Introduction

My name is Caroline Mokeira, and I'm from Nairobi, Kenya. I studied at Enoomatasiani Secondary School, a public school in Kajiado North. I scored a C in my KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education), missing a C+ by one point, which was a bit discouraging. Nonetheless, I loved school. After high school, I went to the University of Nairobi, where I got a diploma in Social Work and Development. Thereafter, I did a bit of social work in a children's home and eventually went into full-time ministry work in the Church. While I served in the church, a strong desire to study a bachelors in theology, particularly with a focus on a comparison of Religions, so as to be better informed on what I was doing and what I believed, was sparked! Thus, I went ahead and pursued a bachelor's degree in Theology at the African International University. It took quite a while to finish, because I was studying whilst working, hence my late graduation in July 2025. Upon graduating, I began looking into prospects for my master’s. I felt that because I had taken so long to pursue my bachelor's degree, I might as well go straight into my master’s degree!

Making the decision to study abroad

I chose to study abroad for a number of reasons. Firstly, I craved the experience of studying in a foreign country. I had traveled to Germany only a few years prior and spent 3 incredible months there. Surrounded by so many opportunities for growth, learning, and rich new cultures, the thought of studying abroad became increasingly appealing! I loved traveling, and I had a deep desire to experience life abroad, although I had been in Kenya all my life. I thought to myself, ‘I really need a change,’ and serendipitously, I soon stumbled on the ReD global scholarship scheme, which is what gave me the platform to launch my dream.

About the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship; ReD Global

The Erasmus Mundus is a joint master's scholarship that is typically offered by three European universities. These universities tend to be in different countries; the scholarship is designed to allow its beneficiaries to study in a different country each semester. In my case, these will be the Netherlands, where I have started, Portugal, Spain, and finally, back to Amsterdam for my last semester! The ReD Global, which stands for Religious Diversity in a Globalised World, is an independent program that recently became a subsidiary of the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, and it focuses on Religious Diversity as it offers a Master’s course. This felt perfect for me, as it brought together a cohort from all over the world that was interested in Theology!

Gröningen, Córdoba, and Coimbra

Under the ReD Global Scheme, the three countries are fixed, as well as the Universities, so I did not actually choose them! I will be studying at the University of Gröningen in the Netherlands, which was actually the university that first launched the ReD Global Scheme. I will also study at the University of Córdoba in Spain, and finally, the University of Coimbra in Portugal. Despite the fact that we did not choose the universities, I was nevertheless really excited about going to Gröningen in particular, because I had done extensive research on it before I stumbled upon the EMJM ReD Global Scholarship. It holds numerous accolades in Research, a skill that I longed to improve, and I loved the fact that the university was very rich in International Culture. I even got to know the professors in my faculty of Interest, and longed to connect with them! With all these consideration factors, since the University choice was not my own, I was extremely pleased with the prospect of studying at Gröningen.

I look forward to studying in Spain and Portugal as well, albeit I must confess that my anticipation is slightly dulled by the tedious and mundane procedures that I will be forced to repeat. When I moved to the Netherlands, it was not an easy feat to find accommodation. Beyond that, it was rather stressful adjusting to the weather, processing my student permit, filing for a residence permit, signing up for the municipality, and getting a general practitioner; so much had to be done! It was pretty hectic, so I do not look forward to going through it twice more. However, the experience is exposing me to how different countries work; therefore, I've chosen to view this learning experience as a silver lining!

My Application Journey

I began the application process in November 2024, a month after the scholarship had officially opened for a new application round, and a few weeks after I identified it. There were several requirements that applicants needed to meet. These included satisfactory academic scores, IELTS results, a motivation letter, two recommendation letters, and a sample of a Research paper that they had written. I met the academic requirements, so this was not of much concern to me. After I wrote the first draft of my motivation letter, I realised that I was in dire need of assistance. Fortunately, I knew of a friend who had recently completed his master’s studies in the UK, so I reached out to him and asked him to review my application letter. Guided by his advice, I tweaked and edited it until it had been polished up to my satisfaction. Thereafter, I submitted a Research paper that I had done during my undergraduate studies on theology, and got my reference letters from one of my undergraduate professors and a work colleague. The process was fairly straightforward, and I received the conditional scholarship in a few weeks, which became provisional when I submitted my IELTS test scores.

