On Friday, 13th May, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the European Union (EU) Erasmus+ programme and in the framework of the ongoing French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Embassy of France in India and the EU Delegation to India and Bhutan organised a soirée for Indian beneficiaries of the Erasmus+ programme at the Residence of France in India. The event also contributed to the ongoing celebrations of Europe Day and the 60-year-old EU-India strategic partnership.
The soirée was attended by more than 250 Indian beneficiaries of the Erasmus+ programme, which included students, researchers, academics and business people. Representatives from the EU Member States, Indian partner institutions, and friends of Europe also participated in the festivities. The event, held in the presence of the EU Ambassador to India and Bhutan, H.E. Mr Ugo Astuto, provided an excellent opportunity to meet partners and expand professional networks while celebrating 35 years of the Erasmus+ programme with music and DJ performance.
In his opening speech, the Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Emmanuel Lenain said: “More than 6000 Indian students have travelled to Europe to date thanks to the Erasmus+ programme, showing how much the EU values student mobility with India. For the last two years, France has been the country welcoming the highest number of Erasmus scholarship holders, and we are very proud of it. India is a major focus of France’s ongoing presidency of the Council of the EU. France strongly believes that the deepening political relations between the EU and India should go hand in hand with greater academic mobility and people-to-people ties. It is the best investment we can make in the future of the EU-India partnership.”
This year, EU and India are celebrating 60 years of strategic partnership. Underlining that mobility of students and researchers forms an important dimension of this relationship, the Ambassador of the European Union to India and Bhutan, H.E. Mr Ugo Astuto, said in his inaugural speech, “I am happy to share that 143 Indian students have been awarded Erasmus Mundus scholarships for higher education in Europe. This builds on the success of the last two years when Indian students were the top recipient of the EU Erasmus+ scholarships among 167 countries. More and more Indian students are looking at the possibility of studying in the EU, exploring its world-class academic institutes, attending courses in two or more European countries, gaining exposure to diverse cultures.”
What is the EU Erasmus+ programme about?
Erasmus, meaning European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, is a programme established in 1987 by the European Union (EU) to support not only education for students from across the globe but also to encourage partnerships between universities and countries. This programme supports education, training, youth and sport.
With a budget of €26.2 billion (Rs. 2,096,94 crore) for the 2021-2027 period, this is the largest programme in the world for student mobility and also an important project for collaborative funding. With this programme, the EU wants to enhance academic and youth mobility and cooperation among European Union members but also with other regions in the world, especially Asia.
So far, 6000+ Indian students and academics have benefited from this programme. With 153 Indians receiving the Erasmus Mundus scholarships in 2021, India is also the top beneficiary of this programme.
What opportunities do the Erasmus+ programme and scholarships offer to Indian students?
Europe today has over 4000 higher education institutions, from top-level research establishments to small, teaching-focused colleges, with more than 17 million students and 1.5 million academics, including 435,000 researchers.
Besides the high academic standards in Europe, foreign students also gain a rich cultural experience thanks to the cultural and linguistic diversity in Europe, where tiny principalities sit side-by-side with many of the world’s leading economies.
EURAXESS provides services to researchers at all stages of their careers seeking collaboration in India or mobility and job opportunities in Europe. EURAXESS India offers free information and several annual information events on research funding, research careers and collaboration opportunities. In addition, EURAXESS India also provides information on the EU’s Erasmus+ programmes and other student and researcher mobility schemes offered by the EU (i.e. Horizon Europe) and its Member States.
People of the network have also been offered the opportunity to register on the EU directory, which will help them to develop their network and augment their job opportunities. Being on this directory enables the member to stay informed about events hosted by the European Union Delegation and to participate in events specifically dedicated to the Erasmus Alumni, like the Erasmus Day.
How to apply for Erasmus Mundus Scholarships?
The applicant has to have a bachelor’s degree or be in the last year of bachelor’s studies and graduate before the master’s programme starts.
Schedule: A new batch of selected Erasmus Mundus Masters is added to the list each year. Most consortia will require applications to be submitted between October and January for courses starting the following academic year.
Useful links:
You can find more information with the European Union website’s link below:
Or more detailed information for applying here: