EU increases scholarships for Syrian students

The European Commission Wednesday announced that it is doubling its scholarships for Syrian students and applications for the scholarships is now open. More than 150 scholarships will be available for Syrian students to study in Europe this year. The EU's executive committee said in a statement that is keen to ensure that during the current conflict, Syrian students, including those exiled or displaced inside Syria , are able to apply to the EU Erasmus Mundus programme and benefit from its scholarships. EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule commented that "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." 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. Since 2004, about 50,000 Erasmus Mundus scholarships for students, staff and researchers have been awarded or are planned.