75 Indian students head to Europe for free masters, here’s how

Representative photo with AI

For 75 Indian students, the dream of studying in Europe is about to come true. The European Union has selected them for the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) scholarships for the 2026-28 cycle, which will allow them to pursue postgraduate studies at universities across Europe.Selected students will study in 15 European countries, including France, Germany, Belgium and Italy. Its courses cover a variety of subjects such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, renewable energy and pharmaceutical sciences.The announcement was made alongside the launch of the EU-India Student Ambassadors Network, a new initiative bringing together 40 student representatives from 20 Indian universities. The network aims to spread awareness about study and research opportunities in Europe and encourage greater participation of young people 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 remains the top recipient of Erasmus Mundus scholarships since 2004 and remains among the top three countries in the world for current intake. About 100,000 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education in Europe.The Erasmus+ program, launched in 1987 as the Action Program of the European Region for the Mobility of University Students, is the main academic exchange program of the European Union.“The scholarship is awarded competitively through annual calls for proposals and covers tuition fees, travel expenses and subsistence allowances. Since 2004, nearly 100,000 students have benefited from the Erasmus Mundus programme, consolidating its role in fostering international academic collaboration and excellence,” the delegation said.The new ambassador network includes students from 14 states and Union territories. Members come from institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Indian Institute of Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi and University of Bombay.