Applications for the 2024 Erasmus+ Postgraduate Scholarships are now open to Nigerian students, as announced by the Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
This programme offers Nigerian students the chance to pursue fully funded Master’s and PhD degrees in various European countries, VisaGuide.World reports.
In the upcoming year, the Erasmus+ Programme will include both teaching and non-teaching staff members from higher education institutions.
As noted by Samuela Isopi, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, beyond broadening educational perspectives, this programme will contribute to the construction of knowledge bridges and the promotion of cultural exchange.
Erasmus+ nurtures not only individual development but also strengthens the bonds between Nigeria and the European Union through the power of education.
The Association of Nigerians Students in Europe (ANSE) claims that over three million young Nigerians are studying in Europe.
The president of ANSE, Bashiru Muhamad, was quoted as saying that Nigerian students have been a major force in the universities of EU, while leaving a significant impact as exceptional alumni.
There’s no doubt that Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of international students studying in Europe, amounting to over three million in number.
In August last year, 200 young Nigerians received postgraduate scholarships to study in top European universities under Erasmus+. The number of Nigerians studying in Europe under this scholarship has increased continuously with 44 winners in 2019, 93 in 2020, 133 in 2021, reaching the record of 200 in 2022.
In total, since 2014, the EU has granted postgraduate scholarships to more than 800 young Nigerians. Whereas another 730 Nigerians have studied at a master’s level through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree in the last 20 years, since 2004.
Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme that aims to promote youth, sport, education, and training across Europe.
The EU Delegation to Nigeria is encouraging eligible Nigerians, including staff from higher education institutions, to explore the official Erasmus+ Scholarship website for more details and to submit their applications. The 2021-2027 program boasts an approximate budget of €26.2 billion, almost twice the funding allocated in the previous programme (2014-2020).