Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Scholar Tuo Sern from Malaysia Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's at the Ghent University, Belgium

I am Tuo Sern, or you can call me Adrian, and I am from Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, located on the island of Borneo. I have worked and lived in Malaysia (home country), Taiwan, the USA (6 years), Belgium, and Germany (1 year). My hobbies are playing badminton and learning languages. I am currently learning German and Japanese during my free time. I also like travelling, Formula 1, and MotoGP. I have visited almost 30 countries across four continents and 15 states in the USA. I have a passion and interest for motorcycles and have worked at Yamaha Motor Malaysia as a Logistics Intern. I would like to own a Yamaha R1 superbike one day and my favourite MotoGP rider of all time is Casey Stoner from Australia.

I was an average student during my time in secondary school, but I never gave up and fought to the end. I did my undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Mathematics at Wichita State University in the USA and learned about the American culture. I graduated with a cum laude distinction with a CGPA of 3.31/4.0 and obtained Dean’s List (CGPA above 3.0) for 5 semesters. In my extracurricular activities, I was invited by professors to join the Alpha Pi Mu, an Industrial Engineering Honor Society (WSU Chapter) to develop my networking skills, due to my outstanding grades. I enjoy playing badminton and I was chosen as the Vice-President of WSU Badminton Club. After graduation, I worked with die-casting in two automotive companies in logistics for 3 years to gain American work experience.

In the spring of 2023, I was selected for the WE-TEAM program supported by the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. It allowed me to travel from one country to another and learn about textiles from professors around the world. I also joined badminton clubs in the respective countries and participated in some tournaments and friendly matches. I decided to pursue textile engineering because I found it fascinating how car seats were manufactured with textiles, which led me to do my research internship on textile-foam interaction with and without seams in the application of automotive seat cushioning for two months in the summer of 2024.

“Always be humble with other cultures and traditions when visiting countries”.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Details

I was awarded the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for the WE-TEAM (World Textile Engineering Advanced Master) program, which included partner universities in Belgium, France, Sweden, and Germany. I did my first semester at Ghent University, Belgium and second semester at ENSISA in Mulhouse, France, near the Swiss and German borders. For my summer internship after the first year, I spent two months at the Dresden Institute of Technology in the beautiful city of Dresden in Germany. After that, I studied at the University of Borås, Sweden for my third semester. Finally, I completed my master’s thesis on the development of knee sleeves with enhanced protection in sports using 3D printing on textiles, also in Dresden because it is one of my favourite cities in Europe. The fully-funded scholarship, valued at €49,000, covers my tuition fees, a monthly living stipend of €1,000, annual travel allowances, health insurance, and an installation cost.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

No, I applied to three EMJMD programs and got selected for the WE-TEAM program which was my third choice.

Educational Background

Before joining the Erasmus Mundus WE-TEAM program, I did my undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Mathematics at Wichita State University in the USA and graduated with a cum laude distinction with a CGPA of 3.31/4.0. Relevant courses, such as Materials Engineering and Industrial Ergonomics helped to prepare me for the program.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Institutions?

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests Such as SAT/ACT/TOEFL/IELTS/GRE/GMAT? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them? How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and Institutions?

I prepared to apply to institutions by reviewing the curriculum requirements and mobility structures. I took my IELTS in November 2015 before leaving for the USA, but I did not take it when applying for the WE-TEAM program. I was exempted from this requirement because I obtained at least 60 credit hours of courses in English when studying in the USA. I just needed a stamped and signed Certificate of English proficiency issued by Wichita State University.

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

I stay motivated and feel enthusiastic about the programs. I watched YouTube videos and read testimonials or blogs of previous Erasmus Mundus Scholarship recipients. I prepared my CV in an Europass format, which detailed my academic background, work and volunteer experience, accomplishment track record, certificates, and medals won in badminton tournaments. The application for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is very competitive and tough. Only 15 applicants were shortlisted from a pool of 209 applicants worldwide, and I was ranked 8^th among those selected.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or the Countries' Native Languages?

All the classes were conducted in English, and master’s theses were written and defended in English.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think my application stood out because I was an all-around applicant and a global nomad. Not only because of my slightly above-average grades, but also participation in extracurricular activities and industrial engineering, and professional affiliation events. I have 3 years of work experience in the United States and I also have an undergraduate teaching assistant certificate. Most importantly, I have lived and worked in Taiwan and the United States, besides Malaysia which shows that I can live independently in other countries, integrate with the society, and do not have homesickness. My achievements in winning some medals (bronze, silver, gold) in the boys’ (past) and men’s doubles in school, university, and division-level badminton tournaments help a lot too.

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

I would have done the video interview to make it even stronger by answering all the questions given in the application form. I remember that was the only part in the application form that I did not fill in.

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

Just do it! Just be yourself and sell yourself. Ask yourself what the strengths and weaknesses are. Prepare a CV in Europass format by detailing your academic background, work history, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, achievement track record, and foreign language proficiency (depending on the requirements). If selected for the scholarship, it is time to get out of your comfort zone and be independent in other countries. It also gives you the opportunity to meet with people from around the world and travel to different countries in Europe. Be prepared for some culture shock in the beginning.