Student Navigates Dual Scholarship Offers, Chooses European Master's Program

Khondakar Mainul Islam is pursuing higher education across Europe through the Erasmus Mundus DREAM program, having been selected for both this prestigious scholarship and the Chevening Scholarship. Initially, he learned about Erasmus Mundus while studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB). He believed university was a place for self-discovery and building a strong future, leading him to volunteer with IEEE AIUB Student Branch and join the AIUB Robotics Crew. His involvement in competitions, seminars, and workshops highlighted the importance of leadership, communication, teamwork, and international presentation skills beyond classroom learning.

As Vice Chairperson of IEEE AIUB Student Branch in his third year, Islam participated in the first European Union Delegation's Erasmus+ Roadshow in Bangladesh, gaining detailed insights into the Erasmus Mundus program. During his tenure as Chairperson in 2023-24, he focused on sustainable energy, organizing 56 events and publishing seven research papers. After graduating with a gold medal in 2024, he briefly worked as an engineer but realized his passion lay in research. Encouraged by his mother, he left his job to prepare for IELTS, university applications, and scholarships, a decision many found risky.

Islam applied to the Chevening Scholarship first, which emphasizes leadership and social impact over purely academic achievement. He had to articulate his motivations for studying in the UK, his leadership distinctiveness, and his vision for future change in three essay prompts. He also applied to the Universities of Nottingham, York, and Oxford. Despite initial doubts due to his less extensive experience compared to other candidates, he gained confidence upon being shortlisted for an interview at the British High Commission. The 45-minute interview covered his academic preparation, leadership, professional experience, and post-study plans for contributing to Bangladesh.

He also applied to four Erasmus Mundus programs and was accepted into all of them. Ultimately, he chose the European Master in Dynamics of Renewables-Based Power Systems (DREAM) program. Unlike Chevening's focus on leadership and social impact, the Erasmus Mundus selection process was strictly academic and technology-driven, involving a project presentation and a technical interview. He recalls the technical interview taking place on the day of Eid al-Fitr. The final selection for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship arrived on Pohela Boishakh, a moment of immense joy and emotion for him and his mother.