On December 16, the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium organised an information session on the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) program and scholarship opportunities offered by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education.
The session began with an introduction to the Erasmus+ programme and its two key initiatives: International Credit Mobility (ICM) and the EMJMD. More broadly, Erasmus+ is an EU initiative that aims to enhance education, training, youth, and sport in Europe. For 2021-2027, the programme focuses on social inclusion, green and digital transformation, and the promotion of youth participation in democratic life.
The Erasmus+ programme also offers various educational and research opportunities for students, scholars, and researchers from Taiwan.
The ICM programme provides short-term higher education mobility opportunities for students and university staff at various academic levels (Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD) across multiple disciplines. It also applies to student internships and academic staff training programmes. Currently, at least 12 universities in Taiwan are participating in this initiative. Students can inquire about ICM collaboration with European institutions at their university’s international office.
The EMJMD is a programme in which universities from different European countries collaborate to offer joint master’s degree courses. Each course lasts between one and two years and involves at least three European countries and three or more universities. Students are required to study at two or more universities among the participating institutions, allowing them to live and study in various European countries and experience different cultures and languages while embodying European values. Some courses offer scholarships funded by EU institutions. Students must apply for both the programme and the scholarship directly through the participating European universities, with the application period running from October to January each year.
The Office also introduced various scholarships offered by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. To encourage youth to pursue international studies and assist more Taiwanese students in realising their dreams of studying in Europe, the Ministry offers a $16,000 USD annual scholarship for students who are admitted to the EMJMD without being awarded a scholarship offered by an EU institution but who have obtained a ‘reserve status’ for scholarships offered by the EU. This scholarship is provided for two years, with applications for this scholarship accepted annually in June. Other scholarships were also highlighted, such as the Government Scholarship to Study Abroad (GSSA) and scholarships established in collaboration with top 100 universities. The session also introduced the “Taiwan GPS” platform for scholarship recipients to share and exchange information. Students are encouraged to actively apply for scholarships and join the platform.
The session concluded with three Ministry of Education EU Scholarship recipients sharing their experiences and insights into the application process and studying abroad. The event was attended by approximately 175 participants, and featured lively interactions. It is hoped that more Taiwanese students will take advantage of these opportunities and fulfil their dreams of studying in Europe in the future.