IELTS: English proficiency tests

The IELTS process was one that presented a number of trying setbacks for me. The scholarship eligibility conditions that had been outlined were a score of 6.5 in each of the four skills, which I was confident would be pretty attainable. Thus, I signed up for a test centre in January, and began reading for it, because, in as much as it was simply a grammar language test, familiarity with its structure and answering techniques were factors that I was determined not to overlook! On the day of the exam, I was extremely stressed, due to the fact that I had left my passport, a document that was needed to verify my identity, at home. Crushingly, I was unable to sit for the test that day,  was required to register for the test again, and pay an additional fee over and above the initial 38,760 Kenyan Shillings! When I received my results (7.5, 7, 6.5, and 6), the program coordinator informed me, much to my dismay, that I would have to retake the skill in which I had missed the threshold by 0.5 marks. That was an additional 21,000 Kenyan shillings on my bill, which was rather challenging, but thankfully, I was able to pay it and pass the retaken skill.

Structured for Clarity

I submitted my application on the ‘Progress Portal’, which was designed by the ReD Global team to ensure that its applicants had a smooth application process. It was essentially a checklist of all the documents we needed to upload, ensuring that we wouldn't miss any! After I submitted my application for the ReD Global Program and received my offer, I was then required to apply directly to the University itself. 

Before I received my offer, the program coordinator informed me that the final assessment tool was an informal interview with the President of the Program, and the Presidents of the Universities of Coimbra and Cordoba. It was a rather laid-back interaction, much to my relief. Their inquiries were informal as promised, and they sought to learn about my hopes, dreams, and motivation to join the program, as well as how I would give back to the communities that I would be a part of. Approximately a week later, they contacted me with successful feedback, a provisional scholarship offer, and I began to prepare for my visa application!

Visa Application Process

The Process was considerably long, as the University was the institution that filed the applications, rather than the scholarship awardees doing it on their own. Through the ISD (International Students Desk), our applications were sent to the Immigration desk to be processed. Among the requirements for the verification of my documents before the visa application, I needed to get all my University Documents verified at the National offices of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs! I did the same at the embassies of Portugal and Spain, in preparation for my transfer in the later semesters. Gratefully, I did not encounter any difficulties or setbacks, and I submitted my documents for Visa Processing soon after. Within the span of 5 weeks, it was expected that we would all receive our visas and would thereafter be able to proceed with purchasing our plane tickets and travel necessities. However, after 5 weeks had gone by, I had not received any feedback on my visa application! I reached out to the program coordinator of Erasmus Kenya to inquire, feeling rather panicked, for the date of our departure was fast approaching! Once she did, though, the delay was quickly processed, and I received my Visa in due time. My Erasmus Cohort had 27 people, and although we all received the same scholarship, the program rotations placed us all in different countries. We also had a number of pre-departure sessions, where we got procedural instructions on areas such as applying for an e-SIM, navigating airport layovers, and the basics of what was essential to pack.

Scholarship

The ReD Global Erasmus Mundus program is a full-ride scholarship. It covers my tuition fees, my accommodation, flight costs, Insurance health cover, and provides a monthly stipend for my personal use (i.e., Winter Clothes, Food). However, I did incur personal financial costs, such as the IELTS, Visa Application, and Accommodation deposits.

Advice to Future Applicants

• Do not underestimate the importance of taking the IELTS! There is a huge debate about taking it, especially among those who grew up speaking English, as many feel that the test is unnecessary. However, as an international student, there are simply some things that you cannot bypass. Therefore, endeavour to sit for it, if necessary, and prepare for it thoroughly, never mind your English proficiency level.
• The Application process is rather tedious, especially because there are so many factors that you need to juggle at the same time. I would advise everyone to be extremely meticulous with the process; do not wait until the last minute! Work on all aspects of your application gradually and refine it as you go.
• Maintain a good relationship with your former teachers or lecturers, they are valuable! This is the community that will provide reference letters for you and mentor you through writing your motivation letter.
• Conduct research beyond your course details. Attend webinars for prospective international students, look for potential accommodation options, and learn about the city you will be moving to!
• When applying to a Master’s Program, you may choose to be as flexible as you wish, but be sure to select something that is linked to what you studied in your Bachelor’s degree. Going into a discipline that you are somewhat familiar with will not only enhance your confidence whilst applying, but will also grant you a good foundation in a competitive setting.
• Finally, my final message is an imploration to all East Africans, in particular, my fellow Kenyans. My encouragement to them is to actively look for such enriching opportunities and to apply!

Classes Breakdown

My major is Religious Diversity, and the key religions we are studying are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, with a lot of philosophy in between. We are still within the first block of my courses, hence I am currently studying 2 course topics: Constructions of Religions, a study on the Intersections of Christianity, Islam, and Philosophy, and Theories of Religion, which is essentially an immersive ethnography. We are graded through group projects and Research paper assignments, a process that will happen all throughout the blocks. Whilst my current topics in Block A are compulsory, the 2 courses we will pick in the second block are electives. For these, I have chosen Social Scientific Research and Apocalypse & Politics. The latter is something I am rather passionate about, for my interest in how religion and politics meet was my primary push to sign up for the program! During my second and third semesters in Coimbra and Cordoba, we will undertake a new set of electives and compulsory classes. The beauty of my classes is that we all have different religious beliefs and backgrounds, so we get to learn about and interact with different cultures and religions beyond a surface-level understanding!

