The Erasmus+ programme, launched in 1987, is the EU’s flagship initiative supporting international academic mobility. The scholarship allows students to study at two or more European universities and earn joint, double, or multiple degrees. It covers tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses.
This year’s Indian cohort reflects shared priorities between the EU and India, including focus areas such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, public policy, intellectual property law, engineering, food security, and safe nuclear applications. The selected students represent 20 states from across India.
To mark the achievement, the EU Delegation hosted a pre-departure ceremony in New Delhi, where scholars interacted with alumni, representatives from EU member states, and academic partners.
Congratulating the awardees, EU Ambassador to India, Herve Delphin, said, “Erasmus+ is more than a scholarship, it’s a passport for personal and professional growth and a window of opportunities in and with Europe.”
He added that over 90,000 Indian students are currently studying in Europe. “These students are choosing Europe for its quality, diversity, and affordability,” Delphin said.
The 2025 batch of Indian students will study across 19 EU countries. This includes France (24 scholars), Spain (12), Belgium (8), Portugal (8), Germany (7), Italy (5), Poland (4), Czech Republic (4), Austria (3), Hungary (3), Estonia (3), Netherlands (2), Croatia (2), Greece (2), and one each in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Ireland, and Latvia. Some students will also attend affiliated universities in other European and non-European countries.
The Erasmus+ programme has supported over 2,200 Indian students through the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship since 2004. Including both short- and long-term awards, over 6,000 scholarships have been granted to Indian students under the Erasmus+ scheme.
Officials noted a steady rise in women’s participation from India, with near-equal representation becoming a consistent feature in recent years.
Europe hosts more than 4,000 higher education institutions and has over 17.5 million tertiary students, 1.35 million educators, and 1.17 million researchers.
The current phase of Erasmus+ (2021–2027) is the most ambitious yet, with a total budget of €26.2 billion (₹2.09 lakh crore). It supports global opportunities in education, research, youth, and sport for students, educators, and institutions.
(With inputs from PTI)