Erasmus Mundus Scholar Timea Varga from Hungary Shares Her Journey Studying Sustainable Agriculture Across Europe Through the Danube AgroFood Masters (DAFM) Program

My name is Timea Varga, and I’m a project manager currently at Campden BRI Hungary. In the previous lot, I studied on a Sustainable Agriculture MSc through an Erasmus Mundus + scholarship program, titled Danube AgroFood Masters (DAFM). I studied in Prague and Zagreb for one year, respectively. Before and during my studies, I’ve been involved in various fields, roles, and projects. I worked in compliance roles in large companies, became a certified hatha yoga teacher, researched and created biodegradable plastic from vegetables, and took part in idea incubation programs. I worked in the startup ecosystem and supported the preparation and execution of entrepreneurship support programs funded by the EU. I also participated in ESG consulting projects from the early days, meaning it was challenging but highly educational to navigate the constantly changing regulatory environment, which was still in formulation. I built consulting projects to support strategies of education institutions and am constantly looking for ways to support young talent and professionals in transition. With my initiative, Village 21, which was launched in 2025. I appreciate people and believe that interactions, exposure, and curiosity drive learning and innovation.

Educational Background

I did my bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering in my home country In English. I think it helped to prepare for the challenge of getting used to constantly speaking the language and meeting a diverse group of people. I also did a different course before, which I left and shifted to agriculture. That decision definitely prepared me, because when you are met with challenges in life, you have to be prepared to evaluate and re-evaluate, trusting your intuition and rationality.

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

I tried to understand everything about the purpose of the scholarship, the countries involved, the unique strengths of countries and universities, and make sure to make it visible in my application that I see beyond opportunity - I see the utility, potential personal and societal value, connection to my experience and future goals, etc. (so in complexity). I made sure to include keywords relevant to the application and refreshed my knowledge prior to applying where needed. I also asked the professors who had experience in teaching me, or even better, working with me, to write recommendations. Once I got the scholarship, I imagined how I wanted to be on the journey, how I would interact, and what my goals (maximise output, build networks, be open, flexible). I also noted that it will be hard, so when I actually got there, and it felt terrifying or at times hard to take, I knew it was supposed to be hard. I remembered what I told myself. One must prepare not only for the professional and cultural challenges but also the mental ones.

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

Sustainable Agriculture - indie can be found at the DAFM program website in we’ll explained detail.

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?

Very similar for me (one thing a bit cheaper, the other more expensive, so it all added up ) for some ppl who choose different learning tracks, the costs differed (eg. If you went to Vienna for the second year, the cost of living there is much higher), so it is important to consider.

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?

Sometimes we received information in the local language, but within the course, most people speak English well. Translated everything easily when needed with online tools.

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

I recommend it highly, and I hope they make the most of it. Try to connect with many ppl and explore. Do sports and arts. Those will help you stay sane or find inspiration when needed.

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

I totally maxed it out, to the extent that it’s a whole one-hour podcast. I’m happy with how it turned out. With all the joys, pains, challenges, and overcoming. It was full of life, I didn’t waste a drop of it, and I recommend it to everyone. Home when it rains even, workout when tired after classes, cry and take walks when you are lonely, visit galleries when you are dull, watch movies in languages you don’t understand, learn some words in your friends language (home speaks to the heart), be there for the people (yourself included), DELIVER RESULTS, share your knowledge, do things for free (life will pay you for those later compounded), REST when you are tired, give yourself grace when mistaken, forgive when you’ve been wronged. Do not create resistance; let life flow through you.