Seventy-five Indian students have secured the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) scholarship for the 2026-28 academic cycle, once again placing India among the top beneficiaries of the European Union’s flagship higher education programme.The latest cohort highlights India’s continued success in the scholarship scheme, with the country remaining one of the top recipients in the world. The achievement comes at a time when nearly one lakh Indian students are pursuing higher education across Europe, reflecting the growing academic ties between India and the continent.The announcement was made at a pre-departure event hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to India in New Delhi, where scholars, alumni, education experts and representatives of EU member states gathered before the students’ departure.
Students to study in 15 European countries
Selected students will pursue a master’s degree at universities in 15 European nations, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.His fields of study range from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to renewable energy, smart urban development and vaccinology. Others focus on disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences and gender studies.The scholarship program also continued its trend of almost equal representation of male and female students, underlining efforts to ensure wider participation in all disciplines.
The EU is launching a network of student ambassadors
Alongside the scholarship announcement, the European Union launched the EU-India Student Ambassador Network, which brings together 40 students from 20 universities spread across 14 states and Union Territories.The ambassadors work to increase awareness of European education opportunities, research collaborations and exchange programs among students across India. The initiative is expected to serve as a bridge between young people in India and Europe while encouraging more students to explore international study options.
Students from selected higher institutions
The ambassador network includes students from some of India’s leading institutions, including IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi and University of Mumbai.Regional institutions such as Panjab University and Gauhati University are also represented, reflecting the reach of the program beyond major metropolitan centres.
More than two decades of academic cooperation
India has been one of the strongest participants in Erasmus+ since the program started to engage with Indian students. Since 2004, more than 7,500 scholarships have been awarded to Indian nationals, while more than 2,500 students have completed joint master’s degrees through the initiative.The impact of the program extends beyond student mobility. Since 2021, Indian universities have participated in 16 projects aimed at strengthening the capacity of higher education, while 17 Indian academics have been recognized by Jean Monnet Actions for their work in European Studies.
