Pinoys dominate European Union scholarship program

MANILA, Philippines - This year, the Philippines will have the highest number of students benefiting from a European Union (EU) scholarship among all countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

According to the EU, 39 Filipino students will pursue their academic dreams in several countries of the EU after they won scholarships under the EU’s Erasmus + Program.

The Erasmus + Program will allow Filipino youth leaders to pursue MA and Ph D programs in different universities across the European continent.

The scholarship program is structured to allow students to pursue their graduate studies in more than one country, giving them the opportunity to benefit from the academic expertise and culture of more than one university.

Since 2004, more than 200 students and lecturers have benefitted from the program. The scholarship covers air travel to Europe, tuition and a monthly living allowance of P138,000.

The scholarship program gives life-changing opportunities for Filipino students. They will experience European culture, learn European languages and be integrated into European society for one to two years. 

The Erasmus + Program promotes the EU as a center of excellence in learning and making student mobility a reality for EU and non-EU citizens. It also provides funding opportunities for cooperation in the areas of education, training, youth and sport among European countries and partner countries throughout the world.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux commended the outgoing Erasmus + students in a reception held on Aug. 11 at the EU Delegation to the Philippines for their impressive results, reflecting the hard work of Filipino students.

Erasmus Mundus alumni led by Sheila Balbutin, president of the Erasmus Mundus Association Southeast Asia Chapter, also attended to share her experiences of studying in Europe and encouraged the scholars to take advantage of their time in the EU to benefit from borderless traveling and studying across different EU member states.