How a Nigerian Scholar Earned the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for a Master’s in African Studies Across Portugal, Germany, and France

I am Damilola Olorunshola, a Nigerian-born researcher, policy analyst, and low-key voyage queen. I was part of the Erasmus Mundus European Interdisciplinary Master's African Studies (EIMAS) programme. On the platform of EIMAS, I navigated three countries (Portugal, Germany, and France) and explored African development through a deeply interdisciplinary lens. My work focuses on the intersection of entrepreneurship, governance, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience in Africa, particularly Nigeria. But beyond the research, I’m just a curious, committed African woman asking: how do we build systems that work for everyone?

Educational Background 

Before EIMAS, I earned a BSc in Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE) at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. That interdisciplinary grounding planted the seeds for EIMAS, where you’re constantly navigating between disciplines, cultures, and ideas. It trained me to see connections between governance, economic policies, and real-world inequalities. Through PPE, I developed the mental flexibility to juggle complexity, hold multiple truths, and adapt. That grounding came through when I had to switch academic systems and adjust to new expectations in Portugal, Germany, and France. Also, I had already been researching small businesses and government policy, and those early academic pursuits shaped both my worldview and my professional path.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Institutions?

That’s the fun twist. I didn’t have to. One of the unique things about EIMAS is that it’s a jointly mounted programme with a pre-designed mobility path. The consortium, made up of Universität Bayreuth (Germany), Universidade do Porto (Portugal), and Université Bordeaux Montaigne (France), has already mapped out where you’ll study and when. So, you're not applying to individual universities separately. The only real flexibility comes at the thesis stage, where you can choose which of the three universities you want to write and defend your thesis in. So instead of juggling multiple applications, the focus was on crafting a compelling application for the programme itself. It streamlined the process and let me focus on the bigger picture of what I hoped to study and contribute. 

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

Honestly, the scholarship application process started with Google searches, and opportunities sent from my mentor and friends. I was particular about the modules, the institutions, and the location of the programmes I considered. I tailored my documents to the requirements of the application and the values and expectations of the programmes.

Apart from Erasmus Mundus, I applied for a few scholarships, including DAAD, Commonwealth, Chevening, and a few schools in the UK. I got several partial scholarships, but Erasmus Mundus stood out for one reason: it doesn’t just give you a degree, it gives you a journey. I loved that EIMAS was pan-European and collaborative.

And yes, it was very competitive. I was selected candidate of 500+ applications from Nigeria alone, to join a cohort of 14 students from across 5 continents. I believe my deeply personal motivation letter - drawing from my lived experiences growing up around women entrepreneurs in Lagos, and how that shaped my research and work on MSMEs – gave me an edge. My authenticity, impact, and vision made my application stand out.

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

So, imagine this: three countries, one suitcase (kind of), and a brain constantly rewiring itself. That’s EIMAS! It’s a beautifully chaotic, interdisciplinary exploration of Africa, its politics, cultures, histories, and economies. EIMAS focuses on African-centred theory, policy debates, and very real questions about power, identity, and justice.

The journey starts in Porto (Portugal), the second semester in Bayreuth (Germany), and the third in Bordeaux (France). You have the freedom to choose from any of the universities where you’d like to write your thesis for the fourth semester. I did my fourth semester at the Universität Bayreuth, where I wrote a thesis on how Africa’s MSMEs navigate climate crises using Nigeria as my study area.

Writing this thesis was the highlight of my EIMAS journey. Beyond earning a 1.0 (100%) grade, the work extended beyond academia, offering practical insights on how MSMEs can build resilience in the face of climate uncertainty.

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?

Let’s just say budgeting became a survival skill. Portugal was fairly affordable. Germany was balanced. France… let’s call it character-building. The monthly stipend was generous enough to cover a good chunk of living expenses.

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?

Absolutely. Each country brought a new linguistic puzzle. While courses were in English, everyday life wasn’t. I learned just enough Portuguese to get by in stores and to chat with the elderly receptionist on the ground floor of my Porto apartment. My German improved, and I did my best to fake confidence in French supermarkets. Duolingo, Google Translate, kind classmates, and laughing at my own mistakes helped me along the way.

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

This scholarship reshaped my worldview. It didn’t just fund my studies. If you’re curious, ambitious, and not afraid of cultural (and academic) discomfort, go for it. Advice? Don’t just apply because it’s prestigious. Apply because it aligns with who you are and who you’re becoming.

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

Maybe I’d take more naps. Maybe I’d document the journey more consistently. But no regrets. Every challenge was a stretch. Every city, a story. I’ve grown in ways that no single classroom could teach. I am a much more valuable person than I was before EIMAS.