What if one master’s degree took you from the salmon cages of Scotland to the fish farms of Crete and the shellfish shores of France — with the European Union paying your tuition and a monthly living allowance? That is exactly what the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Aquaculture, Environment and Society (ACES-STAR) offers, and its September 2027 intake opens for applications in January 2027.
This is not a generic “study abroad” listing. ACES-STAR is the only Erasmus Mundus joint master built specifically around aquaculture — the science, the environment and the society of farming fish and shellfish. If you are a fisheries or aquaculture graduate wondering what to do next, this is one of the strongest fully funded routes in the world. And because the application window has not opened yet, you have roughly two months to prepare a winning file.
ACES-STAR at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme | Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Aquaculture, Environment and Society (ACES-STAR) |
| Duration | 2 years, full-time |
| Start | September 2027 |
| Applications open | January 2027 (applications for the current cycle are closed) |
| Study locations | Scotland (Semester 1), Greece–Crete (Semester 2), France–Nantes (Semester 3), dissertation anywhere with a partner (Semester 4) |
| Degree awarded | Joint Masters from the University of the Highlands and Islands and the University of Crete, plus a single degree from the University of Nantes |
| Full scholarship | Tuition fees, insurance and €1,400 per month towards travel, relocation and living costs — competitive, subject to availability |
| Self-funded fees | €5,000 per year for international (non-EU) students; €2,500 per year for EU/UK students (2026–27 figures) |
| English requirement | IELTS 6.5 overall (or equivalent), held by the time you apply |
| Who can apply | Any nationality — applications from EU and particularly non-EU candidates are explicitly welcomed |
Why This Matters for Fisheries Students
Most funded master’s degrees force you to choose: a good university or practical aquaculture training or a scholarship. ACES-STAR bundles all three, and it does so across three countries whose aquaculture industries look completely different. Scotland is Europe’s salmon powerhouse. Crete brings Mediterranean finfish farming. Nantes brings French shellfish culture and marine product science. A graduate who has worked in all three systems is employable anywhere in the global aquaculture industry.
The employment record backs that up. The programme reports that alumni are typically employed within three months of finishing, with roughly half going on to PhDs internationally and half entering the sector. Named employers include the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), WorldFish, Mowi (formerly Marine Harvest) and Scottish Seafarms, in roles spanning hatchery and farm management, policy development and environmental management.
There is also a practical visa advantage worth knowing: because you spend only six months in the UK, you enter on a Standard Visitor Visa rather than needing a UK Student Route Visa — one fewer bureaucratic hurdle in an already complex application.
The Three-Country Journey, Semester by Semester
| Semester | Where | What you study |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Sept–Jan) | SAMS, University of the Highlands and Islands, Oban, Scotland | Overview of global aquaculture (core); environmental interactions of aquaculture (core); governance and management; innovation, technology and systems; micro- and macroalgae lifecycles |
| 2 (Feb–June) | University of Crete, Greece | Finfish biology, nutrition, reproduction and rearing (core); fish welfare and disease management (core); fish quality; environmental impacts of aquaculture projects; entrepreneurial and professional skills |
| 3 (Sept–Jan) | University of Nantes, France | Shellfish lifecycle (core); marine product safety (core); refinement and development of marine natural products; food composition, trophic transfer and human nutrition |
| 4 (Feb–June) | SAMS, Crete, Nantes or any of 64+ associate partners | Research dissertation (30 ECTS), linked to an industry partner or research institute, with expert supervision |
On top of the coursework, you complete a mandatory 10-week internship in year one and a five-month dissertation in year two, both in industry or at a research institute. You move around the partners as one cohort for the first three semesters, so the peer network you build is genuinely international — and it follows you into your career.
What the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Covers
The full scholarship, funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Union, covers:
- Full tuition fees for the two-year programme
- Insurance for the duration of the programme
- €1,400 per month to contribute towards travel, relocation and daily living expenses
Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and are subject to availability — admission alone does not guarantee funding, and the scholarship closing date falls much sooner than the self-funded deadline. That is the single most important timing lesson from past intakes: in the 2025 cycle, the full-scholarship deadline was 31 January. The consortium has not yet published the exact 2027 scholarship deadline, so treat “apply as early as possible in January” as your working rule and watch the official apply page.
If you cannot secure a full scholarship, there is still a self-funded route: €5,000 per year for international students (€10,600 for the full programme at 2026–27 rates) and €2,500 per year for EU/UK students. Additional costs for students without a scholarship include lab clothing, relocation costs between host partners and travel insurance.
