letters in English
- Copy of currently valid passport or ID picture page
- Proof of English language proficiency (accepted tests: Cambridge, TOEFL, IELTS obtained no more than 3 years before the start of the programme in September)
- Receipt of payment of the application fee of €50.00. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable in all cases.
Who can apply?
EMA accepts a maximum of 90 students from EU and non-EU countries each year. Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Hold a university degree of a high standard in a field relevant to human rights, including disciplines in Law, Social Sciences and Humanities, and must have a minimum of 180 ECTS (Bachelor/General Degree).
- Have certified knowledge of English at least at level B2. Accepted certificates are IELTS (min. score 6), TOEFL (min. 80 for the IBT) and Cambridge exams (min. score 160-179), obtained no more than 3 years before the start of the programme.
Applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria:
- Academic ability and background (i.e. university final grade, relevance of the degree and thesis subject)
- Relevant additional academic work, courses or publications
- Relevant practical experience
- Motivation
Fees and scholarships
EMA tuition fees
The EMA tuition fees for the academic year 2027-28 is €6.700,00 (€6.550,00 tuition fee + enrolment fee of €150,00) payable in instalments. It includes the €500,00 non-refundable security deposit to confirm acceptance of admission offer.
The tuition fee covers attendance costs and participation in the field trip, learning materials, the canteen service (on class and exam days), and access to the Global Campus library resources. Travel, visa and accommodation costs during both the first and second semester are the responsibility of student.
Students who have a disability certificate pursuant to Article 3, paragraph 1 or 3 of Italian Law n. 104 of 5 February 1992 issued by an Italian Medical Committee or with civil disability equal to or greater than 66% attested by an Italian Medical Committee are exempt from payment of tuition fees. They are only required to pay the pre-registration fee (Euro 30.00), insurance costs (Euro 6.50) and a tax duty (Euro 16.00).
Scholarships and scholarship criteria
To support wider access to education, EMA provides nine partial scholarships. In selecting among eligible candidates, priority is given to applicants who face risks for their human rights work, including grave threats to their lives, liberty and well-being.
All scholarships include a full tuition waiver and a modest stipend of €4500,00 as a contribution toward living expenses. This stipend is paid in two instalments: the first half mid-way through the first semester, and the second half at the beginning of the second semester providing that the student has successfully completed the first semester.
A security deposit of €650,00 needs to be transferred upon acceptance of the admission and scholarship offer, which already includes the €150,00 enrolment fee. The remaining €500,00 will be returned upon successful completion of the first semester.
Available scholarships:
Right Livelihood-EMA Scholarships on Children’s Rights (2 in total)
Reserved for qualified candidates who commit to researching issues related to Children’s Rights for their thesis project. Support for these scholarships is provided by the Right Livelihood.
Nicola Tonon Scholarship (1 in total)
Reserved for a qualified candidate who commits to researching the topic of Information Technology and Human Rights. This scholarship has been created in memory of Nicola Tonon who was the IT and Web Marketing Coordinator for the Global Campus for 16 years, and who passed away suddenly in 2022. This scholarship is funded by the European Commission.
EMA-GC Scholarships (5 in total)
Open to all qualified candidates regardless of their research interest. These scholarships are funded by the European Commission.
It is only possible to apply for one of the available scholarships. In your scholarship motivation statement which is already included in the online application, you should explain how your profile fits the call. The evaluation committee will make an initial shortlist of eligible candidates who will be invited to an interview. Please note that an invitation to interview does not amount to being shortlisted for scholarship. After the interview, according to the overall final assigned score, a shortlist of scholarship candidates will be proposed to the EMA Executive Committee to select the scholarship awardees.
Scholarship recipients are responsible for bearing all additional costs associated with the EMA programme and they should ensure they have sufficient funds available to carry out their studies and pay for rent and living costs in Venice and in the second semester.