Islamabad: Pakistan has once again secured the highest number of scholarships under the European Union-funded Erasmus Mundus programme, maintaining its leading position for the fourth consecutive year.
A total of 114 Pakistani students have been awarded scholarships for 2025, including 66 female scholars, making up nearly 58 per cent of the selected candidates from the country — a notable step towards gender parity in higher education.
The Erasmus Mundus programme, considered one of the most prestigious academic scholarship schemes globally, selected 2,176 students from 137 countries this year. Pakistan topped the list, followed by India (96), Bangladesh (95), Mexico (93), Nigeria (75), and Brazil (73).
The programme offers students the opportunity to pursue joint master’s degrees across multiple European universities, covering tuition fees, travel, visa costs, accommodation, and other expenses. Participants also gain diverse academic experiences through coursework, research, internships, and thesis writing in at least three different countries.
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In 2024, 189 Pakistani students were selected for the scholarship, including 100 men and 88 women. While this year’s overall number is slightly lower, the higher proportion of female awardees has been lauded as a progressive development.
Commenting on the milestone, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed encouraged Pakistani youth to actively explore such international opportunities. “This is a life-changing programme. The selection process is entirely merit-based, and the HEC provides full support to applicants,” he said.
Dr Ahmed urged students to regularly check the Erasmus and HEC websites for updates and guidance, highlighting the transformative potential of global academic exposure.
