MASTER’S DEGREE – Master of Arts in Sports Ethics & Integrity

Entry Requirements

Degree requirements:

The Erasmus Mundus MA in Sports Ethics and Integrity (MAiSI) requires successful applicants to hold an already completed academic bachelor’s degree by the application date i.e. you need to have graduated from your BA/BSc by the time that you apply to the programme. It is not sufficient to graduate by the time that the programme starts. Due to the inter-disciplinary nature of the course we will consider applications from any degree discipline. Degree subject areas of particular relevance to the Masters in Sports Ethics and Integrity are Business, Management, Disability Studies, Ethics, Governance, History, Law, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Sports and Exercise Sciences. However, this is not an exhaustive list.

Additionally, as part of their submission, applicants to the MAiSI programme must provide proof or documentation of at least 12 months of substantial engagement with sport, providing significant experience relevant to the MAiSI programme. This needs to be submitted as a separate file. We have no specific requirements for this document.

Proof of substantial engagement with sport might be one or more internships, a period of employment (in sport clubs/federations, organizations, businesses or similar), coaching experience, a career as an elite athlete, or other demonstrable involvement.

Candidates who hold a Master’s degree in addition to the Bachelor degree are eligible to apply for the programme but have no special advantage and still need to demonstrate the 12 months of substantial engagement with sport.

Language requirements:

All applicants who have not obtained a previous diploma in a programme taught in English in Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America must submit a certificate proving their proficiency in English. Please note that a previous diploma in a programme taught in English or a Bachelor in English in any other country does not suffice.

A list of tests accepted by KU Leuven can be found on: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/admissions/lang/lang-test

The required minimum IELTS score is an overall 6.5 (and no component below 5.5).
The required minimum TOEFL score is 80 on TOEFL IBT (and no component below 19) or equivalent scores on the new TOEFL score scale as of 21/01/2026: Reading 4, Listening 4, Speaking 3,5, Writing 4)

The required minimum score for Cambridge Assessment English is an overall C1 Advanced (CAE) or C2 Proficiency (CPE) score of 176. The B2 First (FCE) is not accepted by KU Leuven.

Do arrange a date for your language test well ahead of your application and submit the successful results of your English test together with your application.

Please note that no other English proficiency test then the ones mentioned above is accepted. Test results of the language proficiency test can be provided within a maximum of one month after the official application deadline, but a test registration should already be uploaded onto the application form if the applicant has not yet received his/her test results at the time of the application. We do not make any exceptions to the above. 

Application & Selection Process

Application procedure:

Applicants will need to follow the application procedure of the KU Leuven Admissions Office. Instructions can be found on https://www.kuleuven.be/english/application/instructions. 

Your application will be rejected if you do not submit the relevant supporting documents with your application form:

• PDF scans of your diploma(s) and transcripts of academic records
  • If you still need to graduate at the time of your application, you are requested to upload PDF scans of your intermediate official transcripts through the web application portal.
  • The Admissions Office reserves the right to ask for official or certified hard copies of transcripts (or diplomas) if required for the evaluation of the application.
• PDF scan of the translation of your diploma(s) and official transcripts If your documents are not in English, Dutch, French or German, please arrange for these documents to be translated by a registered translator. These documents must also be certified by the educational institution that issued them or by a national authority.
• Proof of substantial engagement with sport, providing significant experience relevant to the MAiSI programme.
• Proof of payment: upload the following document that states that you as an applicant for the MAiSI programme do not have to pay the application fee.
• Motivation letter (one A4 page): A personal statement detailing your reasons for applying to the course and relevant experience academic and otherwise
• Your English Language test certificates (i.e IELTS/TOEFL) if appropriate
• Two recommendation letter/references (at least one academical): Please use the official letterhead paper of the institution or company and upload the letters to your online application file. If you already hold open references, then please upload them with your application. Alternatively, please ask your referees to send their letters of support directly to the Admissions Office ([email protected]).
• Your Curriculum Vitae
• Proof of nationality (copy of passport)

Selection process:

Applications will be selected based on the entry and language requirements. Those eligible will then be judged according to Academic Excellence:

• Experience related to the course (academic)
• Relevant work experience
• Motivation and understanding of the course

A selection of eligible candidates will then be interviewed online. We will start interviewing the selected candidates during March.

The offer of waivers, EM scholarschips, IOC scholarships and self-funded places will be made having considered performance at interview, the above criteria. and restrictions regarding the number of waivers and IOC scholarships that can be allocated to applicants from designated regional windows. 

