Erasmus+ MAEH Scholar Cecilia María Hernández Castro from El Salvador Shares Her Journey of Studying Applied Ecohydrology Across Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium

My name is Cecilia María Hernández Castro. I was born and raised in El Salvador. I studied for my bachelor's degree at the best university of agriculture in Latin America, the Pan-American Agricultural School, Zamorano University, where I obtained my BSc in Environmental Engineering. As part of my programme at Zamorano, I undertook an internship at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. After completing my BSc, I worked in Honduras as a consultant and realised I wanted to continue studying. I discovered the Erasmus+ Scholarships offered by the European Union. I was particularly interested in the Master's in Applied Ecohydrology (MAEH) because my country faces numerous water-related problems.

Therefore, I submitted my application and, fortunately, received the scholarship. This Master's programme takes place in 4 countries: Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium. In my cohort were people from all over the world: the United States of America, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Netherlands, Kosovo, Tajikistan, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. In total, 20 students travelled together from one country to another. That was something I really liked because we were all going through the same situations and had the opportunity to meet all the classmates, unlike in other Erasmus programmes. Moreover, in the final semester, which was focused on the thesis, we were able to choose one of the 4 countries or any other partner country related to the programme. It was such a unique experience getting to know different countries and cultures, as well as sharing it with such amazing people, that made the 2 years unforgettable.

Erasmus+ Scholarship Details

The Erasmus+ scholarship for the Master's in Applied Ecohydrology (MAEH) covered travel expenses (up to 3000 euros depending on the country), one-off installation (1000 euros), and a monthly allowance (1000 euros). The four main institutions involved are:

The University of Algarve, the University of Lodz, the Technische Hochschule Lübeck, and the University of Antwerp.

Educational Background

At Zamorano University, my class rank was 5/313, and my GPA was 3.827. Moreover, I was awarded the best thesis of the Department of Environmental Engineering.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Institutions?

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and Institutions?

A professor at my university shared another Erasmus+ program, and I researched the others available.

 Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the TOEFL, bought a book about it, and in 4 weeks prepared for the test.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Erasmus+ Scholarship?

As soon as I knew I wanted to apply for that specific programme, I immediately looked over the requirements and started gathering the requested documents: CV, letters of recommendation, letter of motivation, TOEFL test, and transcript of records. With the help of a certified translator, I obtained my diploma in English.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or the Countries' Native Languages? 

The classes at the four universities were conducted in English. As a bonus, in Portugal, Poland, and Germany, we had the opportunity to learn the basics of those countries' languages.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I would say it was not just one particular thing that made my application stand out. In fact, it was the combination of my CV, my motivational letter and the two recommendation letters. First, it was due to the strong educational background and professional experience I presented in my CV. Secondly, I demonstrated my motivation for the Programme and explained how the knowledge and skills gained would be valuable in addressing water-related problems in my country. Lastly, I would say it was the two recommendation letters, one from one of my thesis advisors at Zamorano University and the other from my supervisor during my internship at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would have done everything the same way, getting everything that was asked for as soon as possible and, at the same time, researching the countries where the programme takes place to get an idea of how I was going to divide the scholarship per country.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I would say not to hesitate and apply. Sometimes you might feel overwhelmed about leaving your country, or even your continent, for a completely different culture, far away from home and what you are used to. It is scary at first, and even trying to pack your life into 1 or 2 suitcases feels strange, but in the end, it is more than worth it to step outside and chase your dreams! It is an amazing experience to learn about other cultures, people, and different points of view; at the same time, you are gaining valuable knowledge that will help you grow and develop as a professional.