Erasmus Mundus opens applications for scholarships for Syrian students

European Commission

Press release

Brussels, 24 October 2012

Erasmus Mundus opens applications for scholarships for Syrian students

The European Commission announced that applications for the Erasmus Mundus scholarships for Syrian students are now open. The European Commission is keen to ensure that during the current conflict, Syrian students – including those exiled or displaced inside Syria – are able to apply to the Erasmus Mundus programme and benefit from its scholarships.

The number of Erasmus Mundus scholarships available for Syrian students has more than doubled over the last 2 years: this is the result of increased funding following last year's review of the European Neighbourhood Policy. More than 150 scholarships will be available this year.

The Erasmus Mundus programme aims to enhance the quality in higher education through scholarships and academic co-operation between Europe and the rest of the world providing both cooperation and mobility for students, academics and researchers. Since 2004, 50,000 Erasmus Mundus scholarships for students, staff and researchers have been awarded or are planned.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle said: "It is of the utmost importance that Syrian students know that the EU will keep its door open for eligible candidates to enable them to study in European universities and promote intercultural understanding as part of the Erasmus Mundus Programme. Especially in this very difficult situation we want to reach out to Syrian students wherever they are."

The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) organised the annual Erasmus Mundus Coordinators' Conference for the newly-selected partnerships of the latest Erasmus Mundus call for proposals at the end of September.

On this occasion, in a special session for the university partnerships covering Syria, the European Commission emphasised how important it is for the partnerships to guarantee that the study programme will be carried out despite the adverse situation. The EC and EACEA are making efforts to ensure maximum flexibility in programme implementation to benefit Syrian and other displaced students.

In parallel, the European Commission also launched an information campaign through the EU Delegations in countries around Syria. The campaign will involve all stakeholders who deal with displaced Syrians. In this way the EU hopes to maximise the participation of Syrian students in the Erasmus Mundus Programme.

Erasmus Mundus - scholarships for study, research or teaching

The European Neighbourhood Policy already reinforced its support for education in countries in the Southern Mediterranean – including Syria -with last year's review and the Communication on "A new response to a changing Neighbourhood". This resulted in increased funding for the Erasmus Mundus and Tempus programmes for the Neighbourhood countries for the calls for proposals for 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Since the start of the programme in 2004, some 50,000 Erasmus Mundus scholarships for students, staff and researchers have been awarded or are planned under Action 1 or Action 2 for a total amount of more than €1 billion. Erasmus Mundus scholarships are designed as full-study scholarships and provide amounts to cover participation costs (including tuition fees), subsistence costs, travel and insurance. The website of each Programme or Partnership provides all the necessary information concerning the content of the course, its structure, the scholarship amounts, as well as the application and selection procedures. Entry requirements will also be listed on the programme's website – these may differ from course to course. Scholarship applications are made directly to the relevant project, using an on-line application procedure.

Action 1

Scholarships for Erasmus Mundus Masters and PhD programmes:

Applications for the next round of scholarships offered by joint programmes (Action 1) will generally need to be submitted in the last quarter of 2012: these scholarships will be for joint programmes commencing in September 2013.

Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/results_compendia/selected_projects_action_1_master_courses_en.php

Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/results_compendia/selected_projects_action_1_joint_doctorates_en.php

Action 2

Scholarships for academic exchange:

Partnerships selected in 2011 and 2012 will be launching calls for scholarships from September 2012 onwards. Partnerships may issue a number of different calls for scholarship applications, depending on the level of study being pursued. All Action 2 partnerships are listed on the Erasmus Mundus website:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/results_compendia/selected_projects_action_2_en.php

For more information

Website of Commissioner Štefan Füle:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/fule/

On the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP):

http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/index_en.htm

Contacts :

Anca Paduraru (+32 2 296 64 30)

Peter Stano (+32 2 295 74 84)

بيان صحفي من المفوضية الأوروبية حول فتح باب التقديم لمنح إيراسموس موندوس للطلاب السوريين، بمن فيهم اللاجئون والنازحون.