Deadlines and timetable for selection for the intake of September are:

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship application process:

• Start application: October 8th
• Deadline for applications: February 1st
• Ranking of applications and interviews will be completed by the 31^st of April
• Awarding of scholarships: May 1st

Full waivers application process:

• Start application: October 8th
• Deadline for applications: March 1st
• Ranking of applications and interviews will be completed by the 31^st of April
• Awarding of fee waivers: May 1st

IOC Scholarship/Non-scholarship application process:

• Start application: October 8th
• Deadlines for applications: April 1st (for non-EEA citizens, including IOC-Olympic Solidarity scholarship) / July 1st (for EEA citizens: self-funded or IOC-Olympic Solidarity scholarship)
• Ranking of applications and interviews will be completed by the 31^st of April
• Awarding of admissions: August 1st at the latest

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), in the context of managing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, collects and processes the personal data of some of the candidates. In particular, certain data of the scholarship holders and non-scholarship holders is shared with the Agency and treated according to this privacy statement.

If you do not agree with the Selection Committee’s decision, you can appeal by submitting a motivated appeal to the MAiSI  Programme Directors.

MAiSI Funding

This list gives an overview of the current funding opportunities available to MAISI students. 
For the academic year 2026-2027, Erasmus Mundus scholarships will be available.

General and KU Leuven scholarships

Find an overview of all available options on the KU Leuven website.

Every MAISI student who does not receive funding from the European Union, can apply for the KU Leuven Mobility Erasmus+ Scholarship. Once you are accepted into the MAiSI programme, your application will be created automatically.

More information, including the scholarship amounts for the academic year 2026-2027, can be found here and here. You can find more information on financial support for choosing sustainable transport here. 

EMJM MAiSI Scholarship

The EMJM student scholarship will be a contribution to the costs incurred by the beneficiary student and shall cover travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs. It is calculated on the basis of a monthly unit cost for the entire period needed by the enrolled scholarship holder to complete the study programme (pro-rata of the actual number of days). This period covers study, research, placement activities, thesis preparation and defence, in line with the requirement of the joint Master. During this period, the scholarship can only be awarded in full, and to full-time students. The scholarship is calculated as 1400 EUR / month X duration of the Master Programme. For partial months, a pro-rata unit cost of 1/30 will be reimbursed for each day. In addition, EMJM scholarship holders will be exempt of the payment of tuition in each Partner university. The whole amount of the EMJM student scholarship will be transferred to the Coordinating University, which will pay the monthly allowances directly to the scholarship holder’s European bank account and will only be paid out once the students arrives in person in Belgium.

The student will be covered by a health insurance during the duration of the Erasmus Mundus programme MAiSI (private health and accident insurance). Detailed information about the insurance is provided in the insurance certificate, sent just before the start of the programme. The insurance fee will be covered by the MAiSI consortium. In addition to this private health care insurance, the student must register in each country of the master to a public health care insurance system (where applicable) and have a European Health Insurance Card. Each local partner will provide guidance regarding any requirements due to health insurance in its country. This way of working is in conformity with the requirements of the European Commission.

IOC Olympic Solidarity scholarship (available exclusively for Olympians)

Application is only possible once you have been admitted to the MAiSI programme and if you obtained endorsement from your National Olympic Committee (NOC). Once approved, your NOC will submit application on the OS RELAY platform.

More information on Olympic Solidarity can be found on the following on:
Olympics.com and Olympians.org.

JGU & UoP scholarships

MAiSI Costs and fees

The total tuition fee costs for the whole two year programme are as follows:

• EUR 6000 for applicants with EEA nationality
• EUR 12000 for applicants with non-EEA nationality

These fees cover tuition from world leading academics in the field of sports ethics and integrity. Extra costs will include accommodation, travel, living costs, and funds for course materials.

Kindly refer to https://www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/ for information on life at KU Leuven (estimated costs of living). The MAiSI programme starts in Leuven (Belgium) and the entire cohort will be based there during the first semester of the first year.

Student Handbook and Student Agreement

The MAiSI Student Handbook provides essential information about the Erasmus Mundus Master in Sports Ethics and Integrity and what you can expect from the programme. It explains the structure of the programme, the modules you will undertake, assessment and examination regulations, as well as procedures for addressing any issues or concerns that may arise during your studies.

Once admitted to the programme, all students are required to read and sign the MAiSI Student Handbook and the MAiSI Student Agreement. These documents outline the key information, expectations and responsibilities that apply throughout your studies.

Support for students with special needs

MAiSI is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment. Enrolled students, both with and without an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, may be eligible for additional financial support when a certified long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment would otherwise prevent their full participation in the programme.

Support is determined individually and may cover necessary items or services, such as personal assistance, adaptations to the study or working environment, accessible learning materials, and additional travel or transportation costs. Costs already covered by another source, such as health insurance or social security, are not eligible.

Students are encouraged to contact the MAiSI programme team as early as possible. In cooperation with the relevant support services at the partner universities, we will discuss the student’s individual needs and the available assistance in a confidential manner.