How a Bangladeshi Chemical Engineer Earned the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to Study Hydrogen Systems Across Italy and Norway Through the HySET Program

My name is Rashed Sayem. I am from Bangladesh. I did my bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from Tianjin University, China. My Erasmus Mundus Program name is HySET. Its full form is Hydrogen Systems and Enabling Technologies. I spent my first two semesters at Politecnico di Torino, Italy, where I studied Electrochemical Principles. In my 3^rd semester, I attended NTNU, Norway, where I studied hydrogen safety. Right now, I am doing my thesis on Hydrogen separation from ammonia mixture using a palladium membrane.

Educational Background

 I did my bachelor's in chemical engineering in China. So, I already had some experience with studies abroad. Tianjin was very cold. So, I got used to the cold weather as well. I also did another internship in India that further prepared me to get used to new countries.

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

I only applied for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. I have been preparing for the scholarship since I was a sophomore at Tianjin University. Some of my university seniors, who themselves got the scholarship, inspired me to apply to the Erasmus Mundus Programs. I started gathering information about different programs of the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. Then I started writing Motivation letters for different programs. First, I wrote a draft of the motivation letter. Then over the next two years, I kept editing my motivation letter to make it a better version. In the process, I took help from the current Erasmus Mundus students. I asked them to review my motivation letter and suggest edits. I believe my overall profile was strong enough to get the scholarship.

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

My program name is HySET. HySET is the first master's program in the field of hydrogen systems and related technologies. The five main universities in this program are: Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Our curriculum included hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, hydrogen transportation, and end use of hydrogen.

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?

Living cost in Italy was low. Italy is a pretty affordable country. But the scenario in Norway is quite the opposite. The living expenses here in Norway are the highest in the world. Trondheim is one of the top 20 most expensive cities in the world. Still, I did not have to opt for any part-time job. I just focused on my master's studies.

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 Italy, even though young people speak good English, the senior citizens do not speak any English. So, it was difficult at times. But, in Norway, almost 100% of people speak English.

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

Erasmus Mundus is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It not only prepares you for your future, but it also builds your character. It gives you so much, including: travelling to many countries, meeting new people, gathering memories worth a lifetime, and building networks in your own field that boost your career, and so on.

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

Erasmus Mundus program is very hard. You not only have theoretical studies, but you are also involved in some sophisticated projects. So, for this reason, I was always worried about studies and could not travel to Europe properly. I would recommend visiting Europe as much as possible, because this business will always be there and we need to make time for ourselves