Erasmus Mundus Scholarship: Two Bangladeshi scholars share their blueprint
Successful applicants study in at least two countries, graduate with multiple degrees and receive a monthly stipend of €1,400, which covers living expenses, insurance and even airfare
When Wahiduzzaman Emon received the confirmation email, he could hardly believe it. He had been selected for not one, but two Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's programmes.
"I still remember submitting my applications just before the deadline. In March, I was in the middle of my semester finals, running between exams and interviews. Somehow, by the grace of Almighty, I managed to secure admission in both programmes," he recalled.
Funded by the European Union, the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is one of the most prestigious opportunities for higher education in the world. Each year, around 200 joint master's programmes across various disciplines — including engineering, biosciences, business, arts, and social sciences — offer places to a select group of students.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Successful applicants study in at least two countries, graduate with multiple degrees and receive a monthly stipend of €1,400, which covers living expenses, insurance and even airfare.
"The most attractive aspect is that you complete your master's within two years, yet you graduate with two, sometimes three, degrees from top European universities," Emon said.
But the odds are steep. From Bangladesh, on average, just over a hundred students are accepted each year across all 200 programmes, making the success rate a mere 2%. Each programme admits no more than 17 students worldwide, following a rigorous process of shortlisting and interviews.
Building a profile beyond numbers
Emon is now pursuing Europhotonics in France and Finland, but the path to Erasmus began long before the email arrived.
"I first heard about the scholarship in mid-2023, when one of my faculty members received it," he said. Around the same time, Emon had earned a perfect 4.0 CGPA in the second semester of his third year at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST).
For science students, research is key, while for arts and business students, professional experience carries more weight.
That is when he also realised that CGPA alone was not enough. "Your CGPA accounts for only about 50%. The other half comes from your motivation letter, research and extracurriculars. I needed to build something more," he explained.
Lacking research experience, he approached a supervisor and formed a group. They chose to focus on optics- and photonics-based computational biosensors, a field that would later shape both his undergraduate thesis and his Erasmus applications.
By November 2023, Emon had co-authored and presented papers at international conferences, with extended works later submitted to Springer and Optica journals. Simultaneously, he held leadership roles, including Chairperson of the IEEE SPS & ComSoc Joint Chapter, alongside other extracurricular activities.
The effort paid off. In early 2024, he applied to two Erasmus programmes and was accepted by both. "The panel appreciated my thesis contributions and knowledge of optics," he said. Ultimately, he chose Europhotonics for its strong research environment and highly ranked universities.
How the selection process works
The selection process has two stages: shortlisting based on CV, CGPA, and profile, followed by interviews. "In my case, one programme asked for a 15-minute slide presentation on my bachelor's journey, followed by a Q&A," Emon recalled. "The other conducted a viva with technical questions from my domain."
Around 40% of programmes skip interviews, relying instead on academic records, IELTS scores, and professional or research profiles.
So what really matters?
"Typically, selected candidates have a CGPA between 3.4 and 4.0, but there are exceptions," Emon said. "One candidate even got in with a 2.9 due to strong industrial experience. For science students, research is key, while for arts and business students, professional experience carries more weight."
Research publications, though not mandatory, are becoming increasingly important. "Earlier, candidates could get in without them, but now it's rare," he noted. "If your CGPA is lower, you need strong papers or a high IELTS score to compensate."
Erasmus differs from many other global scholarships in another crucial way: there is no compulsory return requirement. "Unlike Fulbright, you are not forced to go back to your home country," Emon explained. "You can stay, work or even settle in Europe if you want."
Visas and logistics are also simplified. The programme consortium communicates directly with embassies, ensuring smooth approvals. For Bangladeshi recipients, visa success has been 100% over the past five years. There are no application or visa fees, nor any bank solvency requirements.
"Even as master's students, we get hands-on access to advanced labs — clean rooms and fabrication technology you usually only see on YouTube. That's what makes Erasmus unique," Emon further said.
How to crack the code with a low CGPA
While Emon built a near-perfect profile, Md Saad Hossain proved that determination can sometimes matter more than numbers.
A Genetic Engineering graduate from East West University, Saad had a CGPA of just 2.57. "Yes, you heard that right — 2.57! Many thought it was impossible, but that's where my story began," Saad wrote on his social media account.
Start preparing from the very beginning of your bachelor's. Set a goal and never deviate.
Without IELTS scores or publications, he relied on self-initiative. By his second year, he had begun emailing professors worldwide — more than 200 in total. Some responded positively, and one even encouraged him to apply for Japan's MEXT scholarship. Though he narrowly missed out, the setback only strengthened his resolve.
When he applied to the Erasmus Mundus programme in Chemical Innovation and Regulation (ChIR), competition was fierce. "It was the ninth and final funded batch, so applications were at a record high," Saad recalled. "But I ranked 13th worldwide."
He attributes his success to personal research projects and professional affiliations. "I developed three or four computational research projects independently. I also gained informal lab experience and was active in societies like the American Chemical Society and the Biophysical Society. These experiences shaped my scientific perspective."
For Saad, the interview was decisive. "I answered with complete honesty and confidence, and they could see my resilience," he said.
Advice for future aspirants
The application deadline varies from one programme to another. It usually opens in October for the following academic year and closes between January and April, depending on the programme.
The first step is to find your programme in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Degrees catalogue and check its eligibility criteria and deadlines, as each course has its own requirements.
Next, you need to prepare your documents, including transcripts, a Europass CV, a motivation letter, recommendation letters, and proof of English proficiency.
Applications are submitted online, with no fees and no need for postal submissions. Finally, prepare for interviews if they are part of the selection process.
"Start early," Emon advised. "Balance your academics with research and extracurriculars. Know when GPA matters, when research matters, and when experience matters."
For future applicants, both Emon and Saad offer clear advice.
Saad emphasised persistence, "Start preparing from the very beginning of your bachelor's. Set a goal and never deviate."
Emon focused on balance. "Don't just chase grades. Build your profile with research, leadership and motivation. Erasmus is not only about what you score, but also about what you contribute."
