33 Nepali students secure Erasmus Mundus scholarships for Master’s in Europe

July 17, Kathmandu: The European Union has granted full Erasmus Mundus scholarships to 33 Nepali students—17 women and 16 men—for two-year joint Master’s degrees in Europe starting in the 2025/2026 academic year. This brings the total number of Nepali beneficiaries of Erasmus+ scholarships to over 800.

The scholarships cover tuition, airfare, and a monthly stipend, enabling students to study at multiple European universities in fields such as cybersecurity, engineering, agriculture, biology, flood risk management, and food technology.

The program fosters academic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration. At a pre-departure orientation hosted by the EU Delegation to Nepal and the Erasmus Mundus Association Nepal, EU Ambassador Veronique Lorenzo congratulated the scholars.  “This is the start of an incredible journey of learning and growth,” the Ambassador said, emphasising the program’s role in building ties between Nepal and Europe. She urged students to return to Nepal and contribute to its development after completing their studies.

Alumni shared insights during the event. Sumeera Shrestha, a 2012 graduate and Country Director for the Childaid Network Foundation in Nepal, highlighted her work in women’s and children’s rights. Aditya Mishra, an agriculture and forestry graduate, credited Erasmus for his communication skills and professional network. He now works as a Research Assistant at Kathmandu University.

Representatives from EU Member States’ embassies attended the orientation at the EU Delegation office. The Erasmus+ program, a flagship EU initiative, supports global education and training. The EU has backed Nepal’s education sector for over 20 years, currently contributing €50 million to the School Education Sector Plan (2022–2032), focusing on quality education and girls’ empowerment to drive socio-economic progress.