Erasmus Mundus BIOPHAM Student Ceren Güngör from Türkiye Shares Her Journey of Studying Across Italy, Spain, France, and Poland

Hello all! I am Ceren Güngör from Türkiye. I am 26 at the moment. I completed the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree BIOPHAM (Biopharmaceutical Material Science), which is a collaborative master's program between the University of Pisa (Italy), the Polytechnic University of Catalunya (Spain), the University of Lille (France), and the University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland). I chose BIOPHAM because I have a Bioengineering Bachelor’s degree, which is a multidisciplinary field, and I thought the courses I have taken aligned with the BIOPHAM program. Also, I have a special interest in biopharmaceutical research.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Details

I received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, which was 1000 euros per month. Also, it had additional stipends such as travel costs and installation costs. I know that currently (2026-2027) the scholarship amount has been increased per month.

Educational Background

I majored in Bioengineering at Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH), in Turkiye. I graduated with a 3.5/4 GPA as an Honour Student. Since it is a multidisciplinary degree, I thought it was closely aligned with the BIOPHAM syllabus.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Institutions?

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and Institutions

I found the BIOPHAM program in the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue. In this catalogue, there are many different Erasmus Mundus programs in different fields, and all of them have different requirements, so you have to conduct comprehensive research. The good thing with the Erasmus Mundus programs it comes with a scholarship, so you do not have to apply for an extra scholarship. Here is the link for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's program.

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

In my case, to apply for the BIOPHAM program, it was not required to take an extra language certificate since I studied 100% of my major in English. But this is not always the case with other Erasmus Mundus programs, so it is good to double-check.

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

I carefully read all the requirements on the BIOPHAM program website and prepared my documents for the application. And for the interview, I didn’t study that much. However, in the interview, you have to be certain about why you chose this master's and how it is aligned with your Bachelor’s. It is really important.

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

All of my classes were in English.

What Did You Pursue After the Scholarship? (Work, Further Study, Research, or Something Else?) 

After completing the BIOPHAM Master’s degree, I started as a predoctoral researcher at IQS (Chemical Institute of Sarria), which is located in Barcelona.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing the Native Language of the Country

I don’t think you will have problems academically if you do not know the language of the country, since all of the classes are conducted in English. But you will have (for sure) bureaucratic problems, but it is a part of the journey :) There is always someone in the institute who can help you.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think my high GPA played a big role. Also, during my Bachelor’s, I had a lot of extracurricular activities, and I worked voluntarily in different research laboratories in my school. I think I can say I never skipped a summer without being an intern :)

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

Check the curriculum of the program thoroughly, because it is very important. In my case, the BIOPHAM program had a lot of physics classes, and I didn’t have the background for that, and some classes were super hard for me. It was okay at the end, but still, the struggle was real. Additionally, don’t forget to enjoy every moment and don’t stress out too much.

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

First of all, double-check the requirements for your desired Erasmus Mundus Program and check the application timeline; the programs generally have two call periods. In most cases, you should submit your application between October and January for courses starting the following academic year.

Second of all, be certain about why you chose this program and be confident in yourself.

Last of all, just enjoy the process. It is not just a master’s program but an amazing experience that you can have once in your life. You meet other people around the world and learn about different cultures. Do not stress too much and don’t forget to enjoy the journey!