The European Union has awarded 75 Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Degree (EMJMD) scholarships to Indian students for the 2026-2028 academic cycle, reinforcing India's position as the top global recipient of these scholarships since 2004. Concurrently, the EU launched the EU-India Student Ambassadors Network, an initiative connecting 40 student representatives from 20 universities across India to promote academic and research opportunities in Europe.
Scholarship Details and Impact
According to the Delegation of the European Union to India, the Erasmus+ programme, established in 1987, serves as the EU's flagship academic exchange initiative. The scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis through annual calls for proposals and cover tuition fees, travel costs, and living allowances. Since 2004, nearly 100,000 students have benefited from the Erasmus Mundus programme globally, with India consistently ranking among the top three recipients. Currently, approximately 100,000 Indian students are enrolled in higher education across Europe, making the continent a primary destination for world-class research and academic training.
EU Ambassador to India, Herve Delphin, emphasized the programme's significance: "Erasmus+ is more than a scholarship. It's a passport to a first-class experience. This programme opens doors for Indian students to cutting-edge European education, to the richness and diversity of cultures, and to networks that bring our two continents closer." He added, "These students won't just earn a degree; they will develop the skills and perspectives needed to facilitate the mobility of talent, which will power the India-Europe strategic partnership."
EU-India Student Ambassadors Network
The newly launched network features students from 14 states and Union territories, representing a diverse array of India's academic landscape. Participants include students from elite technical institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and the Indian Institute of Science, as well as multidisciplinary universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University, the University of Delhi, and the University of Mumbai. The network also incorporates emerging innovation hubs, including the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad and the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, alongside regional leaders such as Panjab University, the University of Rajasthan, Gauhati University, and the University of Calicut.
The initiative creates a peer-led community aligned with the EU-India Strategic Agenda's focus on knowledge-sharing, youth, and innovation. By supporting these young leaders, the project aims to ensure that academic and cultural connections between the two regions continue to flourish through a consistent exchange of ideas. Ambassador Delphin noted, "This initiative is about grounding our partnership at the people's level and building a human bridge of knowledge and mutual understanding. Besides guiding them on opportunities to study in Europe and strengthening university collaborations, these ambassadors will be agents of positive change. They will inspire young minds across India to discover, connect, and engage with the EU, shaping a vibrant, shared future for our two regions."
Pre-Departure Ceremony and Study Destinations
To mark the occasion, the EU Delegation in New Delhi hosted a pre-departure ceremony attended by scholars, alumni, education stakeholders, and representatives from EU Member States. The cohort is set to study at universities across 15 European countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy, focusing on interdisciplinary master's programmes in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and pharmaceutical sciences.
