About Emerging Scholars Council
1:1 mentorship for fully funded PhD and Master's places abroad · Ambition to Admission
Emerging Scholars Council (ESC) is a 1:1 mentorship programme that helps STEM graduates — mostly from India — win fully funded PhD and Master's places in Europe, and also the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. Founded by Dr. Deepak Kumar Malik (PhD, LMU Munich; DAAD alumnus; President of DAAD IndiAlumni Netzwerk e.V.), ESC matches each student with a PhD researcher in their field: 27 mentors across 9 countries, 335+ students helped.
ESC began in 2024 over a Christmas dinner in Munich — a group of friends talking about how hard it still was for talented science students to land funded PhDs and Masters abroad. Every mentor has made this journey themselves. We don't do copy-paste letters, we don't use AI, and we stay with each student until they are admitted. Read our full story →
ESC at a glance
| What we do | 1:1 mentorship for fully funded PhD and Master's admissions — positions and programmes shortlisted for you, every document built with you, interview preparation, and support until you are admitted. |
|---|---|
| PhD programme | The PhD Pathfinder Program — for STEM students aiming for a fully funded PhD. ₹50,000 to start · ₹1,00,000 total (about €910); the second instalment is due only once you hold an admission offer. |
| Master's programme | The Masters Launchpad Program — for students aiming for a funded, English-taught Master's. ₹29,999 to start · ₹59,998 total (about €550); the second instalment is due only once you hold an admission offer. |
| First step | A free discovery call with a mentor from your field — about 30 minutes, no commitment. Book a free call → |
| Founder | Dr. Deepak Kumar Malik — PhD in Biochemistry, LMU Munich (DAAD scholar); previously IIT Bombay and the University of Delhi. Elected President of DAAD IndiAlumni Netzwerk e.V., the association of DAAD alumni linking India and Germany. Dr. Malik holds this role in a personal, voluntary capacity. ESC is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the DAAD or IndiAlumni. |
| Mentors | 27 mentors across 9 countries — PhDs, postdocs, researchers and professionals, matched to your field. |
| Students helped | 335+ — see success stories. |
| Founded | 2024, in Munich. |
| Registration | Registered MSME with the Government of India · Reg. No. UDYAM-HR-08-0060567. Full details on our contact page. |
| Contact | info@emergingscholarscouncil.com |
Explore
- PhD mentorship
- Master's mentorship
- Our mentors
- Success stories
- Open funded PhD positions
- Free guides
Follow us: LinkedIn · YouTube · Instagram (@emergingscholarscouncil)