How a Tanzanian Student Received the Fully Funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to Pursue a Master’s in Intelligent Field Robotic Systems in Spain and Hungary

My name is Lisa Paul Magoti. I am from Tanzania. I am doing an Erasmus Mundus Master's in Intelligent Field Robotic Systems (still doing my last semester, completing this June). I studied in Spain and Hungary.

Educational Background

Before this, I did a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. For me, my previous degree was not as useful since my current program is more about computer programming than mechanical engineering.

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

Before applying for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, I had taken some coding and robotics classes and done some projects. I made sure they were related to the program because I knew which program I wanted to apply to.

I have just applied to this. I would say it is very competitive, and what stood out was probably my bachelor’s GPA, the personal courses and projects I had done, together with the reference letters written by my professors.

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

The program is focused on the software side of robotics, leaning mainly towards field robots (autonomous vehicles, drones, and underwater vehicles)

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?

Both Spain and Hungary were fairly cheap, and the scholarship money was more than enough to cover everything. But I would say Hungary was somehow cheaper(not very noticeable though, they are more or less the same).

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?

The language of instruction is always English. And as for Hungary, I was in Budapest, which is a city full of foreigners, and almost everybody speaks English, I don’t remember facing any issues because of not knowing Hungarian. For Spain, I would say Spanish is fairly important if you really want to experience the culture, that depends on the city, though. Barcelona is very international compared to other cities.

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

Yes, I would recommend the program to others. My advice would be to ensure you not just have good grades, but great recommendation letters, a statement of purpose, and a clear demonstration of how the things you have done fit the program are all really important. Show you have a passion for it.

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

I would travel more. Try to enjoy your life. You are not here to just study!