Erasmus Mundus scholarships are highly popular among students pursuing a Master’s degree worldwide. One of the reasons behind its popularity is that it offers the opportunity to study in different universities across various countries during each semester. Additionally, the financial aspect of the scholarship is also noteworthy. To learn more about the extensive benefits and opportunities provided by this scholarship, you can visit the Erasmus Mundus scholarship website. Please note that this post will be quite lengthy, so patience is required.
✅ How are the Erasmus programs? Where can I find them? How can I determine if these programs are suitable for me?
The Erasmus Mundus Master’s programs differ from traditional Master’s programs. In these programs, students from one field can apply to study in different fields, or the programs are designed in such a way that students from various fields can apply. Therefore, before applying, you need to carefully review the details on the course website. For example, the program I am enrolled in is COSI (Computational Color and Spectral Imaging), which primarily focuses on applied color science. Students from fields such as Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Physics, Mathematics, and Textile have been selected for this program. In addition to that, each subject has its own dedicated website where they specify the desired fields of study. You can explore the Erasmus Mundus Catalog (https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/scholarships/erasmus-mundus-catalogue_en) to find the subjects relevant to your field. Here, you can select the field of study and search for programs that align with your interests.
✅ Preparation for Application and Application Deadline:
Erasmus or any other scholarship program does not have a fixed duration for the application process. Typically, the application period starts from September/October and ends in December/January. The selection and interview process takes place within this timeframe, and the classes usually begin in August of the following year. Please note that the application timeline may vary slightly depending on the specific program. Therefore, it is important to keep this in mind and plan accordingly, ensuring that you have all the necessary documents ready. Additionally, you will need to have your IELTS scores ready while applying. Suppose you are planning for the 2024-2026 session. In that case, you should start your application in September 2023 and complete it within the specified timeline.
✅ Required Documents for Application:
For most Erasmus programs, approximately 80% of the documents are common. Therefore, you should gather these documents before applying. Avoid waiting until the last 2-3 days before the deadline to submit your application. Check which documents are required for each program and carefully review them before starting your application. If you come across a document requirement that you don’t have, it may take 3-4 days to obtain it. So, if you start your application just 2-3 days before the deadline, you may not be able to provide all the necessary documents. It is advisable to have a minimum of 15 days to gather all the required documents before applying. Here is a list of commonly required documents for most programs:
a) Passport
b) Graduation Certificate and Transcript
c) IELTS/TOEFL Certificate
d) Statement of Purpose (SOP)/Motivation Letter/Intent Letter
e) Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
f) Euro Pass CV
g) Professional Experience certificate (if any)
Please ensure you have these documents ready and submit your application accordingly.
👉 Passport:
If you have the desire to study abroad, you will definitely need a passport. So there’s nothing more to say about it. Those who haven’t done it yet, apply for a passport online right away.
👉 Graduation Certificate and Transcript:
Collect your university’s transcript certificates. If possible, get one set or more verified by the Ministry. Because some programs require verified copies to be uploaded. During my time, I was asked to provide a verified copy and upload it. The verification process involves first obtaining it from the university, then from the Ministry of Education, and finally from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
👉 IELTS/TOEFL Certificate:
You must have your IELTS/TOEFL scores in hand before submitting your application. For Erasmus, the minimum IELTS score is Overall 6.5 with no band less than 6. So, keep this in mind when preparing for the IELTS. Now, let’s talk about another interesting aspect. In many programs, the IELTS requirement is not directly mentioned; instead, they mention the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) level. For example, in many programs, they will say that their IELTS requirement is CEFR level B2, which falls within the range of 5.5 to 6.5. Now, if your profile is very strong, some may accept a score below 6.5. For instance, my score was 6, but still, I managed to get admitted to a few programs. Furthermore, some programs state that if a bachelor’s degree is pursued in English, English language proficiency is not required. However, this exemption is not very helpful from Bangladesh’s perspective. Nevertheless, exceptions exist. I know someone who received a scholarship without taking the IELTS, based on the conditions mentioned above. They applied through MOI (Ministry of Education). So, you must mention the IELTS score mentioned above, and that’s it. And you can explore TOEFL on your own.
