Indian Horticulture Graduate Wins Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to Study Agri-Food Systems in Europe

I am a first-year student in the Danube Agri-Food Masters Programme (DAFM), with a full Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. A 23-year-old from Tamil Nadu, India with a Bachelor's in Horticulture, I am currently studying at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague.

Educational Background

I studied my Bachelor's in Horticulture at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. It was a 4-year degree program with various field exposure visits and diverse experiences. As part of the Rural Horticultural Work Experience programme, I stayed in a village for 2 months, working closely with farmers. Through the ICAR-IDP program, I was selected for the International Internship Program, where I worked as a Research Intern at the Nanomaterials Laboratory at Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland for 2 months. These wide range of work experiences shaped me well for the international study process.

How Did You Prepare to Apply?

I had been preparing myself during the last two years of my undergraduate studies. I talked to seniors who had gone abroad, took up internships, completed as many extra courses as possible, prepared for IELTS, and participated in competitions. I also started analyzing early on which specific branch of agriculture I wanted to pursue further, which helped me apply in a streamlined fashion for the courses I was interested in.

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

I had also received an acceptance from Wageningen University for a Master's in Organic and Resilient Farming (without a scholarship). While there were multiple other Erasmus Mundus scholarships in Agriculture for Plant Breeding, Soil, Forestry, and Plant Health, I was sure that this was the only subject I was interested in, and I applied only to DAFM.

I think what worked well for me was that my experiences and motivations were streamlined. Strong letters of recommendation from my University Dean and my research supervisor were very helpful. I had a good IELTS score, strong grades in my Bachelor's, and relevant experiences.

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

The Danube Agrifood Masters is a two-year joint degree program, where you choose between Sustainable Agriculture and Food Technology as the major. It is offered across seven universities in Europe. For the first year, courses are offered either at MATE, Hungary, or CZU, Prague. We study a wide range of courses from Biochemistry to Livestock Management to Quality Assessment of Foods. Second-year courses are taken at one of the five partner universities in Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, or Slovakia. The Master's thesis is most often completed at the second-year university.

How Did the Cost of Living Vary Across the Countries You Studied In?

The Czech Republic is very affordable compared to the rest of Europe. The scholarship amount is more than enough to cover living expenses, with many student discounts for transportation and other services. From my classmates in Hungary, I’ve learned that living costs are very affordable there as well. Most of the universities in this program, being located in Eastern Europe have manageable living costs which are well-covered by the scholarship.

Did You Face Any Language Barriers?

As far as studies are concerned, there have been no language barriers at all. However, English is not widely spoken in the Czech Republic. It was difficult at the beginning to get around the city and to communicate with locals while shopping. Slowly learning a few common phrases and picking up some Czech through Duolingo has helped.

Would You Recommend the Erasmus Mundus Program to Others?

Definitely. It is one of the most generous scholarships for Master's students and offers a unique experience across multiple countries. I am able to study the course I’m passionate about without any financial worries. I’m very grateful for this scholarship.

My advice would be to start planning early. Figure out what subjects you're truly interested in. Do as much as you can to improve your CV, and get relevant internships or research experiences, however big or small, within or outside your university.