Who Is Eligible?
- Degree: A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in biological, environmental or social sciences is preferred. Fisheries, aquaculture, marine science and zoology graduates fit squarely within this.
- English: IELTS 6.5 overall or equivalent, achieved by the time you apply. Basic French is recommended for daily life in Semester 3, but it is not essential — intensive French classes are provided.
- Nationality: Open worldwide. The programme states explicitly that applications from EU and particularly non-EU candidates are welcome.
- Selection: Admission is by competitive selection — academic merit, motivation and relevance of your background to sustainable aquaculture.
- Note: The UHI course page marks the programme “subject to re-validation” — a routine quality-assurance note, but one more reason to confirm details on the official pages before you apply.
How to Apply: Your Step-by-Step Checklist
Applications are submitted through the University of the Highlands and Islands portal, and you must complete both the online form and the supporting documents — incomplete applications are not accepted. Start gathering these now, before the January opening:
- Curriculum vitae (CV) — emphasise aquaculture, fieldwork, internships and any research experience.
- Professional reference (500–800 words) — from someone who can speak specifically about your fit for aquaculture and sustainability work.
- Passport copy.
- Certified degree certificate and transcript — plus certified English translations if your documents were issued in another language.
- IELTS certificate (6.5 overall) — you must hold this by the time you apply, so book your test date now if you have not taken it.
- Motivation statement (max 350 words) — how will ACES-STAR support your personal and professional development and career aspirations?
- Previous experience in aquaculture (approx 350 words) — examples of your experience, or why you are interested in aquaculture and its relationship with the environment and society.
- Choose your funding option carefully — the consortium warns that if you incorrectly select self-funding, you may only be offered a self-funded place. If you are unsure, email aces@sams.ac.uk before submitting.
Timeline: What to Do Now
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| Now (Oct–Dec 2026) | Book IELTS if needed; request certified transcripts and translations; brief your referee; draft both 350-word statements; shortlist a dissertation theme (finfish, shellfish, algae, governance or environmental impact) |
| January 2027 | Applications for September 2027 open — submit early; the scholarship deadline historically falls soon after opening |
| Early 2027 | Scholarship selection (competitive); self-funded applications follow a later timetable |
| September 2027 | Programme starts at SAMS, Oban, Scotland |
Honest Watch-Outs Before You Apply
- Applications are currently closed. The official apply page states that the current cycle is closed and directs applicants to check back for 2027 intake updates; the UHI course page states applications for September 2027 open in January 2027. Do not pay any agent claiming to submit an ACES application for you right now.
- The exact 2027 scholarship deadline is not yet published. Any website giving you a precise January 2027 date today is guessing. The only safe rule is to be ready the day applications open.
- Funding is competitive, not automatic. A strong degree alone is not enough — your motivation statement and aquaculture experience answers carry real weight.
- Budget beyond the stipend. The €1,400 monthly allowance contributes towards living costs; relocation between three countries, insurance top-ups and lab clothing sit outside it for non-scholarship students, and even scholars should budget for moves.
FAQs
Can Indian students apply? Yes. The programme recruits worldwide and explicitly welcomes non-EU candidates; there is no nationality restriction of the kind some development scholarships carry.
Do I need French? No. The course language is English, and intensive French classes are provided. Basic French helps daily life in Nantes, but it is not an admission requirement.
Can I apply before finishing my bachelor’s? The programme requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent; final-year students should confirm with aces@sams.ac.uk whether a provisional certificate is accepted for the January window.
What if I miss the scholarship deadline? You may still be considered for a self-funded place (or a fee-waiver place if offered in that cycle), but the consortium warns that the funding option you select can determine the offer you receive — so decide before you submit.
Where do I apply? Through the UHI application portal linked from the official programme site, emm-aces.org. Start at the official apply page, not a third-party scholarship blog.
Official Links
- ACES-STAR official apply page (emm-aces.org) — documents, application questions and 2027 intake updates
- UHI MSc Aquaculture, Environment and Society course page — modules, fees, visa notes and the January 2027 opening
- ACES-STAR programme site (emm-aces.org)
All dates, fees and scholarship details above were verified against the official UHI course page and the official ACES-STAR apply page on 29 October 2026. The exact 2027 scholarship deadline had not been published at that date — confirm it on emm-aces.org when applications open in January 2027. Images in this post are illustrations.