New Delhi, 18 November 2023: The 8^th edition of the European Higher Education Virtual Fair (EHEVF) India will be held on 23 and 24 November 2023 through a 3D virtual platform https://study-europe.net/register connecting Indian students with leading European higher education institutions. 73 higher education institutes from 21 European Union (EU) Member States including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden will be present at the fair. 

Higher education in Europe is increasingly gaining popularity among Indian students, being home to some of the best universities in the world. Besides the high academic standards in Europe, foreign students also stand to gain rich cultural experience due to the continent’s cultural and linguistic diversity. Some of popular courses among Indian students range from Engineering, Law, Medicine, Mathematics, Computer and Data Science, Business, Finance, Economics, Architecture, Psychology, Philosophy and humanities to Fashion, Art, Design, Culinary Studies and Film Studies. Read the testimonials below.

Fourteen top-ranking European universities (ranked in the 500 Times Higher Education Ranking 2024) are participating in this edition of the EHEVF. These include Lund University and Linköping University (Sweden), Aarhus University (Denmark), Eindhoven University of Technology and Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), University College Dublin and Griffith College (Ireland), Politecnico di Milano and University of Trento (Italy), Frederick University (Cyprus), University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (Bulgaria), University of Tartu (Estonia), University of Navarra (Spain), Constructor University (Germany).

Higher education and students play an essential role in the future of the two regions. Speaking about the EHEVF  2023, H.E. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to India, said, “80,000 Indian students chose the EU as the higher education destination in 2022 -23 which is a strong testament to the growing people-to-people ties between India and the EU .” He further added, “The EU is the world’s leading destination for higher education accounting for 25% of the world’s top 200 Higher Educational Institutes in the world. What makes Europe a preferred choice for higher education is that students and researchers gain professional proficiency while experiencing a blend of cultural and linguistic diversity. I encourage students to take advantage of this unique opportunity to explore some of the top ranking universities from across Europe.” The EU offers many opportunities for Indian students to apply for fully funded Master degrees through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme. Apart from this EU member states and universities have their own scholarship programmes, making it one of the most affordable education destinations. Many European universities also offer tuition-free programs, ensuring accessibility for students. Furthermore, there are numerous positions available for researchers mobility like the famous Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, presenting opportunities for academic and scientific growth. Master's and doctoral students often benefit from free education and, in some cases, receive stipends to support their studies.

There are seven agencies including Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, Cyprus High Commission, Embassy of the Czech Republic, DAAD, Study in Greece, Uni-Italia India Center and EIT InnoEnergy participating in this fair. They will assist students to gather information on the various scholarships and funding opportunities etc. that students could avail to realize their dream of pursuing their higher education in the Europe.

Virtual Fair: face-to-face with European Universities

EHEVF offers students in India a unique opportunity to interact directly with universities in Europe and explore possibilities for an excellent and affordable higher education. The two-day fair will be packed with activities, including webinars and live chats, which  will provide students insight on the admission process, funding and scholarship opportunities. Students can also live chat with alumni and scholars from participating universities to hear their experiences.

Aspiring students can expect to seek clarity and information on:

• Scholarship opportunities offered by the EU, EU Member States, through Erasmus+  as well as by national programmes and individual universities; Steps to apply for scholarships
• How best to prepare to go to Europe
• Post-study employment prospects in the EU

For more information:

• EHEVF Website: https://study-europe.net/
• EHEVF Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/studyeurope.net
• Podcast on EU-India Student Mobility: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NUzR3A9YWM2rEuNbQAUzr

Students interested to attend the European Higher Education Virtual Fair (EHEVF) 2023 can register for free at https://study-europe.net/register

About the European Union: The EU, which consists of 27 countries, has the world's second largest economy and its third largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its 'Member States') are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro) which has been adopted by 20 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment.

EU-India relations:  For over 60 years, the EU and India have worked together to reduce poverty, prevent disasters, expand trade, secure global   goods, enhance security around the world and promote joint research in energy, health, agriculture and many other fields of mutual interest.

