How a Nigerian Scholar Secured the Fully Funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for a Master’s in PANGEA and Advanced to a PhD at UT Austin

My name is Gabriel Ojo, and I am presently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, United States. My research uses foraminifera, stable isotopes, and geophysical methods to study paleoceanographic changes. My background includes diverse roles in biostratigraphy (foraminifera, radiolarians, and calcareous nannoplankton), geographical information science (GIS), and geophysics. I hold a B.Sc. in Geology from Osun State University in Nigeria and an Erasmus Mundus master’s degree in PANGEA (Paleontology, Geoheritage, and Applications) from the Université of Lille in France and the National University of Athens in Greece.

Educational Background

Prior to joining the Erasmus Mundus program, I obtained a bachelor's degree in Geology at Osun State University in Nigeria. My Geology major gave me a solid background for the Erasmus Mundus Program. During my undergraduate study, I concentrated on getting a solid knowledge in historical geology particularly in the fields of paleontology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, sedimentary basins, and depositional environments. My major in Geology also exposed me to a host of analytical techniques ranging from thin-section microscopy in sediments, fossil preparation (mainly foraminifera, and to a lesser extent ostracods) and recognition in thin sections, and applications in biostratigraphy, and deductions of sedimentary environments. My thesis was focused on Environmental Geology where I conducted an environmental impact assessment of soils and ground water in the vicinity of a cemetery. I looked out for biological contaminants, groundwater pollution and poor graded soils. I got the thesis published and finished my bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of 4.82/5.0 and the top graduating student of my class. After my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a GIS Intern where I also obtained a professional certification in Advanced GIS. These experiences prepared me to face the demands of the Erasmus Mundus program. Additionally, Nigeria is a diverse country with 371 ethnic groups and over 500 languages, so it wasn’t difficult to navigate the multi-cultural environment that Europe offers. It was quite enjoyable, making new and interesting discoveries while in Europe, with each country quite unique, and steeped in history.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Lille University and Other Institutions?

 My first application for the Erasmus Mundus Program in PANGEA was unsuccessful. Although I was a potential candidate, my first application only made the reserve list (top 3). I submitted the first application two days to the application deadline, so it was a bit of a rush work. However, I did not give up. I submitted a second application the following year, after completing my GIS Internship. This time, I spent a lot of hours navigating the program website and tailoring my essays and CV to the program requirement and curriculum. I highlighted how my academic background and experiences makes me the ideal candidate and about how studying the master’s program would help me make a meaningful impact in my home country. I also had mentors review my application essays. I was selected for the interview stage. To prepare for the interview, I had mock sessions with mentors, and it proved to be quite helpful. I passed the interview and got the official admission email shortly after.

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

For me it was quite clear I wanted to do a master’s degree first and not a direct PhD. So, I focused on the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and did not apply to any PhD programmes. I chose the Erasmus Scholarship because I relished the opportunity to study in multiple countries and earn a double master’s degree. I applied to three Erasmus Programmes; PANGEA, GEM, and Geospatial Technologies. I got admissions without scholarships for GEM and Geospatial Technologies while the PANGEA admission came with full scholarship. I believe my application to PANGEA stood out because I drafted compelling essays and took enough time to prepare. The PANGEA masters also had a direct relation to my bachelor’s degree (Geology) as opposed to GEM and Geospatial Technologies which were much more specialized and require coding skills, an area which I was lacking at the time.

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

The Erasmus Mundus program in PANGEA (Paleontology, Geoheritage, Applications) provides specialised training in applied paleontology, paleobiology, and geoconservation. It is offered by a consortium of four (4) institutions: University of Lille in France, National and Kaposdistrian University of Athens in Greece, University of Minho in Portugal, and the Upsala University in Sweden. My mobility track, being Applied Paleontology, entails the use of microfossils as proxies for past climates, oceanographic and environmental changes. This track is offered by the French and Greece University. For more information, refer to link below: https://master-pangea.eu/mobility-tracks-degrees/

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?

My master’s training was held in France and Greece. Both countries were affordable as a scholarship student. France was more expensive but offered social benefits to students such as housing assistance payments, and health care assistance. In Greece, the cost of goods and service were much cheaper. Financially, I had no problem as I was able to get by with my stipends in Greece and received socials benefits in France.

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?

My Erasmus Master’s program was taught entirely in English, in all participating universities. While in France, I picked up a lot of French to get by because most of the locals prefer to communicate in the native language. For the first few weeks, I used ‘google translator’ a lot. In the university environment, English is spoken among international students. My colleagues were from different parts of the world, so we all communicated in English. However, I also prioritised learning French as I wanted to be able communicate with natives and make new friends. In Greece, most of the locals understood English but I also learned a few Greek words.

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

Yes, I would certainly recommend the Erasmus Mundus Program to any student. It was life changing for me and was pivotal to me securing a PhD admission. Aside from the opportunity to earn a double master’s degree, I was able to explore many countries in Europe. It was full of excitement and experiences. For someone interested in applying, my biggest advice would be to start preparing early, take your time to navigate the program website and prepare a good application essay. Also, allow others review your essays if possible. Getting more experience such as internships will be helpful especially for students with low grades.

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

I made sure to maximize every second during my time in the program, both in the classroom and outside. I also did internships and publish a paper during the master’s program. But I guess traveling to more countries in Europe would have been nice.