How Jaodun Muntasir, a Bangladeshi Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s in Cybersecurity and Assurance (CYBERSURE) at Norwegian University of Science and Technology Through the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

My name is Jaodun Muntasir, and I'm from Bangladesh. I'm currently pursuing the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's in Cybersecurity and Assurance (CYBERSURE), specializing in Cryptography. I'll spend my semesters in Norway and Estonia.

I chose this field because, in the age of "vibe coding," the security of critical infrastructure is one of the most overlooked areas in tech. The cost of a breach is huge, especially for developing countries like Bangladesh, where the loss of personal data, privacy, and money is far from negligible, yet security is still often neglected. I wanted to focus my research on closing that gap, and CYBERSURE was the right program for it.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Details

I received the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. The program is coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and the scholarship amounts to €16,800 per year.

The CYBERSURE consortium comprises seven universities: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), Aalto University (Finland), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden), Technical University of Denmark (Denmark), University of Tartu (Estonia), Graz University of Technology (Austria), and EURECOM (France). Jaodun’s stated route is Norway and Estonia, with Cryptography as his specialization; this is distinct from the full consortium list.

Educational Background

I completed my bachelor's in Computer Science at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary, as a Stipendium Hungaricum scholar. Studying in Europe gave me access to security labs and research environments shaped by strict, well-enforced data privacy laws. I had the chance to work under some truly inspiring people and saw firsthand what meaningful work in this sector looks like. That experience made it easy to connect my goals to the Erasmus Mundus Programme's mission.

How Did You Find Information About Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and Norwegian University of Science and Technology?

Mainly through Google searches.

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

I took the IELTS and prepared on my own using online resources.

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

I used the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue, did my own online research, and studied the LinkedIn profiles of previous scholars from similar programs to understand what successful candidates looked like.

What Is the Language of Instruction?

In English.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Norwegian?

Not really. Norway is very international-friendly, and almost everyone speaks good English.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think it was the clear connection I built between my motivation, my background, and the program's goals, especially in my motivation letter.

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

Nothing, really. The application process was never overly complicated. If you align your application with the program's stated requirements, you should be fine.

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

• Take your time.
• Be honest.
• Connect your story to the program's goals as closely as you can.
• Don't be generic. Tailor your application to each program.
• Secure strong recommendation letters well in advance.