Graduate Talk Series Session 4: Opportunities to study in Europe

What insights and opportunities did Soe Yu Naing share during the Graduate Talk Series about studying in Europe, particularly regarding scholarship options and his academic journey?

On January 8, 2026, the Parami University Career Development Center hosted the fourth session of the Graduate Talk Series titled “Opportunities to Study in Europe,” co-organized with the Erasmus Mundus Association Myanmar.

The speaker, Soe Yu Naing, is a global health professional with more than ten years of experience in higher education project management and scientific research. He holds an international M.Sc. in Infectious Diseases and One Health (IDOH) from the Université de Tours (France), the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain), and the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom). A product of liberal arts education, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and later joined the University of Pennsylvania to work on HIV cure–related research. Currently, he serves as a country representative of the Erasmus Mundus Association and a visiting faculty member at Parami University.

During the session, Soe Yu Naing shared a wide range of opportunities for studying in Europe, with a particular focus on the Erasmus Mundus scholarship program. He began by recounting his academic journey, starting from a regular high school and an ordinary family with little awareness of overseas education opportunities. Through meeting supportive seniors and volunteering at a library, he took his first steps toward studying abroad, eventually gaining the opportunity to study in the United States.

He explained how he applied to multiple universities and scholarships, following in the footsteps of his seniors, and was admitted to an undergraduate program in the U.S. at the age of 25. Reflecting on his undergraduate experience, he shared: “I was undecided in my sophomore year. I actually tried a lot of options. I started in economics and computer science, then switched to a different major. By the end, I realized that I liked neuroscience, which is the study of brain psychology and biology.”

Soe Yu Naing then continued by sharing his academic journey in the Netherlands, along with practical strategies for applying to the Erasmus Mundus scholarship for master’s studies in Europe. As the country representative of the Erasmus Mundus Association, he highlighted his contributions aligned with SDG 3 (promoting physical, mental, and social well-being) and SDG 4 (increasing knowledge and awareness of educational programs and opportunities in Europe and Asia).

When discussing study opportunities in Europe, he introduced several country-specific scholarships, including the Chevening Scholarship for the UK, Sweden’s Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP), the Holland Scholarship, and the Erasmus Mundus scholarship.

During the Q&A session, Parami University students raised many specific questions related to university applications, scholarship requirements, and preparation steps. Soe Yu Naing provided insightful and personalized responses, offering practical tips and strategies for communicating with scholarship associations and university admissions committees. The session was highly engaging and interactive, reflecting students’ strong curiosity and commitment to pursuing their master’s degrees in specialized fields.

​​If you missed the session or would like to listen again, you can access the recording here.