Kathmandu: The European Union (EU) has awarded full scholarships to 33 Nepali students, 17 women and 16 men, to pursue two-year Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees in Europe, beginning in the 2025/2026 academic year. With this latest cohort, over 800 Nepali students have now benefited from Erasmus+ scholarships to date.
The prestigious scholarship enables recipients to study at multiple universities across Europe, offering them the opportunity to learn in a multicultural and academically enriching environment. The fully funded award covers tuition fees, airfare, and a monthly stipend, allowing scholars to focus entirely on their academic journey without financial concerns.
Awarded by the European Union, the Erasmus Mundus scholarships reflect the EU’s ongoing commitment to promoting educational opportunity, academic excellence, and international collaboration.
On 16 July, the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, in partnership with the Erasmus Mundus Association Nepal, hosted a pre-departure orientation for the new scholarship recipients. Welcoming the students, the EU Ambassador to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, said, “Today marks the beginning of an amazing journey filled with learning, growth, and boundless opportunities; all made possible through the Erasmus scholarship.”
She added, “The Erasmus scholarship goes well beyond financial support and academic achievement. Its true value lies in creating bridges between people from different countries, sharing experiences, and forging strong ties of friendship between Europe and Nepal.”
The Ambassador encouraged the scholars to return to Nepal upon completion of their studies. This year’s 33 Nepali recipients will pursue Master’s degrees in a wide range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, engineering, agriculture, biology, flood risk management and food technology.
At the pre-departure orientation, alumni of the Erasmus+ programme shared their personal experiences of studying in Europe. This peer-to-peer exchange aims to guide and support the new scholars as they prepare for their journey. Many Erasmus alumni have made notable contributions to Nepal’s social and economic sectors.
Representatives from the Embassies of EU Member States based in Kathmandu and New Delhi attended the orientation event, held at the EU Delegation office.
The Erasmus+ programme is the European Union’s flagship initiative supporting education, training, youth, and sport both within Europe and globally. By enabling students from diverse backgrounds to access high-quality education in international settings, the programme contributes significantly to personal development, academic growth, and the creation of lifelong professional networks.
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