Scholarships in Europe for STEM Fields Focused on Pandemic Prevention and Epidemiological Modeling (2025)

The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear: the world needs more experts who understand disease dynamics, data modeling, and public health infrastructure. In response, European universities and research institutions have been expanding their programs — and their funding — for students pursuing studies in epidemiology, biostatistics, mathematical modeling, and pandemic preparedness. If you’re interested in contributing to global health resilience through STEM, 2025 is a promising year to apply.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD)

Best for: Master’s students seeking an interdisciplinary and fully-funded program in public health, data science, and infectious disease modeling

Several Erasmus Mundus programs now include epidemiological modeling and outbreak analytics as core themes. One standout is the Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences Joint Master and another is the EUROSUD program, which touches on crisis response and health systems analysis.

What it covers:

• Full tuition
• Monthly stipend (~€1,000/month)
• Travel and installation allowance
• Insurance coverage

Eligibility:

• Bachelor’s in a relevant field (math, biology, data science, medicine, public health)
• English language proficiency
• Strong academic and motivation background

Deadline: Typically November–January for fall 2025 entry

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – Doctoral Networks and Postdoctoral Fellowships

Best for: PhD and postdoc researchers working on modeling infectious diseases or designing public health tools

MSCA funds structured doctoral and postdoc programs across Europe, with many specifically focused on pandemic prevention, computational epidemiology, and surveillance systems. Look out for networks that focus on health security, global health preparedness, or zoonotic disease modeling.

What it covers:

• Living and mobility allowances (competitive EU salary scale)
• Training, research costs, and international collaboration
• Industry and public health sector secondments

Eligibility:

• Early-stage researchers (within 8 years post-PhD for PFs)
• Must not have lived in the host country for more than 12 months in the past 3 years
• STEM or public health background required

Deadline: Usually September for Postdoctoral Fellowships; Doctoral Network calls vary

DAAD Scholarships – Germany

Best for: International master’s and doctoral students interested in epidemiology, health data science, or infectious disease modeling

Germany has become a central hub for pandemic research, with institutions like the Robert Koch Institute, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, and major universities offering strong STEM-health crossover programs.

What it covers:

• Monthly stipend (€934 for master’s, €1,300+ for PhD)
• Travel allowance
• Insurance
• Tuition and research support

Eligibility:

• Strong academic profile in a STEM or health-related field
• Work or research experience in epidemiology or modeling
• English or German language proficiency

Deadline: Varies by program (often October–December)

ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) – Switzerland

Best for: Top-performing master’s applicants interested in pandemic-related data science, biostatistics, and systems modeling

ETH Zurich offers cutting-edge master’s and doctoral programs in computational science, epidemiological statistics, and health systems modeling — often working in collaboration with WHO and Swiss public health agencies.

What it covers:

• Full tuition
• CHF 12,000 per semester living stipend
• Research and mentoring opportunities

Eligibility:

• Bachelor’s in a quantitative STEM field
• High GPA and research motivation
• Competitive application with a future-focused study plan

Deadline: Mid-December for fall 2025 intake

Wellcome Trust & EDCTP Fellowship Funding (UK & EU)

Best for: Postgraduate researchers focusing on pandemic risk, global infectious diseases, and epidemic forecasting in LMICs

While not classic scholarships, Wellcome and EDCTP (European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership) offer substantial funding to master’s, PhD, and early-career researchers based in or collaborating with institutions in Europe. Projects around pandemic preparedness, vaccine modeling, and data-driven outbreak response are highly prioritized.

What it covers:

• Stipends, research costs, and international travel
• Mentorship and institutional collaboration
• Some calls open to master’s students or recent graduates

Eligibility:

• Background in public health, AI for health, epidemiology, or biomedical science
• Project alignment with funder priorities (global or cross-border health)
• Usually requires affiliation with a research institution

Deadline: Varies – typically spring or fall

University-Based Scholarships (Selected Highlights)

• LSHTM (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine): Offers multiple MSc-level scholarships for Epidemiology, Public Health Modeling, and Health Data Science
• University of Edinburgh: Hosts a Global Health Academy with scholarships for interdisciplinary public health and AI programs
• Karolinska Institutet (Sweden): Master’s in Public Health Sciences with modeling components and international student funding
• Université Paris-Saclay (France): Full scholarships for MScs in quantitative biology and mathematical modeling for health
• TU Delft & Erasmus MC (Netherlands): Collaborative master’s and PhD programs in outbreak modeling and bioinformatics with funding opportunities

Quick Tips for Applicants

• Programs related to mathematical modeling, machine learning for public health, and data-driven epidemiology often fall under bioinformatics, systems biology, or health informatics departments — so be sure to check multiple faculties.
• For PhD applicants, directly contacting supervisors with a research proposal can lead to early consideration for funded positions.
• Many scholarship applications require a statement of purpose that connects your academic background to real-world public health challenges. Be specific about your interests — zoonotic spillovers, modeling vaccine uptake, contact tracing systems, etc.
• Check for early deadlines, especially for Erasmus and DAAD: start preparing by September 2024 for 2025 intake.

Let me know if you want help identifying a specific program, contacting supervisors, or refining your statement of purpose.