Erasmus Mundus Scholar from Pakistan Shares Journey Through Portugal, UK, and Spain in Power Systems Program

Hi, I’m Muhammad Hamza from Karachi, Pakistan. I completed my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at NED University of Engineering and Technology. After graduating, I joined K-Electric Ltd., the only vertically integrated utility company in Pakistan as a Management Trainee Officer through their flagship Emerging Talent Programme in October 2021. I was later promoted to Assistant Manager (Network Analytics) in the Smart Grid department, where I worked on distribution strategy and analytics. After that, I transitioned into a role as a Senior Business Operations and Strategy Analyst at Dastgyr Technologies, one of the leading startups in the region.

Currently, I’m pursuing a master’s degree through the Erasmus Mundus program in Sustainable Transportation and Electrical Power Systems. Through this program, I’ve had the opportunity to study in Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Spain, further building my expertise in electrical power systems.

Educational Background

During my Bachelor's, my studies were heavily focused on electrical engineering, and I graduated with distinction, earning a stellar CGPA of 3.93/4.00. At the same time, I was always curious about software engineering and entrepreneurial skills. Over those four years, I actively participated in various civic tech hackathons where we worked on solving real-world civic issues using a combination of people, business, and engineering skills. These experiences gave me a strong understanding of how people from different backgrounds can come together, collaborate, and build solutions through technology. They also helped me form meaningful connections with a diverse range of individuals.

Additionally, since all of my education has been in English, it played a crucial role in reducing the communication barriers I might have faced during my Erasmus journey.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Institution?

Before applying to Erasmus Mundus, I was also considering the Fulbright Scholarship. However, I ultimately chose Erasmus Mundus because it offered the opportunity to study and work in Europe, particularly in fields related to leading renewable energy technologies.

To create a strong application for the Erasmus Mundus program, I focused on a few key steps:

1. Shortlisting programs that matched my expertise and career goals.
2. Researching the consortium universities to understand their research areas and how they aligned with my interests.
3. Studying the course structure carefully to identify subjects that resonated with my aspirations.
4. Writing a motivation letter that connected my background and goals with the consortium’s strengths, making my application more compelling.
5. Requesting recommendation letters well in advance, and importantly, reaching out to people who could write personalized, detailed letters rather than generic ones (pro tip: always choose recommenders who know your work well!).
6. Taking the IELTS exam, since proof of English proficiency is a common requirement across Erasmus Mundus programs.
7. Preparing a Europass CV, keeping it within two pages, and including:
   • Education and Training (also listing online courses under training),
   • Work Experience,
   • Projects,
   • Digital Skills,
   • Publications,
   • Honours and Awards,
   • Volunteer Experience.
8. Getting feedback by having my motivation letter, CV, and recommendation letters reviewed by someone who had already been selected for Erasmus Mundus to help refine and strengthen my application.

My application stood out because I highlighted my practical experience in smart grids, which aligned perfectly with what the consortium was looking for. I also expressed a strong desire to pursue my master's thesis with one of their research groups, which made my motivation even more convincing.

Could you briefly discuss the Erasmus Mundus program you pursued and the specific field of study it focused on?

I was fortunate to be selected for three different Erasmus Mundus programs, but I ultimately chose STEPS (Sustainable Transportation and Electrical Power Systems). The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Sustainable Transportation and Electrical Power Systems (STEPS JMD) is designed to provide advanced education for training highly qualified electrical and electronic engineers. It focuses on two major areas within the energy sector: Electrical Transportation and Power Systems, with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability.

My chosen specialization, Electrical Power Systems, is geared toward addressing the growing academic and industry demand in this sector. It focuses on power electronics and their applications within power systems, alongside the design, analysis, and operation of these systems. The program also offers a Sustainable Transportation strand, which centers on power electronics and energy management for electric vehicles and other mobility-related technologies.

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?

In my experience, the cost of living varied quite a bit across the countries I studied in.

My first semester was in Portugal, which turned out to be the most affordable. I rented a room just two minutes away from both a supermarket and my university for only 250 EUR per month (all bills included), making daily life very convenient and budget-friendly. I found the accommodation through Uniplaces, a useful platform for finding student housing.

For my second semester, I moved to Nottingham in the United Kingdom, which was by far the most expensive. The UK has been significantly affected by inflation, so both housing and living costs were quite high compared to other European countries. I rented a very small room, just big enough for a single bed and a desk, for about 390 GBP per month (all bills included), and that was actually the cheapest option available at the time. Food and other living expenses were also noticeably more expensive. For anyone planning to study there, I’d recommend checking platforms like Zoopla or Rightmove to find affordable accommodation options.

Currently, for my third and fourth semesters, I'm studying in Spain. Here, my rent is around 300 EUR per month, and both food and general living costs are moderate compared to Portugal and the UK. If you’re looking for a place in Spain, Idealista is a great website to search for budget-friendly housing.

Financially, the Erasmus Mundus program provides a generous support package: 1000 EUR per month for living expenses, plus a 3000 EUR yearly travel and installation allowance. This has been more than enough to comfortably cover all my costs across the different countries.

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?

In the UK, I didn’t face any language barriers since the language of instruction and daily communication was English, which I was already fluent in. However, in Portugal and Spain, even though the courses were taught in English, having a basic understanding of Portuguese and Spanish was definitely helpful for day-to-day tasks like buying groceries, paying bills, or asking for directions.

To overcome this, I used Duolingo to pick up basic phrases and conversational skills, and I found it to be a really effective and convenient tool. Just knowing a little bit of the local language made life a lot easier and helped me feel more connected to the local culture.

Would you recommend the Erasmus Mundus program to others? What advice would you give to someone considering this scholarship?

I would absolutely recommend the Erasmus Mundus program to anyone who is considering it. It’s a life-changing experience - not just academically, but personally as well. You get the chance to study at some of the best universities in Europe, immerse yourself in different cultures, build a global network, and grow both professionally and personally.

For anyone thinking about applying, my biggest advice would be to start early. Take the time to carefully research the programs that align with your goals, tailor your motivation letter to each consortium by showing a genuine connection with their work, and make sure your application is well-organized and polished. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of strong recommendation letters, reach out to people who know you well and can write something specific and personalized.

Finally, be open-minded and ready to adapt to different environments. Moving between countries, learning new languages, and adjusting to different cultures can be challenging at times, but it’s all part of the incredible learning journey that Erasmus Mundus offers.

Looking back, would you have done anything differently during your time in the program?

Looking back, I’m really happy with how my Erasmus Mundus journey has gone so far, but if I could do one thing differently, I would probably try to learn the local languages (Portuguese and Spanish) - a bit more seriously from the start. Even though basic phrases were enough for everyday tasks, having a better grasp of the language would have allowed me to connect more deeply with local people and experience the culture on a different level.

I would also have tried to get involved earlier in university activities and networking events. Balancing studies, travel, and new experiences can get overwhelming, but making those extra connections really enriches the whole experience and opens up even more opportunities.