How a Pakistani Scholar Earned Fully Funded Master's Degrees in Physics and Biopharmaceutical Materials Through the Turkiye Burslari and Erasmus Mundus Scholarships

I am Shehneela Jamil from Bahawalnagar, Pakistan. With a passion for multidisciplinary research, I am honored to have undergone international education and training through fully funded, prestigious master's scholarships, including Turkiye Burslari (TBBS) and Erasmus Mundus (EMJMD) BIOPHAM. The deep-dive journey of pursuing a double master’s degree has been nothing short of rewarding for the young Shehneela, who aspired to find therapeutic solutions for some near and dear suffering from incurable diseases. Her questions were: Why is it so expensive, and why is there no cure? Driven by curiosity and a strong desire to help the community via research in therapeutic solutions, I applied for international scholarship opportunities for personal and professional growth. Thus, combining my passion for travel and helping others with my long-term career goals.

Details on Turkiye Burslari Scholarship (TBBS) – Selection year 2019

To fulfill my dream of pursuing a master's degree abroad, I applied for several scholarships, including the Commonwealth, TWAS, CGS, and Turkiye Burslari Scholarship (TBBS). Among all of them, TBBS felt like the least likely option due to its intense competition. However, from receiving the interview invitation in May 2019 to opening the award email from TBBS-YTB on my birthday in July 2019, the entire experience became one of the sweetest memories of my application journey.

As a recipient of this prestigious international scholarship, which covered travel expenses, tuition fees, a Turkish language course, health insurance, and accommodation along with a generous monthly stipend, I left Pakistan with confidence and a deep sense of assurance.

Although Ege University was my third choice during the application process, studying for a Master's in Physics in Izmir—the city of beautiful sunsets—turned out to be one of the best outcomes of the TBBS selection and placement. As a TBBS scholar, I had the privilege of learning Turkish up to the C2 level during my preparatory year, alongside incredible classmates from around the world.

Throughout my stay, I actively participated in academic and social projects to strengthen both my intellectual and interpersonal skills. Turkey’s academic and social infrastructure in universities, supported by different government ministries, offered numerous free courses that enriched my learning experience. I am proud to have made the most of my three years in Türkiye.

ERASMUS MUNDUS JOINT MASTER'S DEGREE (EMJMD) Bio&Pharmaceutical Materials Science (BIOPHAM) – Cohort 2022-2024

To further enhance my understanding of biopharmaceuticals, I pursued a second master's degree under a fully-funded EMJMD BIOPHAM scholarship. Meeting with all BIOPHAM colleagues and the consortium in the BIOPHAM integration week was a great bonding experience. BIOPHAM provides two tracks, including soft and condensed matter, in which one can choose the coursework accordingly. Moreover, considering the pharmaceutical industry demands, BIOPHAM also further sub-categorizes the main tracks into experimental and simulation-based training. Therefore, coursework and training within BIOPHAM are highly multidisciplinary at the interface of physics, chemistry, and material engineering, complementing both experimental and computational aspects of research.

The first year involved extensive theoretical and practical training on biomaterials, nanotechnology, soft & condensed matter, and materials characterization at the University of Pisa, Italy, and the University of Polytechnic Catalunya, Spain. In the specialization year, I opted for the experimental soft matter track and carried out my specialization semester at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. Taking advantage of mobility, I resided in 5 different countries within 2 years, thus adding greatly to my interpersonal skills and cultural exposure.

Educational Background

I completed my BS (Hons) in Physics from the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. I experienced overnight fame in the department after scoring a perfect 4.00/4.00 CGPA in the first semester—a milestone that came with the fun challenge of maintaining and exceeding that standard.

With a growing interest in the medical and health industry, I chose to major in Medical Physics. During my specialization year, I developed a strong understanding of radiotherapy and the biological effects of radiation, which deepened my knowledge of the role of physics in cancer treatment practices.

Alongside academic excellence, I actively participated as a volunteer in various departmental roles and events, maintaining a well-rounded student profile. I graduated with third rank in my class, earning a final CGPA of 3.91/4.00.

