Erasmus Mundus: In pursuit of achieving success
Think studying abroad is out of reach? Think again. This year, five BracU CSE graduates secured the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) scholarship, which covers tuition, travel, and the unique opportunity to study across multiple European countries. Their stories show exactly how it’s done.
For Shihab Muhtasim, Erasmus was appealing as he always wished to travel across Europe with an industry-focused programme rather than hardcore academia. Although he had received PhD offers from the US, he chose a computer vision-specialised programme under Erasmus. He recalls that tailoring his profile for each programme was challenging, but nothing beats cramming his entire life into the one-minute motivational video. What set him apart was not only his academic record and Valedictorian title from BracU, but also his passion, clear goals, and his additional interest in EDM production. His tip for juniors? “Don’t reuse your materials. Tailor them specifically for each programme and show that you have done your research.”
Hasibul Hasan Hasib, with six years in social work and civic engagement, saw the scholarship as a chance for quality education, mobility across Europe, diverse programmes, and networking to advance social entrepreneurship in Bangladesh. Currently enrolled in MESPOM (Environmental Science, Policy and Management), one of Erasmus’s flagship programmes, he stood out by combining social entrepreneurship, leadership, and environmental sustainability. He credits BracU faculty and colleagues for guiding him towards the right programmes. His advice: choose recommenders who know you well, as “such letters tend to have more authenticity and ‘life.’”
Shuvro Ahmed describes the odds of securing the Erasmus scholarship as finding a diamond in a haystack. He recounts, “While I consider myself an above-average student academically, Erasmus Mundus is highly competitive and demands more.” In his eyes, a strong statement of purpose, compelling recommendation letters, and relevant research experience played a crucial role in his selection. His advice to aspirants is not to put all their eggs in one basket; instead, explore programmes with similar benefits. His programme is called Imaging, and in the future, he intends to return to academia and pursue a PhD in a relevant field.
Md. Zunayedul Islam was attracted to Erasmus for its combination of advanced technical coursework, cross-university mentorship, and rich international research opportunities. His biggest obstacle was staying motivated, which he overcame by setting goals, prioritising tasks, and seeking guidance from mentors and peers. He stood out by presenting a coherent narrative that combined strong academics, relevant research, and practical experience into a clear vision of AI. “Treat your application like an argument: each paragraph should support why this programme and why you’re a strong fit,” he advises. After specialising in Image Processing and Computer Vision, his long-term goal is to lead ML teams building robust and efficient vision systems, with this master’s as a key step.
To Md. Ahnaf Farhan, Erasmus Mundus offered exactly what he wanted: the chance to pursue a joint master’s degree across multiple countries. His biggest hurdle was balancing the application process alongside semester finals and the IELTS exam, which he managed through discipline and the support of peers and mentors. Studying at the University of Hong Kong and BracU gave him global exposure and adaptability, while merging Finance with Computer Science showcased his interdisciplinary FinTech expertise, which set him apart. He advises aspirants to “shoot your shot and don’t underestimate yourself. Don’t be demotivated, what matters most is proving your strengths, passion, and potential to the admissions committee.” He is pursuing a Master’s in Communications Engineering and Data Science specialising in Data Security to build a career as a security analyst.
So, aspirants, show purpose in your application. Add hobbies; make yourselves memorable. Lastly, master the one-minute pitch, sell yourself fast, or reviewers may scroll past. It takes strategy, not perfection, to succeed. Warning though, Erasmus Mundus may cause excessive travelling.
