How Srinivasan Seshadri, an Indian Scholar, Secured a Partially Funded Master’s in Chemical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands Through the Amandus H. Lundqvist Talent Scholarship Program (ALSP)

My name is Srinivasan Seshadri, a native of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. I remember wondering who produced the toothpaste I used every day and, more importantly, how it was manufactured. This question led me to the field of chemical engineering, and I pursued my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at SASTRA Deemed University from 2017 to 2021. The penultimate year of my bachelor's was significant as I made the decision to pursue a postgraduate degree in the same field, kindled by my urge to explore and experience learning advanced subjects. However, it was not all safe and good, with COVID-19 collapsing the entire world and putting my initial ideas of post-graduation off-guard. But I was fortunate enough to have a research associate role at IIT Madras and later as a process design engineer at L&T Technology Services. Together, these experiences gave me around three years of exposure to both research and industrial process engineering. Through these years, I did not lose my urge and hope to do a post-graduation. Hence, I focused on completing two papers, a research paper and a review paper that I had taken up in my bachelor's and research associate stint with guidance and support from my professors.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)?

When I began seriously exploring universities for my master's, I did not restrict my search to a particular institution. I first looked at countries that offered strong opportunities in Chemical and Process Engineering, particularly countries where there was potential for both research and employment after graduation. The Netherlands particularly attracted me because of the importance of process industries within the European industrial landscape and their contribution to several global industries. The country also offered opportunities in process engineering, research, technology development, and design. After narrowing my search to the Netherlands, I compared universities based on two main factors: the financial implications of studying there and the academic exposure offered by the programme. While academic exposure can be subjective and depends on an individual's interests, these considerations eventually led me to Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). I also considered universities such as the University of Twente and Aalto University as alternatives. I was initially admitted to TU/e without a scholarship, despite having applied for one. At that stage, I was prepared to finance my education through an education loan. I had hoped that some tuition support might be available, but receiving a scholarship was never the sole motivation behind any of my academic or professional efforts.

How Did You Find Information About Amandus H. Lundqvist Talent Scholarship Program (ALSP)/Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)? Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? How Did You Prepare for Them?

As part of my admission requirements, I needed to demonstrate English proficiency through IELTS, with a minimum overall score of 6.0 and at least 5.5 in each section.

I did not find the IELTS particularly intimidating because I had completed my school education under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum, where English had always been an important part of my education. I prepared independently for a couple of months using free online resources, YouTube tutorials, and practice materials.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Amandus H. Lundqvist Talent Scholarship Program (ALSP)?

I received the Amandus H. Lundqvist Talent Scholarship Program (ALSP), through which my tuition fee was waived for 2 years of study. I also received €10,000 for my living expenses as part of this scholarship. Apart from this, I also received the Holland Scholarship (HS) from the TU/e and the Dutch Ministry of Culture, Education and Science, contributing €5,000 for my first year and €2,500 for my second year of living expenses. One of the most important aspects of my scholarship journey is that I cannot say that I followed a specific strategy to win these scholarships. In fact, I did not build my academic and professional profile specifically around scholarship applications.

How Do You Rate Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) Academically and Why?

As I am in the final phase of my master's, I feel it was a great opportunity for me to explore my field of interest, and I am proud to have done some work in it. From my experience, the university and my department have been a great place to be and learn. Academically, I would rate TU/e very highly. The university keeps pace with developments in science and technology, and a significant amount of research is driven by Master's and PhD students. The university's proximity to companies such as ASML and the High-Tech Campus Eindhoven also contributes to an environment where innovation, digitalisation and technology development receive considerable attention.

This high-tech orientation is one of the distinctive characteristics of TU/e. At the same time, students whose primary interests are in conventional pilot-scale or large-scale process engineering may find the academic environment somewhat different from universities or institutes that are more heavily focused on traditional process-scale research. For me, this difference was valuable because it provided exposure to another side of engineering and technology.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Dutch?

Although the Netherlands is a Dutch-speaking country, international students generally do not face significant academic difficulties because most Master's courses at TU/e are taught in English. This made the transition considerably easier for me.

How Does Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) Support International Students?

The university provides infrastructure and support systems that help international students adapt to their new academic and social environment. From my experience, there is considerable effort to make international students feel comfortable and integrated.

However, language becomes more important when looking beyond academics, particularly when entering the Dutch job market. While English is widely used in professional and academic environments, learning Dutch can provide an additional advantage, especially when applying for positions where interaction with local colleagues, clients, or organisations is involved.TU/e provides opportunities for students to learn Dutch at different levels, and I believe making use of such opportunities can be a worthwhile investment for international students planning to build their careers in the Netherlands.

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

I am currently standing on the verge of graduating with my degree, in search of possible opportunities in process engineering in the industry as well as on the research side. If I were to go through the process again, one thing I would certainly do differently is to publish my research work earlier. Because initially, I was not given any scholarship, and I believe the papers published could have added weightage in me securing the scholarship, even after paying my tuition fees in full. I could have saved the effort and money spent on obtaining a loan to pay the fees, which eventually were repaid to me.

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

I am currently standing on the verge of graduating with my degree, in search of possible opportunities in process engineering in the industry as well as on the research side. If I were to go through the process again, one thing I would certainly do differently is to publish my research work earlier. Because initially, I was not given any scholarship, and I believe the papers published could have added weightage in me securing the scholarship, even after paying my tuition fees in full. I could have saved the effort and money spent on obtaining a loan to pay the fees, which eventually were repaid to me.

It would be unfair of me to give advice to anyone currently searching for scholarships because I had not made any specific efforts to push myself towards it. In the process, knowingly or unknowingly, I had made a holistic development in my field of interest with constant efforts. This process reaped some fruit in terms of scholarship at this stage, with some fortune. The process may or may not always lead one to a tangible outcome, but the process one kicks in and sustains will land the person in a suitable place for growth, irrespective of the tangible by-products. So, rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, start the process, keep improving it as circumstances change, and let the outcomes follow. A scholarship may be one of them, but the skills and experiences you gain along the way are valuable regardless.

Cheers!