Pakistan leads Erasmus again with 114 scholarships

Islamabad : For the fourth year running, Pakistan has taken the global lead in Erasmus Mundus scholarships—and this time, it’s rewriting the record books.

In 2025, 114 Pakistani students secured spots in the prestigious EU-funded Erasmus+ Joint Masters programme, including an unprecedented 66 women, who now make up nearly 58 per cent of the country’s cohort.

They are part of a global pool of 2,176 students from 137 countries selected through a rigorous and highly competitive process, highlighting not only Pakistan’s academic edge but also its growing commitment to gender equity in international higher education.

Close behind were India (96 scholars), Bangladesh (95), Mexico (93), Nigeria (75) and Brazil (73), reflecting a strong South-to-South showing in this year’s selections.

Last year, a total of 2,603 students from 137 countries were selected for the Erasmus Mundus scholarships, with 189 being from Pakistan. They included 100 men, 88 women and one non-binary person.

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships—among the most coveted worldwide—enable students to study at multiple European universities and graduate with joint or multiple degrees.

Funded by the European Union, the programme covers tuition, travel, visa costs and living allowances.

The EU Delegation in Islamabad congratulated Pakistan’s awardees, calling the feat a “proud moment” and a testament to the country’s academic talent.

The programme typically includes coursework, research, internships and a jointly supervised thesis, developed and delivered by a consortium of universities and partners across at least three countries—bridging cultures, disciplines and careers.