As she reaches the end of her academic journey at EURECOM, Aida Teshome Teressa looks back on an opportunity that has been an important part of her experience as a student. She reflects on the academic challenges she faced and on how the MMEG Scholarship helped her refine her plans and deepen her expertise in networks and telecommunications. Originally from Ethiopia, Aida joined EURECOM in 2024 to pursue the Master in Networks and Telecommunication, Intelligent Communication System track, after working for nearly three years as a Cloud Consultant specialising in Azure.
In 2025, she was awarded the Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) Scholarship, which supports women from developing countries in pursuing higher education. The scholarship has provided her with financial stability throughout her studies and internship, while also helping her refine the direction she wants to take after graduation: continuing her research and deepening her technical expertise before moving into industry.
A scholarship that confirmed her choice
Aida discovered the 2025 MMEG Scholarship through EURECOM and approached the application purposefully. Because the required essay was in French, she enlisted a friend to review the language, ensuring her ideas were communicated clearly. She successfully navigated a fast-paced selection process, which included an interview and the submission of supplementary materials. Despite knowing her application was strong, the final announcement was a thrilling moment. "While the selection came as a genuine surprise, I am deeply grateful for such an incredible honor." she said.
The scholarship has given her the financial stability she needed to focus fully on her studies and final internship. But beyond the financial support, the application process itself proved particularly valuable. Writing her project proposal encouraged her to think carefully about the areas in which she wanted to develop her expertise and how she wanted to put it into practice. Putting her ambitions into words confirmed her decision to deepen her knowledge in networks and telecommunications.
“The scholarship process itself helped me clarify that. Writing the project grant proposal forced me to articulate what I actually care about and how I want to contribute to society.”
For Aida, the MMEG Scholarship has provided both financial support and an opportunity to further develop her ambitions. Receiving the scholarship strengthened her confidence in the choices she had made and allowed her to focus on the next stage of her academic and professional journey.
From industry to a new academic challenge
Aida’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a focus on communications. After graduating, she joined a company where she was first trained in Azure before working as a Cloud Consultant in the field for nearly three years.
Although she found this professional experience rewarding, she knew she wanted to deepen her knowledge of telecommunications. EURECOM offered exactly what she was looking for: a rigorous Master’s degree in a field she was interested in, taught in English at one of France’s leading institutions in digital sciences.
The transition was challenging. After several years away from the field, Aida describes her first semester at EURECOM as particularly demanding. With the support of her professors, she was able to rebuild her academic foundations and regain confidence in her technical skills. This experience also led her to complete her final internship with Professor Navid Nikaein, one of the EURECOM professors who supported her during this period.
“Getting through that period gave me real confidence and a much clearer sense of what I’m capable of.”
Beyond the challenge of returning to higher education, Aida describes her international experience at EURECOM as more immersive than she had initially expected, in the best possible way. For her, studying at EURECOM means becoming more independent, meeting people from different backgrounds and discovering opportunities she did not know existed.
“You grow academically, but you also grow as a person.”
What’s next?
As she approaches the end of her studies, Aida already has a clear idea of the direction she wants to take. She plans to continue researching and deepen her technical expertise before eventually moving into industry.
Looking back, her journey also highlights the importance of taking opportunities, even when the outcome is uncertain. Her advice to students considering applying for the MMEG Scholarship is simple:
“Be honest about who you are and clear about your potential.”
She also encourages students to take the time to work on their project proposal and, above all, not to let uncertainty stop them from applying.
“The process itself is worth it.”
As Aida reaches the end of her time at EURECOM, the MMEG Scholarship represents another valuable step in her academic and professional journey. Her experience is also a reminder that simply deciding to give something a try can open the door to new opportunities.
