How a French Sociology Graduate Earned the Fully Funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to Pursue a Master’s in Transition, Innovation and Sustainability Environments Across Four European Universities

Hi! I’m Eline, I’m 24 years old, and I am originally from France. I have a BA in Sociology-Ethnology with an extra in Journalism. I am currently in my first year of the Erasmus Mundus MSc Transition, Innovation and Sustainability Environments (friends call it TISE). My first semester was in Lisbon, Portugal, a real taste of vacation by the beach, while my second semester was in Dublin, a real taste of…uh… rain. As I am writing this, I am doing my mandatory summer internship and looking forward to my next two semesters in Poznań (Poland) and Krems (Austria).

Educational Background

What helped me the most in my bachelor's degree in Sociology to handle an Erasmus Mundus program is, ironically, the times I wasn’t there, aka my Erasmus. I had the huge privilege to spend my third year abroad in Berlin. That year was very formative and prepared me for the experience that is a master’s abroad. It also helped me with language skills and general cultural awareness. Additionally, on a smaller scale, I believe going to uni and moving out of my parents’ house in my first year also helped me be more responsible and independent.

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

I applied for one scholarship only, and got it (extremely lucky, or perhaps good at applications, who knows?). The reason I sent only one application was that the process was very long and hard to handle, coupled with my 9-to-5. The application to TISE consisted of a couple of ID papers, school records I had to get translated from French (an expensive process), so far so good, but also an introduction video, two recommendation videos, a letter of motivation, a Europass CV, and an essay. Making all of these took a lot of time and energy. In 2024, 4% of applications to my program were selected. I was unsure of my odds because Europeans make up less than a third of the cohort. I believe my application stood out because 1 I put a lot of work into it, 2 I insisted on my extracurriculars, and 3 I tailored it to the program description given on the website.

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

The MSc in Transition, Innovation and Sustainability Environments I’m pursuing is a transdisciplinary programme that focuses on sustainable and resilient social, business, communication, and technological processes. TISE is conducted within four universities: Universidade Nova de Lisboa - Portugal, University College Dublin - Ireland, Poznan University of Business and Economics - Poland, and Donau-Universität Krems - Austria.

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?

The cost of living varies, while the scholarship is constant is a challenge. For now, I’ve lived in Lisbon, which was a small challenge for housing, but the prices were alright. Then, I lived in Dublin, which was very different. Dublin is facing a terrible housing crisis. I lived far from campus and had to commute in unreliable buses, while still spending more than ¾ of my scholarship on rent. Because the semester was only 4 months, I never had difficulty paying my rent or groceries, but I came close, and I know my classmates did too.

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?

I did not face any major language barriers. Life was, of course, easier in Dublin because everyone speaks English, but even in Portugal, you learn how to mime asking for a bus ticket or to pull up Google Translate in less than 2 seconds.

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

I would absolutely recommend an Erasmus Mundus program, mine or honestly any other programs. Moving abroad is, for lack of a better word, awesome. It changes your perspective on life, helps you grow up, and makes you meet some of your favourite people in the world.

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

Honestly, no! I believe I have found, for now, the right balance between studying and partying, enjoying my program’s opportunities.