13 EU countries to offer Filipinos study opportunities

Representatives from 13 European Union (EU) member states will present study opportunities for Filipino students at the European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) 2026, which will be held in Manila next month.

The fair will bring together more than 70 universities, embassies and education partners, with representatives from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

During a press conference on 28 October at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City, Agata Nowicka, deputy head of mission of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, highlighted how studying abroad can strengthen international cooperation.

“When students learn in another country, they gain more than academic knowledge. They encounter new ideas, experience different cultures, and develop an understanding that can strengthen cooperation long after their studies have ended,” Nowicka said.

The EU-Philippines Enhanced Partnership, launched on 24 July, builds on existing education cooperation and includes commitments to student and staff exchanges and closer ties between European and Philippine universities.

From 2021 to 2025, 364 Filipinos received Erasmus Mundus scholarships to pursue joint master’s programs at European universities. In 2026, another 85 Filipino students were accepted into the Erasmus+ program.

Filipino alumni Jan Carlo Castro and Jessica Isabelle Badua, both EHEF goodwill ambassadors, also shared their experiences studying in Europe.

Castro recounted studying in Portugal, Ireland, Poland and Austria, as well as spending time in the Netherlands during his internship.

“The thing about Erasmus is that at the end of it, you’re never the same afterward,” he said.

Visitors to the fair can consult representatives about postgraduate programs, admission requirements, tuition fees, scholarships and living in Europe. The event will also feature EU-supported education and research initiatives, including 28DIGITAL Master School, Erasmus+ and EURAXESS.

Under the theme “EU: Pathways to Excellence. Building the Future,” EHEF 2026 will take place on 20 and 21 November at the Midtown Atrium of Robinsons Manila, followed by online sessions from 23 to 25 November.