India leads EU's Erasmus+ scholarship awards, 101 students, including 50 women, to pursue master's in Europe

NEW DELHI: For the academic year starting 2025, 101 Indian students, including 50 women, have been awarded the prestigious Erasmus+ scholarships for a two-year master's programme in Europe, officials said. The Erasmus+ programme, launched in 1987, stands for European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. It is the European Union's (EU's) flagship initiative for international mobility and academic exchange. The Delegation of the EU to India in a statement on Monday said "101 Indian students, including 50 women, have been awarded the prestigious Erasmus+ scholarships for two-year master's programme in Europe for the academic year starting 2025". With this, India continues to be the largest recipient of the scholarship overall (since 2014) and ranks among the top three this year, further highlighting its strong and expanding academic partnership with the EU, it said. Erasmus+ students typically study in at least two European universities and receive a joint, double or multiple degree. The scholarship covers tuition, travel, and living expenses, providing the recipients with a unique opportunity to enhance their academic and professional pursuits, the statement said.

"This year's cohort continues the strong tradition of Indian participation, particularly in fields that reflect shared EU-India priorities such as sustainability, innovation, and inclusive development," it said. This year's recipients represent 20 Indian states across India and will pursue a wide range of areas of focus, including sustainable urban development, artificial intelligence, migration and public policy, intellectual property law, food security, engineering, sustainable drug discovery, safe and reliable nuclear applications and more, the Delegation of the EU to India said in the statement. To mark this achievement, the Delegation of the EU to India hosted a pre-departure ceremony in New Delhi, bringing together the selected scholars, EU Member State representatives, alumni and key stakeholders. These scholarship recipients will soon depart for Europe to pursue their postgraduate degrees across multiple countries and disciplines. Congratulating the students, EU Ambassador to India, Herve Delphin, said, "Erasmus+ is more than a scholarship, it's a passport for personal and professional growth and a window of opportunities in and with Europe." For over 6,000 Indian students and scholars, it has opened doors to Europe's top universities and its incredibly diverse cultures, he said. Delphin said the Indian students' strong performance shows how strong and vibrant the people-to-people ties have become between the EU countries and India and they are only getting stronger. "Over 90,000 Indian students are studying in Europe, a clear sign of the trust and enthusiasm for what Europe offers.

These students are choosing Europe for its quality, diversity, and affordability and this shows why Europe has rightfully earned its place as one of the top global destinations for higher education," he added. As Erasmus+ scholars, these individuals will not only enrich their own lives but also "become bridges between the EU and India", driving positive change and "deepening our bilateral relationship", the EU envoy said. "Over the next two years, Indian students will have the opportunity to study in more than 19 EU countries, including, France (24), Spain (12), Belgium (8), Portugal (8), Germany (7), Italy (5), Poland (4), Czech Republic (4), Austria (3), Hungary (3), Estonia (3), Netherlands (2), Croatia (2), Greece (2), Denmark (1), Finland (1), Norway (1), Ireland (1) and Latvia (1)," the statement said. Additionally, some students will pursue studies at affiliated universities across Europe and in non-European countries, it said. India continues to be the largest beneficiary of the Erasmus+ programme, with over 2,200 students having received the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Scholarship since its inception in 2004. Over 6,000 Erasmus+ short and long-term Erasmus+ scholarships have been awarded to Indian students since the programme opened to international students, the statement said. In recent years, women's participation from India has shown a "steady and encouraging rise", with near-equal representation among selected candidates becoming a consistent trend, it added.

Europe is home to over 4,000 higher education institutions, ranging from leading research establishments to smaller and teaching-focused colleges. With over 5,000 institutions, 17.5 million tertiary education students, 1.35 million educators and 1.17 million researchers, Europe is a thriving hub for higher education and cutting-edge research, the statement said. "Now in its most ambitious phase (2021-2027), Erasmus+ is the world's largest mobility and academic exchange programme supporting education, training, youth, and sport. With a budget of Euro 26.2 billion (INR 2,09,694 crore), it offers opportunities for students, educators, researchers, and institutions worldwide to study, teach, train, and collaborate across borders," it said.