Danford Danford's journey to the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship program began with some initial scepticism. Although he had learned about the program months prior to completing his Molecular Biology and Biotechnology degree at the University of Dar es Salaam, he was hesitant to submit an application.

"I held the belief that this scholarship was designed for well-connected individuals. Frankly, I didn't think I stood a chance," he confessed.

His perspective shifted months after his graduation. On one uneventful weekday, he stumbled upon an advertisement in his university's WhatsApp group promoting a virtual information session for current and former Erasmus scholars. At this point, he was a recent graduate working for a start-up and actively seeking opportunities to enhance his skills and further his education. Despite his initial reservations about the scholarship, he decided to attend the session.

"The session proved me wrong in many ways. I dawned on me that the scholarship recipients were ordinary people with backgrounds much like my own," said Danford. "Moreover, the scholarship’s offerings, including a top-tier education in two or three European countries, an attractive stipend, and an internship opportunity, fuelled my motivation," added the 23-year old.

Danford was so motivated that he applied to nine scholarship programs in the fields of biology and chemistry. Out of these applications, he received two full scholarships and found himself on the waitlist for two other universities.

Ultimately, he chose to enroll in the Erasmus Mundus Master's course in Chemical Innovation and Regulation, a journey that will take him to three distinguished universities across Europe; the University of Barcelona in Spain, the University of Bologna in Italy, and the University of Algarve in Portugal.

This year, he stands among 8 Tanzanians who have been awarded the scholarship, showing an increase from last year's numbers. Nevertheless, Cedric Merel, EU Head of Cooperation in Tanzania, underscores the pressing need for more Tanzanian applicants, emphasizing, “the numbers are still quite limited. This scholarship provides an incredible opportunity for Tanzanian students to gain a high-quality education in Europe. We encourage more Tanzanians to take advantage of this valuable opportunity."

Danford attributes his success to meticulous preparation and advises other prospective applicants to do the same. He dedicated three months to refining his application, which included receiving feedback from over 10 people, including current and former Erasmus scholars, whom he reached out to via various social networks like LinkedIn.

“What left the strongest impression throughout my application journey was its remarkable simplicity. There were no unnecessary barriers often encountered in other scholarship programs," he said.

He debunked his prior misconception about this EU-funded scholarship stressing, “This scholarship is awarded solely on merit. By merit I don’t refer solely to grades; it encompasses a medley of factors, including extracurricular activities. They are looking for well-rounded individuals capable of showcasing their talents."

As he embarks on his Erasmus journey, Danford expects to acquire technical skills, such as designing safe and sustainable chemicals, and soft skills, particularly in research development and project management. He is eager to use these skills to further develop his start-up company in Dar es Salaam.

Additionally, he hopes to leverage networking opportunities and attend events where he can pitch innovative concepts for his start-up company.

About Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are advanced master's programs that offer an integrated educational experience. These programs are collaboratively created and delivered by international alliances of higher education institutions.

Each Erasmus Mundus scholarship program is composed of a minimum of three higher education institutions from different countries, with at least two coming from EU Member States and the others from associated third countries.

Furthermore, this scholarshipmay also include other partners, whether educational or non-educational, who possess expertise in the relevant field of study.

Funding from the EU supports the operation of these programs and provides competitive scholarships to exceptional students worldwide.