👉 Statement of Purpose (SOP)/ Motivation Letter/ Intent Letter:
The Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a crucial document for any scholarship or higher education application. It is said that your chances of being selected greatly depend on it. It is essential to describe why you are suitable for this program. You need to provide a concise description of your current job, what you have studied during your bachelor’s degree, what you have learned besides that, what projects you have undertaken, and a brief overview of your research work. Additionally, you should establish a connection between your background and how it aligns with this program. You must also write about your future plans and how you will benefit from studying in this program. Suppose your CGPA is slightly lower, but you have perhaps completed a project or thesis that closely relates to your chosen program. In that case, you can briefly explain it as a parallel explanation. The evaluator may understand that even if the result was not satisfactory, you have gained a lot of knowledge. This way, you may impress the professor. Hence, it is said that the SOP is a crucial way to secure a scholarship or admission offer. Depending on the program, the requirements for SOP may vary. If a program only asks for an SOP submission, it is best to keep it within two pages. If it is too long, the reader may become disinterested. Some professors may specify that the SOP should be one page long and mention a few key points. In such cases, you need to write accordingly. There are also programs that provide three to four questions, and the answers to those questions become the SOP. In an SOP, you should always stick to the point. Irrelevant information should not be included. More posts will follow on SOP separately.
👉 Letter of Recommendation (LOR):
An LOR is a document obtained from your teacher where they write about why you are suitable for this program. Erasmus requires two LORs. They prefer LORs to be uploaded as PDF documents along with all the other application documents. Additionally, you will need to provide the information (email, name, etc.) of the teacher you will be obtaining the LOR from in the application. Once you submit the application, an email will be sent to that teacher. They might ask you several questions to gather information about you and request you to upload the LOR. Therefore, it is advisable to approach a teacher who was your final year thesis or project supervisor, or someone you have experience working with on your thesis. That way, they can write valuable information about you. The teacher’s LOR should highlight your skills, your collaboration with the teacher on research/projects, and emphasize your hard work. If you are applying for a data science-related subject, it would be beneficial to highlight your data science-related skills in the LOR. The reader of your LOR will understand that you are an expert in this field. Similarly, your Statement of Purpose (SOP) should also emphasize your data science-related skills. Now, imagine you have expertise in multiple fields. Let’s say you are applying in both software development and data science fields. In that case, if you have a good relationship with the professor, you can obtain two separate LORs that highlight your specialization in both fields. Alternatively, you can write the LOR in a way that highlights your skills in both fields. I followed both approaches when I obtained LORs from my two teachers. Again, I emphasize that you should approach a teacher who can easily write a comprehensive LOR for you. Otherwise, you might not be able to obtain the LOR on time.
👉 Euro Pass CV:
If you plan to apply anywhere in Europe, they prefer the Euro Pass CV format regardless of the specific location. So, you’ll need to create your CV in this format. Include your relevant projects, theses, or courses related to your applied program. There’s no need to add information or details that are unrelated to the program you’re applying for as it would make your CV lengthy. You can create your CV in this format by visiting this website (https://europa.eu/europass/eportfolio/screen/cv-editor?lang=en). However, this site has a drawback as it adds excessive space and expands the CV page due to the two-step verification process. Therefore, I suggest creating a CV similar to the Euro Pass format using MS Word. It will eliminate the extra space issue, and the CV will look more appealing. I usually use the shape tool in MS Word to structure my content, which allows me to fit more information within fewer pages. It’s recommended to keep your CV within 2-3 pages. Some people also create their own templates or use Latex/Overleaf. You can find an online sample in Latex at this link (https://www.overleaf.com/latex/templates/europass-cv/kpcsxfcfvxhx). If you prefer to use my custom template, you can find it in this Google Drive link (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12YMIzlVPiUJTf0phx3T32weCij2HBRdn).
👉 Professional Experience Certificate:
This refers to a certificate of your job or internship experience, or any research assistantship you may have had. It’s beneficial if you have relevant job experience as it can give you an advantage. However, if you don’t have any, it’s possible that this certificate might not be applicable to you, especially if you have recently graduated. In that case, you can showcase any research projects or internships you have completed through their respective certificates. Some programs also evaluate profile evaluation, which may provide a marking percentage (typically 5-10%) based on specific criteria. However, this is not applicable to all programs. Therefore, it’s recommended to make an effort to highlight other aspects in your Statement of Purpose (SOP) if such evaluations are not available.
✅ What is the purpose of extracurricular activities in Erasmus+?