Testimonials:

Ayush Gupta | Founder Tassyam Organics

I pursued my Masters in Management in Europe from 2013 to 2016. My experience at various institutions also inspired me to pursue entrepreneurship. With support from professors and the diverse network formed during my studies in Europe, I turned my idea into reality, launching “Tassyam” in 2016. What started out as a semester project, is today, a gourmet foods brand that aims to bring authentic and healthy food products (such as asafoetida, spices, tea, kombucha, dry fruits, preserves and more) to the market, blending modern technologies with traditional roots, while ensuring top-notch quality.

While in Europe I seized all kinds of opportunities that came my way from internships at Pfizer in Paris and Amadeus in Nice, to studying at the Madrid campus. I actively engaged in extracurricular activities such as boxing, hiking, cycling, and squash which enriched my experience, allowing me to have an all-round development while forging connections, and expanding my networks.

Ronit Bohra | Trainee, European Forest Institute (EFI)

Hailing from the city of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, my inclination towards forests and nature was always there, rather inseparable. This hobby towards nature turned into a professional degree in BSc Forestry for me, which I immensely enjoyed. Little did I know that this forest path would lead me to the hub of forestry studies in Finland, where I had amazing exposure to not only forestry but also Nordic life and culture. I took up a summer internship with a business firm working on a forest bioeconomy project, which also exposed me to professional life in Europe. For my second year I moved to Spain, where all of my experiences were at their peak. Through my course, I learnt a lot about boreal and Mediterranean forests and travelled to the forests of France, Germany, Austria, and Romania. This has been an amazing experience. It gave me a wholesome idea of European forestry, in addition to my knowledge of tropical and sub-tropical forests.

For now, I am working as a trainee with the prestigious European Forest Institute (EFI) in their headquarters in Joensuu, Finland. Today, I see myself as a part of the global forestry community, where Indian voices are indeed not visible, and I feel nothing but proud to present myself as one. I remain a researcher during the week, an excursionist during the weekends, and a lifelong learner.

Priyanka Malhotra | Alumni

As I headed in to meet my professors as an at EVITEK - The Espoo Vantaa Institute of Technology, I was gifted a little book titled - Sauna, Sisu and Sibelius. The three words that in many ways define Finnish culture. It was a very warm welcome in a country known for its chilly climate. Looking back, I can confidently say that this was for certain one of the significant periods of my life, thus far…

Among the many things I cherished during my time in this quiet country, is its very special relationship with 'nature'. Many evenings, post research, were spent on long walks in the surrounding forests in the company of tall Pine trees, and cool crisp air.

Upon my return, I felt enriched and developed a deep respect for the Finnish way of life, particularly the concept of 'sisu' determination, courage and strength.

Ishani Kocchar | Alumni

I studied Masters of European Studies in Latvia as part of the programme. The best part of the programme is that you get to not only study academics but also learn the culture of the place. The course gave me an opportunity to understand the place and its people.   

Manasseh Anand Makhesh | Masters in Computational Mechanics

The opportunity to learn from professors who are pioneers in the field, whose books I had studied as an undergraduate, was a thrilling beginning to my journey at Swansea University, UK. In my second semester I moved to Barcelona, Spain, to study Computational Mechanics. The freedom to undertake a thesis and internship anywhere in Europe was truly exhilarating.

Collaborating with brilliant minds from different nationalities expanded my horizons and nurtured a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives. I discovered the power of teamwork, innovation, and global collaboration in solving complex challenges. Travelling around Europe during Christmas holidays and celebrating New Year in different cities with friends became a delightful tradition.

One of the highlights of my journey was my internship in Seville, Spain. Engaging in real-world renewable energy projects ignited a sense of purpose and reinforced my passion for sustainable technologies. The experience enhanced my technical skills and urged me to contribute to a greener future. To summarise my experience as a student, I would like to say that it was a surreal experience, a moment of both disbelief and euphoria to study in Europe.