Seniors Bayaraa Gankhulug ’26, Annie Qu ’26, Sophia Wan Zhiyan ’26, Yang Luyi ’26, along with IMA alum Annika Wen Huiwei ’25 have all been selected for the highly competitive graduate Erasmus Mundus Scholarship program spanning Europe and other countries across the globe.
In partnership with the European Union, the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programs are some of the most selective international graduate opportunities, offering students a chance to study across multiple countries while engaging in cross-cultural interdisciplinary research. Students split their time between three to four universities in different countries, gaining exposure to different learning systems and developing global perspectives on social, cultural, and economic issues.
Bayaraa Gankhulug '26, a Computer Science major from Ulanbataar, Mongolia, with minors in Interactive Media Arts and Chinese. He will pursue a Master of Science in Imaging and Light in Extended Reality (IMLEX) at University of Eastern Finland, Toyohashi University of Technology in Japan, University Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne in France, and KU Leuven in Belgium.
Computer Science Professor of Practice Promethee Spathis, who supervised his capstone project, said Bayaraa’s work stood out for both its technical depth and social relevance. “He tackled a deeply complex problem, bridging Mongolia’s education-employment gap, with a rare combination of rigor and empathy,” he said. “What impressed me most was his ability to connect advanced machine learning techniques with real-world impact, always keeping the end users, students navigating uncertain futures, at the center of his work.”
Bayaraa said he hopes to further explore augmented and virtual reality, as well as computer vision in his master’s studies. “My experience at NYU Shanghai gave me the opportunity to begin exploring this field, which strongly influenced my decision to pursue it further,” he said.
Annie Qu ’26, from Chongqing, majored in Interactive Media and Business major with a minor in History, She will pursue a Jointly Conferred International Master (JCIM) in Global Markets, Local Creativities from the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, and Universitat de Barcelona, in Spain, plus a Master of Arts in History from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Distinguished Global Network Professor of History Chen Jian and Research Professor Chen Zhihong reflected on the determination and diligence she brought to the classroom.
“Annie frequently came to our office hours to continue these conversations with us, posing perceptive questions and pursuing lines of inquiry that extended well beyond the assigned materials,” they said. “These interactions revealed not only her strong academic foundation but also her genuine intellectual curiosity and deep enthusiasm for the study of history."
Qu’s academic interests center on digital media, culture, and gender, focusing on video game design and marketing. In her capstone project, she examines the concept of “digital intimacy,” exploring how these games engage with social issues and respond to women’s needs.
At NYU Shanghai, Qu developed these interests through interdisciplinary coursework and hands-on experience. During her masters program, she wants to work on something “that could promote equal participation in economic and cultural activities,” she said.
Yang Luyi ’26, a Business and Finance and Social Science (Psychology) double major from Suzhou will pursue a Master’s in Global Markets, Local Creativities. Her studies will take her to the University of Glasgow in Scotland, Universitat de Barcelona in Spain, and Kyoto University in Japan.
Luyi said her roots in Suzhou as a port city sparked her curiosity into researching how different cities develop based on geography and their role in the global market. “I’m excited to learn if there are any interesting practices of business and social innovations and learn about those cities and how they develop,” she said.
Community Engaged Learning Director Diane Geng, who interacted frequently with Luyi on CEL activities, described Luyi as always rising to the occasion. “Beneath her quiet, calm aura lies a striking strength and intrepid spirit,” she said. “Whether she’s mentoring migrant youth, joining a permaculture farm group in rural Shanghai, or helping to mount the first-ever Shanghai-Gulf Forum, Luyi consistently goes above and beyond to stretch herself and dig deeper.”
Annika Wen Huiwei ’25, from Wuhan, graduated last year with a major in Interactive Media Arts. She will pursue a Master of Arts in Film Heritage, studying at the LUCA School of Arts in Belgium, Lusófona University in Spain, the Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Ireland, and the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School in Estonia.
Annika said she’s looking forward to combining the technical skills she learned during her IMA degree with her interest in film cultural heritage. “I'm used to coding, physical computing, and mixed reality,” she said. “But while working on my undergraduate projects, I realized that technology shouldn't just be about chasing the ‘new’—it can also be an amazing tool to reactivate the ‘old.’"
While the program involves working with traditional film stock archives, she plans to explore how emerging digital interfaces and spatial computing can take dusty film archives out of the vaults and turn them into accessible, living archives. “My hope is to act as a small bridge between our cinematic past and digital future,” she added.
Annika’s senior capstone advisor, Assistant Arts Professor of Interactive Media Arts (IMA) Gottfried Haider said the scholarship will allow her to continue her creative practice. “Annika’s path may not be as linear or predictable as that of some other outstanding alumni, but her success in the world and the adaptability she demonstrates are equally remarkable,” he said.
Sophia Wan Zhiyan ’26, an Interactive Media Arts student from Sichuan, will begin a Masters in Digital Creativity, studying at the University Jean Monnet in France,
Universidade Catolica Portuguesa in Lisbon, and the University of Silesia in Poland.
Sophia’s work as an undergraduate focused on gender equity, body autonomy, and evolving human relationships. For her senior capstone project, she created an artificial womb examining how emerging technologies could change the mother-child relationship and women’s role in society over time.
Associate Arts Professor of Interactive Media Arts (IMA) Marcela Godoy, who advised Sophia on her capstone project, said Sophia is a perfect fit for the program. “Sophia's exceptional academic abilities are complemented by a strong sense of social responsibility and active community involvement,” she said. “Since I've met her, I've been deeply impressed by her commitment and ability to tackle complex and relevant issues, which reflects her thoughtful approach as an artist.”
Sophia said she is most looking forward to meeting new artists to collaborate with from a diverse range of backgrounds and learning how their work is informed and inspired by historic events.
Academic Affairs and Global Awards Coordinator Chen Ying congratulated the scholars for their achievements. “Their achievement reflects a holistic approach to personal development, embodying the kind of leadership that addresses real-world challenges,” she said. “By pursuing their Master’s degrees across diverse cultural landscapes, they will broaden their horizons to embrace a larger world and make a global impact.”
Meet NYU Shanghai’s past Erasmus Mundus Scholars: Doris Zhang ’25, Jacky Huang ’23, Xu You ’22, Jaime Cantwell ’22, Emma Song Yunqi ’20, and Benny Zhang Weilun ’18. For information and advice on applying for external scholarships and fellowships during or after your time at NYU Shanghai, contact the Global Awards & Fellowships office.