The major in Medical Physics broadened my perspective and gave me a clear direction to pursue further studies related to therapeutic technologies and the healthcare industry.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Institutions?

During the application process, the requirement to take the IELTS test was a major limiting factor for me, as it is the case for many applicants, due to the high cost. However, my mother’s encouragement and her words, “Consider it an investment in yourself,” were enough to motivate me. With that support, I prepared for and appeared in the exam within a month.

I approached the preparation strategically. Each day, I practiced at least two exercises from the writing, reading, and listening sections. To improve my speaking and overcome shyness, I built stories around my daily activities and recorded my responses to speaking cue cards, focusing on staying within the given time limits. All of my study materials came from free online resources, including YouTube and various websites.

To gain a better understanding of the British Council’s testing format, I also joined an academy for a week of mock test practice, which proved helpful. When it came to answering the important question, “When are you ready for the test?” I relied on my practice scores. Since the target score was 6.0 bands, I waited until I consistently scored at least 8.0 bands in practice sessions before registering for the exam.

In the end, I passed the IELTS on my first attempt with an overall score of 7.0 bands.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the TBBS Scholarship?

I first learned about fully funded scholarship opportunities abroad during the sixth semester of my bachelor's studies. With no prior knowledge or guidance from family or seniors, I turned to the internet, endlessly scrolling through scholarship websites and social media platforms. Despite having exams at the time, my silent dedication to scholarship hunting never stopped. During one of these searches, I discovered that applications for the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship (TBBS) were open. I immediately began preparing my profile on the application portal, carefully filling in all the required personal and academic details. Once that was completed, I proceeded to the graduate program scholarship section. This part of the application included seven questions, including a research topic and a short proposal for the research I aimed to pursue during my master’s studies. I designed the proposal with care and had it reviewed by a scholarship mentor I had connected with via Facebook. When selecting universities, I conducted thorough research on the departments and ongoing research activities to ensure a good match with my interests. I submitted the application at least a week before the deadline, ensuring that all information was accurate and well-composed. For the interview, I went prepared and answered the panel’s questions based on the content of my submitted application.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the EMJMD BIOPHAM Scholarship?

After being selected for the TBBS scholarship, I began actively engaging on social media platforms as a mentor to support new applicants seeking scholarships and guidance through the application process. During one of these volunteer efforts, I stumbled upon the Erasmus Mundus project website, and, on its last page, I discovered the EMJMD BIOPHAM program. At the time, I was already working in a molecular biophysics lab and developing a strong interest in biopharmaceuticals, so I couldn't resist applying. I told myself I would rather try than regret not taking the chance. The BIOPHAM application required specific questions to be answered, particularly focusing on the applicant’s motivation and expectations for the program. I took great care in articulating my passion for the project and aligning it with my research interests and background. I had no hope of being selected due to the intense competition, especially since I was considered a "Programme Country" candidate, having studied in Turkey for over 12 months. Receiving the interview invitation from the BIOPHAM coordinator was a joyful surprise. However, the selection process involved both an oral interview and a technical assessment with test questions in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. To prepare, I reviewed my bachelor-level textbooks and studied intensely. I successfully completed both the oral and technical parts of the interview, which became another memorable milestone in my scholarship application journey.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

When applying to academic programs, I always prioritize those that closely align with my research interests. I dedicate significant effort to writing motivation letters and statements of purpose, ensuring that I clearly articulate my goals and demonstrate how they resonate with the program’s objectives. Through this approach, I have developed a strong track record in multidisciplinary research, particularly in the fields of soft matter physics and biopharmaceuticals.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

Nothing at all. It has been a valuable learning journey, and I truly believe that everything happened exactly as it was meant to.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Applying for a scholarship is in your hands. Put 100% effort into expressing and explaining yourself clearly throughout the process via error-free writing to convey your skills and goals. What matters most is going through the application journey with sincerity. In the end, you're still a winner if you can use the knowledge gained to help someone else, regardless of whether you're selected or not.