News item | 24-11-2023 | 16:19
The government wants the Netherlands to be better represented in the European Union (EU) and for more Dutch people to opt for a European career. That is why ten Dutch students can receive compensation if they register for a master’s degree at the College of Europe. Read about the conditions and selection below.
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What is the College of Europe?
It College of Europe (College of Europe) is a university institute in Bruges and Warsaw. With various postgraduate courses (masters), the college is an important springboard for anyone who wants to work in the EU. View the range of master’s programs at the College of Europe (English).
What does the compensation entail?
For the academic year 2024-2025, a complete master’s program on campus in Bruges and Warsaw costs €27,000. With the compensation, the Netherlands offers ten students the opportunity to reduce that amount by € 19,000, so that only the room and board themselves have to be paid. The collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the College of Europe is planned for the next 4 years. So compensation will also be available in future academic years.
From 2024 it will also be possible to study in Tirana. The Dutch scholarship program does not apply to this (but other scholarship programs may).
How do you qualify for the compensation?
With a Dutch nationality you are automatically eligible for the allowance. The council will ultimately inform the selected students. You can register via the College of Europe website register for one of the study programs. For this, you must provide, among other things, a motivation letter and various documents. You can register from October 12, 2023 to January 16, 2024.
What are the selection criteria of the College of Europe?
The College of Europe itself is responsible for the selection of Dutch people who will receive the compensation. From the end of the registration period (after January 16, 2024), two selection rounds will follow. The first round revolves around your submitted motivation letter, academic and professional background, references and language skills. The second round is a 15 to 20 minute interview. The best ten Dutch students are selected for the compensation based on a points system.
Why is the compensation there?
According to the European Commission, relatively few Dutch people work within European Union institutions. The government wants to change this by lowering the threshold for the College of Europe. Because the EU functions best when every member state is sufficiently represented. If more people think and work from a Dutch perspective within the EU, this will ensure better alignment with Dutch people and Dutch goals. This way we can make the Dutch sound resonate more strongly.