EU deepens Nepal education support with scholarships and €50 million sector aid

KATHMANDU: In a significant boost to Nepal’s academic ties with Europe, the European Union (EU) has awarded full Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) scholarships to 33 Nepali students—17 women and 16 men—for the academic year 2025/2026. This brings the total number of Nepali recipients under the Erasmus+ programme to over 800 students to date.

The fully funded two-year scholarships will allow these students to pursue Master’s degrees across multiple European universities, with specializations ranging from cybersecurity, engineering, agriculture, biology, flood risk management to food technology. Each recipient will benefit from coverage of tuition fees, airfare, and a monthly stipend, facilitating a seamless academic journey in Europe’s multicultural and diverse environment.

The Erasmus Mundus scholarships are part of the EU’s flagship Erasmus+ programme, which supports education, training, youth, and sport worldwide. This initiative reflects the EU’s longstanding commitment to educational excellence, cultural exchange, and international collaboration.

To prepare the students for their academic and cultural transition, the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, in collaboration with the Erasmus Mundus Association Nepal, organized a pre-departure orientation programme on 16 July at the EU Delegation office in Kathmandu.

EU Ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Veronique Lorenzo, stated,“Today marks the beginning of an amazing journey filled with learning, growth, and boundless opportunities; all made possible through the Erasmus scholarship. The Erasmus scholarship goes well beyond financial support and academic achievement. Its true value lies in creating bridges between people from different countries, sharing experiences, and forging strong ties of friendship between Europe and Nepal.”

She also urged the recipients to return to Nepal after completing their studies, emphasizing their potential to contribute to national development.

The orientation featured inspirational talks by Erasmus alumni, who shared personal experiences and offered guidance to the outgoing scholars. Among them was Sumeera Shrestha, a 2012 Erasmus graduate who now serves as the Country Director for the Childaid Network Foundation in Nepal. Her work focuses on women’s and children’s rights and improving access to quality education.

Similarly, Aditya Mishra, a graduate in Agriculture and Forestry, returned to Nepal and currently works as a Research Assistant at Kathmandu University. Speaking on the value of the programme, he shared,

“The greatest things I gained from the Erasmus journey were skilful communication, exposure to the academic world, and a strong professional network in my field of interest.”

Diplomatic representatives from EU Member States’ Embassies in Kathmandu and New Delhi were also present at the orientation event, showcasing the EU’s unified support for educational partnerships with Nepal.

The EU has been a consistent supporter of Nepal’s education sector for over two decades. In 2025, the EU is contributing around €50 million under its Quality Education for All initiative, which supports the Government of Nepal’s School Education Sector Plan (2022–2032). This funding combines budgetary support and technical assistance, with a strong focus on improving school-level learning, especially for girls and marginalized communities.

The Erasmus+ programme continues to stand as a testament to the EU’s belief in the power of education to transform lives and foster global understanding. For Nepal, it opens doors to world-class academic exposure and builds a generation of globally competent, socially conscious, and professionally networked youth who can make meaningful contributions to national and global development.