Extracurricular activities can serve a purpose if they align with your program or background. Otherwise, I don’t think they are relevant. Let me provide you with an example from my own experience. I have a background in computer science and work as a software engineer. Here are some extracurricular activities I have considered: participating in programming contests at my university, taking a programming course at the university’s programming club, creating programming content on YouTube, and presenting research at an international conference. I have uploaded certificates for these activities as part of my extracurricular involvement. They are all related to my background and align with the program I am applying for.
✅ How many programs can I apply to?
Previously, the limit was three programs. However, there is no longer such a restriction. You can now apply to as many programs as you wish. However, you can only submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) for those programs where your background aligns or for which you would like to write something specific. Otherwise, it is not beneficial to apply without customizing your application.
✅ Can I apply as a program country or a partner country?
Generally, citizens of the 28 countries of the European Union and several other European countries are considered program country participants. However, if you have studied or worked for more than one year in any of those countries before the application, you will be considered a program country participant. Otherwise, you will be regarded as a partner country participant. For example, if you are applying from Bangladesh, you would be considered a partner country student unless you meet the aforementioned conditions. For more detailed information, you can refer to this link: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-a/eligible-countries.
✅ Which aspect of the profile do they highlight the most, or how can I understand which one is the most important?
Each program has a separate website where they provide detailed information about the program. The website includes Evaluation Criteria, which indicates how they will select you based on certain subjects. They also mention the percentage of marks they will allocate to each part of the program. In this case, academic results account for 60-70% of the total marks. Therefore, having an overall outstanding profile is crucial for Erasmus. Apart from academic results, other factors include IELTS, SOP (Statement of Purpose), LOR (Letter of Recommendation), CV, Experience Certificate, and other criteria. Your academic results hold less weight, but if you have conducted excellent research or are working in a program-related job, you need to emphasize that in your SOP. It is possible for individuals with lower CGPA to receive scholarships as well. Suppose you think your results are not as impressive but you have excelled in research or gained relevant experience in your field of interest. In that case, you should convey this effectively in your SOP. Let’s provide a small example: Both I and another candidate applied for a program. Their result was around 3.5, and mine was around 3.8. They did not have an IELTS score or any publications, while I had both. On the other hand, I had two years of job experience directly related to the program, while they had completed a six-month internship in a relevant field. They were selected, and I was not. Perhaps they presented their work in the SOP in a way that clearly demonstrated their suitability for the program. In Erasmus, it is challenging to determine which documents they will evaluate you based on. Therefore, you need to make the utmost effort in all aspects.
✅ What would you like to know about the interview?
Not all programs involve interviews. Some programs base their selection process solely on documents, while others may involve a few steps, including interviews with selected students. Additionally, some programs may conduct multiple rounds of interviews. For example, in my program, I had two interviews. During interviews, it is generally expected to discuss your motivation, why you applied to the program, how your background aligns with the program, your contributions to your final year thesis or project, and any publications you may have. It is also possible to be asked 1-2 subject-related questions based on the subject you applied for. Therefore, when receiving an interview call, it is important to be prepared with answers to these questions. Moreover, during interviews, it’s crucial to be confident and avoid getting nervous. Remember that being called for an interview means they consider you a potential candidate for the scholarship. As interviews are usually conducted based on the time zone of the country from which you apply, you should be prepared accordingly, adjusting to Bangladesh’s time zone.
✅ I’m in my final year now. Can I apply?
Yes, you can apply if you have completed at least three years and your graduation will be completed before the start of the program’s classes. Let’s assume your graduation will be completed by September 2024, or you will receive your result or certificate by then. In that case, you can apply for the program starting in September 2023. You will need to obtain a letter from your university stating when your graduation will be completed. Additionally, you will have to upload your latest mark sheet, including grades up to the most recent semester. However, in your SOP, you should highlight the skills you have acquired in your coursework and emphasize what thesis or project you will be undertaking in your final year and how it aligns with this program. Present a strong connection between your program and the project you will be doing. Many people have successfully received scholarships by applying in this manner. For example, in my program, 3/4 of the participants applied while their graduation was not yet completed. However, they had to submit their certificates before the start of the classes.
✅ What Benefits Will you Get at Erasmus?
Since Erasmus is a fully funded scholarship, it will cover your educational expenses, monthly living costs, yearly travel expenses, and health insurance primarily. And since it is a Joint Masters, each semester will be held in a different country. This means you can study in 2 to 4 different countries and have the opportunity to intern at top companies worldwide. You can learn about the remaining opportunities and benefits once you have the chance. I will find out more about it and let you know in a few days.
