How an Indian Mechanical Engineering Student Won the Fully Funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to Pursue His Joint Master’s in Intelligent Field Robotic Systems at the University of Girona, Eötvös Loránd University, and the University of Zagreb

Hi, I’m Atharva Patwe, and I hail from a small town in Maharashtra state of India. I did my schooling there, where I was that kid who asked too many questions and took apart perfectly working gadgets, just to see why they worked. That’s where my love for learning (and occasionally breaking things) really began.. Growing up, I had what I like to call "unnecessary curiosity" - unnecessary not for me, but definitely for the people around me who kept telling me, “Why are you even looking into that?” or “That’s not your problem!” Spoiler alert: I looked into it anyway.

I later moved to Pune to pursue my bachelor’s at COEP Technological University - four years of learning, building, and, yes, more curious poking around.

That curiosity took me a bit further... or a few thousand kilometers further. I joined the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Program in Intelligent Field Robotic Systems (IFRoS). It’s a mouthful, but it’s an adventurous tour of robotics across three countries - starting in sunny Spain at the University of Girona (UdG), moving to the charming streets of Budapest at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), and navigating Croatian life at the University of Zagreb (UniZG).

During my first year at UdG, I studied not just the theory behind robotic systems but also delved into the hands-on projects, giving me a full-stack experience as a robotics engineer.

It’s been a wild ride full of culture, code, and caffeine - THE ULTIMATE TRINITY FOR AN ENGINEER!!!

Educational Background 

I did my Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from COEP Technological University in Pune, India. During those four years, I wore many hats, sometimes a helmet (as a Formula Student with Team Octane Racing Electric), sometimes a lab coat (as a robotics nerd), and sometimes both at once. Let’s just say, I was never bored.

For my undergraduate thesis, I designed and built a control system for a custom-made quadcopter - yes, built from scratch. And no, it didn’t crash. (Well, not every time.) It was tough, often meant solo sprints through sleepless nights, but totally worth the caffeine-fueled adrenaline. That’s when it hit me; robotics isn’t just cool… It’s my calling.

I’ve always believed that the most fundamental goal in life is to be useful. Everything else- titles, trophies, fancy job titles- is just decoration. For me, being useful means building things that help people, provide value to their lives, and give them opportunities to explore. And what better way to do that than with robots?

That’s why I applied for IFRoS. It was my first real international experience, and honestly, I had no idea what to expect, which, surprisingly, was the best way to go in. When your main personality trait is “explorer,” uncertainty becomes your comfort zone. So I kept an open mind, packed my curiosity, and let the multi-country journey begin. It was tough in the beginning because of the language barrier, but once I got into the rhythm, language was not a big issue.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship?

Once I decided I wanted to specialize in Robotics for my Master’s, I went full research-mode - Google, spreadsheets, 30 tabs open, the whole shebang. Like many Indian students, the U.S. was the obvious go-to. But then I looked at the tuition fees and went, “Yeah… let’s talk alternatives.” That’s when Europe caught my eye - not just for the education, but also for its scholarship opportunities.

Enter: the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program. It sounded almost too good to be true: full tuition, living expenses, travel, and installation costs, all covered by the EU. You basically get paid to study, travel, and explore three different countries. No student loans. No ramen-for-a-month budget. Just learning and living. I was sold.

So, how did I prepare? Step one: I visited the EMJMD course catalogue website. It's a goldmine of info, having lists of all the programs, their partner universities, eligibility criteria, documents needed, and deadlines. Each program also has its own dedicated site, which is super handy. Pro tip: start at least a year (or ideally 1.5 years) before the course actually begins. Time flies when you're gathering transcripts.

In my case, I started by taking an English proficiency test. Then came the Statement of Purpose - aka “Why I’m awesome in 1000 words or less.” It’s the one place where you can show your personality, passion, and all the sleepless nights you powered through for your projects. I also made sure my CV (in the fancy Europass format), letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, and certificates were locked and loaded.

Once submitted, I had to wait about 2–3 months. My program, IFRoS, also had a small test for final scholarship rankings. A month or two later, I got the email - Congratulations, you're funded by the EU. Cue internal screaming.

Of course, I didn’t put all my eggs in one robotic basket. I also applied to other top programs like JEMARO and MIRMI. I got into MIRMI but was rejected by JEMARO. I chose IFRoS because of its broader focus on all types of robotic platforms:  terrestrial, aerial, you name it. MIRMI was amazing too, but leaned more toward underwater robotics… and I prefer to keep my robots above sea level.

Now, make no mistake, this is a highly competitive process!!. My program received over 1000 applications from all over the globe. What made my application stand out? I think it was a mix of hands-on project experience, clear motivation, and a well-crafted application that showed not just what I did, but why I did it.

Could You Briefly Discuss the Erasmus Mundus Program You Pursued and the Specific Field of Study It Focused On?

I was part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Intelligent Field Robotic Systems,  or IFRoS, for short. It’s a program built for students with a background in Computer Science, Engineering, Robotics, or Math; basically, if you’ve ever debugged a line of code or built something that moves, you’re in the right place.