First week

The adaptation process of my first week was rather challenging, but it was overall pretty good. Thankfully, I arrived before my classes began, and I had ample time to get the basics of my new geography down. I hired a bike in the meantime, and sought out to finalize my visa. Upon arrival, the International Student Desk (ISD) had directed me on where to finalise the application for my student permit, which was in Utrecht, a different city from the one I was living in, Gröningen. In addition to getting myself there, I needed to get registered under the municipality, which is what I did as soon as I got my permit! Additional processes that I underwent when I was settling in included a medical exam.

Besides this, I began learning about the systems of the new culture and my environment. During your first few months as an International student, be gracious to yourself. Be very intentional about being kind to yourself, because you are in a new period of your life. It will get stressful, you may struggle to settle down, and you have no guarantee that others will be kind to you, so be kind to yourself!

Life outside the classroom

One of my priorities when settling down was to find a community of believers, which I was able to find in a good Church near me. I strongly believe that finding a place where you feel a sense of belonging is a cheat code to settling into a new country, so I would encourage all students to do so, wherever that may be! I joined a running club as well, a decision heavily inspired by the fitness culture here in the Netherlands. In addition to cycling, I run every week, and it was in doing this that I learnt a bit more about the local lifestyle, and naturally, made a few friends along the way! The weather has definitely been my biggest hurdle in maintaining this new habit, but nevertheless, it has become something I have grown to look forward to. Lastly, I signed up for a subscription to a gym, for other than its expected physical health benefits, it also helps your mental health tremendously. Considering the factor of being in a new environment, surrounded by a horde of unfamiliar things, you fall prey to loneliness, depression, and becoming overwhelmed, faster than you would think possible! Thus, I would advise all students to sign up for a gym if it is possible for them. Beyond that, get involved with student societies, clubs, and sports teams. Don't hesitate to venture into new sports and interests; you just may end up learning more about yourself than you thought you ever knew!

Work-Life Balance

In each semester, we complete four courses, but my faculty has broken it down in a way that's pretty manageable for us. The semester had been split into 2 blocks, where we completed two courses in each block, over the course of approximately 2 and a half months. In my current block, I only have two classes each week, Monday afternoon and Thursday Morning. Therefore, I use the other 3 weekdays to catch up on my assignments, study on my own, and meet with my group when I have groupwork. I spend my weekends on new experiences, like going to new cities, exploring my city, and visiting cultural institutions like museums. The church that I go to has become a big part of my life, so I unwind there quite frequently! For me, this helps me maintain a healthy balance between life and work. Whether it's a sports club, student activities, or a religious community, find a spot to unwind.

Networking

I experienced a sort of culture shock when it first came to making friends here. Back at home in Kenya, community is a big thing, and it is largely cultural. However, it is not as prevalent here, which I initially struggled with. Networking is extremely important, but so is making friends solely for the sake of community. Thus, I want to encourage anyone who is studying abroad to, before anything else, be a friend to yourself! Don’t cut ties with your friends and family back home; keep in touch with them as much as you can. Additionally, do not underestimate the importance of networking; it truly is your ticket to growth. For instance, I met a lecturer from my faculty recently who used to live in Nairobi, and as we bonded over our shared background, he offered to supervise me as I wrote my thesis! No matter how hard it is to put yourself out there, I kept reminding myself that it is the only way to become part of a community. "If you want a village, you have to be a villager". Go outside and meet people, because that’s how you'll get internships and job opportunities. You need companionship, laughter, and friends to uplift you, so go to events and get to know people. Attend mentorship sessions, symposiums, workshops, and field trips. Don’t let your introversion bar you from meeting people who could change the course of your life for the better!

Post-Graduation Plans

At the end of our studies, we have the option to choose which track we would like to go into. There are two options: the Internship track, whereby you choose to go into the industry and work, or the research track, which leads to pursuing a PhD. I picked the latter, and I am extremely excited about making a thesis and going on to do a PhD proposal! Alternatively, if that doesn't work out, I’ll take a break and work for a while before pursuing a PhD elsewhere. I am not entirely sure where I will study it, but God willing, I hope I will find another opportunity so that I can study it abroad. I am definitely still weighing my options, but at the moment I’m leaning towards Religion and Politics, or Religion and Peace & Conflict.