For many Filipinos, studying in Europe may cost a fortune – from P1 million to P2.5 million – excluding accommodation and other educational fees. But it should not stop you from dreaming of having a masters or doctoral degree in Europe.
One of the most competitive scholarship grants in the world is the Erasmus Plus (formerly Erasmus Mundus) Scholarship. It is sponsored by the European Union, with a chance to travel for free anywhere in Europe. Top students with excellent grades and recommendations from all over the world are also applying. The budget of the EU for Erasmus + for 2021-2027 is 26 billion EUR of Php 15 trillion.
Republicasia chanced upon three Filipino scholars of Erasmus Mundos during the recent European Higher Education Fair held at Shangri-la Plaza in Mandaluyong.
They shared to us three essential tips on how to land a scholarship to one of the most coveted scholarship grants.
- Read, read, read
“You have to know what the qualifications are and you have to prepare for that,” Gen Renella “Gella” Leaño said.
Leaño took up a Master in International Relations at the University of Warsaw in Poland for a one-semester exchange.
For starters, there is the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue that you can read. The weblink is being updated every year. It has lists of master’s programs that are being supported by the EU and may offer Erasmus scholarships.
For those who would like to study in Europe for the school-year 2023, you need to check out the deadline for application for every consortium or school that you are interested in. So, there is no step-by-step guide that applies for all, as every university has its own requirements and application deadlines.
There are also scholarship programs offered for different countries. So check if the qualification includes students coming from the Philippines.
- Choose a program that really fits your profile
“If there is an interest that you have or if you are already working in a particular sector, choose that particular program,” development and water specialist Kent Tangcalagan said.
Tangcalagan graduated summa cum laude for his Joint Masters Degree in Comparative Local Development at Corvinus University of Budapest in Hungary, University of Regensburg in Germany and University of Trento in Italy.
The Cebuano scholar said having exposure to a particular sector “would have an added value” that evaluators are looking for.
- Write a good motivational letter
“Nakatulong nang malaki sa kin yung crafting a strong motivational letter. Kasi hihingan tayo ng reason bakit gusto natin mag-aral dun,” Ruby Amor “Bheng” Barraca said.
Barraca studied a joint master program European Master in Tourism Management in three universities – University of Southern Denmark, University of Ljubljana in Slovenia and University of Girona in Spain.
“Have a strong action plan, what will do with the knowledge and experience that you will gain from the masters’ program na kukunin niyo. Also, how you can contribute. Usually, iniisip natin ano magiging benefit sa atin nung program. Pero ilagay mo rin ano yung maitutulong mo sa program para mas strong ang edge mo against other candidates.”
So if you are willing to dive in and compete, perhaps tick a number in your bucketlists – travel 27 countries, magka-jowa-na-afam, get masteral/doctoral degree – then push that Erasmus+ goal now!
