The applications to the College of Europe and the "José Medeiros Ferreira" scholarship are open until January 20, 2016. The latter is granted by the Regional Government for postgraduate courses in this institution of recognised international prestige at the campuses of Bruges, Belgium, or in Natolin, Poland.

Applicants to the different areas of specialisation of the College of Europe must hold a degree with a final mark equal or above 13, and should be fluent in English and French, both written and spoken; students who are about to complete their degree may be admitted conditionally.

The scholarship to be granted by the Regional Government is intended to support several expenses, including tuition fees, accommodation and food, as well as a round trip from the Azores to the country where the course is being attended. All applicants up to the age of 30 who have applied for postgraduate courses at the College of Europe are eligible for the "José Medeiros Ferreira" scholarship. Furthermore, they are also required to have resided for at least three years in the Region, where they should have completed their secondary education or, exceptionally, junior high school.

With this programme, the Government of the Azores aims to promote the "training of specialised staff" in the Region. This initiative pays tribute to Azorean historian and politician José Medeiros Ferreira, recently deceased, who as Minister of Foreign Affairs prepared and formalised Portugal's request for accession to the then European Economic Community.

In the academic year 2015/2016, the "José Medeiros Ferreira" Scholarship was granted to Roberto Costa Pacheco, who will attend a postgraduate course in "European Political and Administrative Studies" at the College of Europe in Bruges.

In previous academic years, Margarida Rodrigues and Constança Freitas have successfully completed their training at the College of Europe, followed by traineeships in Europe. Currently, both of them are working at EU institutions in Luxembourg and Brussels.

Every year, the College of Europe welcomes more than four hundred students in graduate programmes in European Studies, with a majoring in Law, Economics, Politics and Administration, as well as in International and Diplomatic Relations.

Applications to the College of Europe for the academic year 2015/2016 must be submitted until January 31, through an application available at the electronic address https://www.coleurope.eu/website/study/admissions-apply-online. A copy of the application form must be submitted to the Cabinet of the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations ([email protected]) and to the Directorate-General of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ([email protected]).
 
After the submission of the application to the College of Europe, the Selection Committee in Portugal will be responsible for the admission to the postgraduate course. The Government of the Azores is represented by the Jean Monet Chair of the University of the Azores, which also takes part in the selection process and granting of "José Medeiros Ferreira" Scholarship to the Azorean applicant.

For more information, those are interested should contact the Cabinet of the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations through the email address [email protected] or the telephone number 296 204 700, and visit the websites www.azores.gov.pt and www.coleurope.eu.