Pakistan has once again emerged as the leading country in securing the highest number of Erasmus Mundus scholarships for 2025, achieving a historic milestone in the process.
A total of 114 Pakistani students have been awarded the prestigious Erasmus+ Joint Masters scholarships funded by the European Union. Notably, 66 of these recipients are women, making up nearly 58% of the selected cohort—an important stride towards gender balance in international higher education.
The Erasmus Mundus programme, known for its rigorous selection criteria, chose 2,176 students from 137 countries. Pakistan topped the list, followed by India (96), Bangladesh (95), Mexico (93), Nigeria (75), and Brazil (73), reflecting strong participation from Global South countries.
This marks a slight decrease from 2024, when 189 Pakistani students were selected, including 100 men, 88 women, and one non-binary scholar.
The Erasmus+ Joint Masters scholarships provide recipients with the opportunity to pursue degrees at multiple European universities. The fully funded programme covers tuition fees, travel costs, visa arrangements, and living expenses. Scholars benefit from interdisciplinary coursework, research opportunities, internships, and a joint thesis supervised across at least three European countries.
The European Union Delegation in Islamabad commended the achievement, calling it a proud moment for Pakistan and a testament to the country’s growing academic excellence and international visibility.
This success not only underscores Pakistan’s educational advancement but also highlights increasing gender inclusion, setting a positive precedent for future scholars from the region.
