New Delhi: The European Union has awarded 75 Indian students the two years-long Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) scholarships for the 2026-2028 academic cycle, cementing India’s position as the top recipient of these scholarships since 2004 and placing it among the top three countries globally for this year’s intake.
With nearly 100,000 Indian students currently pursuing higher education studies across Europe, the continent continues to be a preferred destination for Indian students seeking world-class academic and research opportunities.
To further strengthen academic and people-to-people connect, the EU also announced the launch of the EU-India Student Ambassadors’ Network, which will bring together 40 student ambassadors from 20 Indian universities.
The network aims to raise awareness about European academic and research opportunities, while fostering deeper engagement about the EU-India partnership among youth across India.
To celebrate this year’s achievements, the Delegation of the European Union to India hosted a pre-departure ceremony in New Delhi, bringing together the selected scholars, EU Member State representatives, alumni, and key education stakeholders.
The departing cohort will get an opportunity to study at leading universities in 15 European countries, including France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Poland, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Romania, and Lithuania, as well as affiliated institutions in other European and partner nations.
The 2026 cohort will pursue interdisciplinary master's programmes in cutting-edge fields that align with both the EU and Indian strategic priorities, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, smart urban development, renewable energy, nanosystems, vaccinology, pharmaceutical sciences, gender studies.
Additionally, students have selected programmes in literature, cultural studies, and social sciences, reflecting the broad spectrum of academic exchange between the two regions.
This year's selection also continues the positive trend of near-equal gender representation among Indian recipients, highlighting inclusive participation in higher education.
Congratulating the students, Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union, said, “Erasmus+ is more than a scholarship- it’s a passport to a first-class experience. This programme opens doors for Indian students to cutting-edge European education, to the richness and diversity of cultures, and to networks that bring our two continents closer. These students won’t just earn a degree; they will develop the skills and perspectives needed to facilitate the mobility of talent, which will power the India- Europe strategic partnership.”
Reflecting on the EU-India Student Ambassadors Network, he added, “This initiative is about grounding our partnership at the people’s level and building a human bridge of knowledge and mutual understanding. Besides guiding them on opportunities to study in Europe and strengthening university collaborations, these ambassadors will be agents of positive change. They will inspire young minds across India to discover, connect, and engage with the EU, shaping a vibrant, shared future for our two regions."
