From Pakistan to Europe: Saad’s Fully Funded Erasmus Mundus EDISS Master’s Experience

I’m Saad Waseem from Pakistan, with an academic and professional background in Computer Science. I had the incredible opportunity to be part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) Programme on the Engineering of Data-intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS), which took me across Finland and Sweden between 2022 and 2024. This multicultural, multi-academic journey has not only shaped my professional outlook but also enriched my worldview in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

Educational Background

Before joining Erasmus Mundus, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Government College University Lahore, Pakistan. My prior academic work in data mining and information retreival, professional work in web engineering and open source contributions laid a solid foundation, particularly in areas like software development, research and proposal writing, and communication. It also helped me adapt quickly to the academic demands and cultural shifts of studying in multiple countries.

How Did you Prepare to Apply for Erasmus Mundus Scholarship?

To prepare for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship (EDISS), I updated my resume to clearly highlight my academic achievements, work experience, certifications, and awards. I secured recommendation letters from professors who could vouch for my research skills and academic commitment, along with an experience letter from my employer to validate my professional background. I also included a letter confirming my contributions to open-source projects and documented my volunteer and community service activities to demonstrate social engagement. Additionally, I prepared a video script to clearly present my academic journey, relevant professional experiences, and future aspirations. I believe careful alignment of my profile with the program's objectives, backed by credible supporting documents, made my application stronger and more competitive.

In addition to Erasmus Mundus, I considered scholarships such as the Swedish Institute (SI) scholarship and DAAD, but ultimately chose Erasmus Mundus for its unique mobility structure and generous financial support.

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

EDISS is an Erasmus Mundus programme jointly delivered by Åbo Akademi University, Finland; University of the Balearic Islands, Spain; University of L’Aquila, Italy; and Mälardalen University, Sweden. The programme promises to bridge the gap between data science and software engineering by bringing together data scientists and software engineers in order to engineer data-intensive intelligent software systems. EDISS is a perfect blend of research work, consisting of coursework in data science, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and software engineering, and hands-on experience through a summer internship and industrial thesis work.

For all EDISS scholars, the first year is hosted by Åbo Akademi University, and for the second year, students go to partner universities based on the specialization that they want to pursue.

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?

I have stayed in Finland and Sweden during my master's studies, and I would say in my experience cost of living in Finland was more affordable than in Sweden. In Finland, there are good student housing facilities available, and at the universities, students also get affordable lunch prices. For groceries, the prices can vary from one supermarket to another, but you will get plenty of information on how to manage your expenses and necessities as soon as you become part of local student organizations.

In Sweden, student accommodation is generally expensive as comapred to Finland. No special lunch prices. Student discounts might help a little at different resturants and sports facilities but generally I found Sweden slightly expensive than Finland.

Regardless of the country, Erasmus provides you full educational support, monthly stipend, health and travel insurance that will ease your stay and give you more time to focus on studies and personal development. In conclusion, if you budget your expenses smartly the stipend will be sufficient for your monthly needs.

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 both countries Finland and Sweden, English is widely spoken so I did not face any language barriers. EDISS being an international programme teaches all courses in English. However, I would recommend taking language courses to understand the culture and to expand your opportunities regarding internships and potential research work that sometimes require basic Finnish or Swedish language skills.

Side Note: If you are planning on choosing Italy or Spain for second year specialization then learning the relevant language definitely helps as the language barrier is higher in those countries. Remember! Duolingo is your best friend for learning a new language.

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

Absolutely! Erasmus experience is more than studying a master's degree. The exposure that you get through EDISS is transformative and equips you with lifelong skills. You will meet many amazing colleagues who will enhance your world view, and you will definitely feel more multicultural.

If you have an educational gap like me, I advise you to sit down with yourself and scroll through all the activities that you did during your bachelor’s degree and professional work, and weave the most relevant experiences together to make your application stand out. Remember! It's your story and only you can present it in the best possible way. Of course, you can get your application reviewed by an alumnus or a friend, but be careful with and keep your personality intact in terms of writeup (Here I am referring to motivation letter/video) – it demonstrates authenticity and self-confidence. And whoever is reading this blog post, good luck with your application.

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

Looking back, I wish I had documented my academic and social experiences more thoroughly, capturing the unique moments and lessons from each country. I also feel I could have focused more on building stronger collaborations with industry partners to enhance my professional network and gain more practical exposure.