Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Biomedical Engineering (EMMBIOME) Scholar, Sayyidah Humairah, Shares Her Journey of Studying Across Serbia, Greece, and Romania

My name is Sayyidah Humairah, currently pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Master's in Biomedical Engineering (EMMBIOME), within 3 countries: Serbia, Greece, and Romania. My bachelor’s background is in Informatics. I have been very interested in applying my knowledge in the healthcare domain, and chose this program to learn more about this domain. Also, I always enjoy working in a heterogeneous environment, and this program is no exception.

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

I did not apply for other scholarships. I’m already interested in how many benefits I would get from Erasmus Mundus (eg, fully funded, international networks, & flexibility after graduation).

In my intake, we were informed there were around 1000 applicants, and 18 were selected for the scholarship. Even if I’m not from a Biomedical Engineering background, like some of my colleagues, I did well in my background major & demonstrated some projects related to Biomedical Engineering. Also, during selection, I showed that I already had some plans about research I wanted to deepen during the program, and I emphasized my background skills necessary for the healthcare domain I target. In other words, I know the direction I am aiming to go.

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

My EMJM program is in Biomedical Engineering, so it actually involves varied fields of study. Roughly here, we can choose different focuses, such as more into the biology side that involves wet lab, computational side, or more into design/hardware, all is to contribute to the healthcare domain.

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?

The living cost varies across countries; Greece is the most expensive, and Serbia & Romania are more affordable and slightly similar. I think it's a universal experience that it’s more about compensation among the needs. When the housing price is high, I try to spend less on other things, and vice versa. However, I think the scholarship allowance (1.400 eur) is sufficient for me.

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?

No language barriers in the academic environment; the instruction is in English for all countries. But sometimes, when interacting with locals, the barriers exist. But it’s not a big deal, as I grasped some common words, and Google Translate exists

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

For sure, I would highly recommend it. To those considering applying, know your strengths, and define a specific part of your experience/skill to be highlighted more. I & some of my colleaguesand I  applied for this program even before graduating from bachelor’s. We applied when we were still doing our thesis. But we were showcasing our abilities and aligning our experiences, our interests, and the program's interests. So, basically, finding the intersection. It’s good to remember that it’s not only about us as applicants, but we need to align it with the program’s point of view.

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

To do differently, I think I’d start reaching out to professors/labs as soon as possible, to join a research project. And surely, going outside & exploring the countries & traveling more while I can