The first semester took place at the University of Girona in Spain, where we tackled the core pillars of classical robotics: Perception, Navigation, Control, and Intervention. Think of it as the starter pack for making robots that don’t fall over or crash into walls. We also got hands-on with some serious hardware, industrial robotic arms, mobile manipulators, and even underwater robots (yes, they exist and yes, they’re awesome).

In the second semester, things got even more exciting! We put all that theory to work in practical, team-based projects. Then we moved to the University of Zagreb, Croatia, for the third semester, where we focused on aerial robotics, multi-robot systems, sensing, AI, and human-robot interaction. Again, hands-on projects helped turn abstract ideas into working prototypes (and some very intense group chats).

For my final semester, the thesis semester, I joined NEURA Robotics, a cutting-edge German company building intelligent cobots. There, I worked on making humanoid robots actually do useful things using Reinforcement Learning. Basically, teaching robots to do useful work in the real world.

And that wrapped up two years of robotics, research, and running on pure adrenaline.

How Did the Cost of Living Vary Across the Countries You Studied In? Which Country Was the Most Affordable or Expensive, and How Did You Manage Financially?

Cost of living is one of those things you don’t think about much until your wallet starts screaming. Luckily, Erasmus Mundus takes care of most expenses, but it still helps to budget smartly.

In my first year, I lived in Girona, Spain, a beautiful little city about an hour from Barcelona (and about ten steps from paradise, honestly). Out of the three cities I studied in, Girona was definitely the most affordable. Rent ranged from €300 to €500 per month, sometimes even less if you got lucky or lived with roommates. Food? Around €150 - €200, even if you occasionally gave in to the temptation of tapas.

Now, if you’re like me and can’t resist hopping on a train or bus just to see what’s around the corner, add another €100 - €200 for travel, both within the city and across Europe.

Zagreb and Budapest were a bit more expensive, mostly due to higher rent and utility bills. Still, with some planning, it’s very manageable. Just remember, I’m quoting the upper range here. In reality, it can be much cheaper depending on your lifestyle and housing choices. For example, if you're a great cook and don’t mind living a bit outside the city center, your budget stretches much further.

In short, Spain was kind to my wallet, Croatia and Hungary were a little fancier, but nothing Erasmus funding couldn’t handle… especially if you’re smart about it and maybe skip that fourth espresso.

Did You Face Any Language Barriers, and if So, How Did You Overcome Them? Did the Language of Instruction Change From One Country to Another?

The language of instruction for all our university courses was English, so academically, I had no issues at all, no lost-in-translation moments in lectures, thankfully.

But step outside the classroom and into the real world, say, a grocery store or a local restaurant, and things could get a little… spicy. Ordering food sometimes felt like playing charades, and grocery shopping involved a lot of pointing, smiling, and hoping I didn’t accidentally buy cat food.

That said, even a little local language goes a long way. Just knowing a few basic phrases can work wonders. Plus, having friends who speak the local language is like having a human Google Translate, super handy. In my case, I was lucky to have such friends, who made life much easier.

Also, many Erasmus programs (including mine) offer free language courses. If you’ve got the time, they’re definitely worth it, not just for survival, but for bonding with locals and feeling a bit more at home.

So overall? No major language barriers, just occasional comedy and lots of learning beyond the textbooks.

Would You Recommend the Erasmus Mundus Program to Others? What Advice Would You Give to Someone Considering This Scholarship?

In retrospect, joining the Erasmus Mundus program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I learned a lot, grew as a person, made lifelong friends across the globe, and, perhaps most importantly, I did all that without ending up in debt. That financial freedom alone makes many of my life choices today a whole lot easier (and less stressful).

Now, would I recommend Erasmus Mundus to others? Absolutely - without blinking. It’s not just about academics, though the course quality is top-notch. It’s about the complete experience, living in multiple countries, navigating cultures, solving problems in and out of the classroom, and building a truly international network.

That said, I’ll be honest, my program wasn’t a walk in the park. It was intense. You need solid fundamentals in engineering and a willingness to go the extra mile (and sometimes, several miles). But if you’re up for the challenge, it can be genuinely life-changing.

Here’s my two cents: If you ever get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a top-tier university, whether through Erasmus or otherwise, whether in the US, EU or other part of the world, but can’t afford it, and you really believe in yourself and your ability to make it count, then yes, even a student loan can be worth it.

But if you’re lucky enough to land Erasmus Mundus? Take it and run with it. It’s an adventure, an education, and a personal transformation, all rolled into one neat EU-funded package.

Looking Back, Would You Have Done Anything Differently During Your Time in the Program?

Looking back, if I could do a few things differently, I’d start with this: spend less, save more. European bakeries and budget airlines are very persuasive, but having extra savings really helps, especially if you plan to stay in the EU after graduation on a job-seeking visa. Trust me, future-you will thank past-you for every euro saved.

Second, I wish I had networked more with professionals in the field I’m passionate about, robotics and AI/RL. It’s easy to get caught up in assignments and deadlines, but building global connections can keep you relevant and open unexpected doors.

Lastly, I do wish I had pushed harder to publish more research in top-tier journals and conferences. Nothing says “I’m serious about this” like your name in IEEE proceedings.

So if you're planning to join the program, do it all: save wisely, network intentionally, and if you can, publish something awesome. Future-you will walk taller.