75 Indian students are heading to Europe for free master’s degrees — here’s how
For 75 Indian students, the dream of studying in Europe is about to become a reality. The European Union has selected them for the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) scholarships for the 2026-28 cycle, allowing them to pursue postgraduate studies at universities across Europe.The selected students will study in 15 European countries, including France, Germany, Belgium and Italy. Their courses cover a range of subjects such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, renewable energy and pharmaceutical sciences.The announcement was made alongside the launch of the EU-India Student Ambassadors’ Network, a new initiative that brings together 40 student representatives from 20 universities across India. The network aims to spread awareness about study and research opportunities in Europe and encourage greater youth participation in the growing India-EU partnership.According to the Delegation of the European Union to India, the network will function as a peer-led community aligned with the EU-India Strategic Agenda, which focuses on knowledge-sharing, youth engagement and innovation. The initiative is expected to strengthen academic and cultural ties between India and Europe through regular exchanges of ideas.The EU said India continues to be the leading recipient of Erasmus Mundus scholarships since 2004 and remains among the top three countries globally for the current intake. Around 100,000 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education in Europe.The Erasmus+ programme, launched in 1987 as the European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, is the European Union’s flagship academic exchange programme.“The scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis by annual calls for proposals and covers tuition fees, travel costs, and living allowances. Since 2004, nearly 100,000 students have benefited from the Erasmus Mundus programme, solidifying its role in fostering international academic collaboration and excellence,” the delegation said.The newly formed ambassador network includes students from 14 states and Union territories. Members come from institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, the Indian Institute of Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, the University of Delhi and the University of Mumbai.
