It is no secret that full-time students at domestic universities cannot live on these modest sums. However, talented students and postgraduates can shed the status of a poor student by receiving a scholarship of from 700 euros per month for study and research in one of the European countries. We explain the conditions for obtaining such scholarships and a fundamental education. True, for this you will have to continue your studies outside your homeland.
France
Those wishing to study in France can receive financial support from the French government (250 scholarships are allocated per year for foreign students) or a grant from some non-governmental organization (UNESCO publishes information about such organizations twice a year).
Academic scholarships are most often awarded for nine months to senior university students. True, without successfully passing the language exam at the French embassy, the chances of receiving a scholarship are reduced to zero. Sometimes applicants are required to submit a detailed study plan, and sometimes they need to enlist the support of a teacher at a French university.
If you do not know which university to prefer, you can contact the organization EduFrance for advice. Our student can count on receiving a scholarship of 800 euros per month.
Sweden
In Sweden, like in most countries of the European Union, university education is free. Therefore, all scholarships are designed to cover the cost of living and food for the student. For foreigners, the Swedish government allocates about 150 scholarships annually, and, of course, the competition for them is usually very tough. Distribution of financial benefits is handled by the Swedish equivalent of our Ministry of Education - the Swedish Institute. At that, scholarships are not awarded to those who have lived in Sweden for more than two years, who have a residence permit or work permit. There are no age restrictions, and knowledge of Swedish is not required either (all universities participating in international exchange have courses in English).
If you want to study in Sweden in the upper years of university, in a master's program, then first of all you need to choose a program of interest and submit an application for it to the university where you plan to study. In the application, you must indicate that you wish to receive a scholarship. Of course, this must be done in advance, about a year before the expected start of classes. If you are selected, you will find out about it in May-June.
A list of all available master's programs can be viewed on the Swedish Institute website. Programs usually last two to three semesters. However, the scholarship is awarded for only two semesters, but with good academic performance and on the recommendation of the university, it can be extended until the end of the study period. Its amount is 7.500 Swedish kronor (815 euros) per month. In addition, the Swedish Institute pays for insurance against illness and accidents.
In addition to long-term study, this organization sponsors short (one to two weeks) introductory trips to Sweden to attend lectures and participate in seminars. You can go not alone, but in a small group (two or three people). Applications must be received by the institute at least eight weeks before the intended departure date. The scholarship covers travel expenses there and back, accommodation, and possible seminar fees.
Netherlands
The Netherlands provides scholarships for study at any university to those who have not yet reached 35 years of age but already have a bachelor's degree (i.e., have studied at a domestic institute for at least three years, or are studying in graduate school, or received a diploma two years before applying for the scholarship). The program is called Huygens, and its implementation is entrusted to the Dutch organization for international cooperation in higher education, Nuffic.
The scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis for a period of three to 10 months and is not extended. The amount of the allowance is 702 euros per month (in addition, your travel, insurance, visa, and costs for obtaining a temporary residence permit based on 650 euros per person will be paid). Scholarship holders are exempt from the standard tuition fee in the Netherlands, which was 1.445 euros this year. If the tuition fee at a particular educational institution exceeds this figure, the student pays the difference out of their own pocket.
You can also apply to the Netherlands embassy for a short-term scholarship from the Dutch Language Union. It is provided to those who have studied Dutch for at least a year and is intended for attending summer language courses.
Germany
The German agency that regulates international student exchange is called DAAD. Documents should be submitted in October-November. It is better to consult the agency about the registration procedure, as there are many special requirements (in particular, you cannot staple papers together or print on the reverse side).
It should be noted that scholarships are not provided for the first year of study. After that, you can receive financial support for 1-10 months.
United Kingdom
As stated in the charter of the largest British scholarship program Chevening, it is designed for those who are distinguished among their peers by enthusiasm and ambition. Applicants must be under 35 years old, fluent in English, and have a higher education diploma (preferably with honors).
The scholarship covers the costs of living and studying in postgraduate programs at British universities for 3-12 months in the following fields: economics, finance, law, ecology, communication, political science, telecommunications, urban planning, design, computer technology.
The Chevening administration selects the university and course for each scholarship holder who passes the competition. Applications for the 2005-2006 academic year are accepted until October 20 of this year. The competition consists of four stages, including an interview in English with specialists in a specific scientific field at the British Council office. Final results will be known no earlier than March 2005.
If you have passed the competition for a Chevening scholarship, but for some reason want to postpone your studies to the next year, you can submit a corresponding application to the Council on Educational Affairs. Most likely, they will meet you halfway.
Another opportunity to study in England for free was provided to foreign students by Dorothy Hodgkin, who bequeathed to divide her entire fortune into scholarships for those who want to write a research paper and obtain a PhD degree (corresponding to Candidate of Sciences) in the fields of natural and social sciences, engineering, technology, medicine, and economics. To achieve this scholarship, you must contact one of the 20 largest British universities (the full list of universities can be found on the British Council website), agree on a study program, and receive from them a recommendation for the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award.
Finland
In Finland, scholarships for foreigners are distributed by CIMO (Center for International Mobility). Every year CIMO awards approximately 900 scholarships, with more than half of them going to the northwestern regions of Russia and the Baltic countries.
The set of documents, deadlines for their submission, and questionnaire questions change every year; you can find out the exact requirements for the current year at the Finnish embassy or on the CIMO website. Most scholarships are intended for postgraduate study and writing candidate dissertations at Finnish universities in any specialty.
For example, the CIMO Fellowships program is designed for a period of three to 12 months. Applications for it must be submitted no later than three months before the start of studies. You must first agree on all details with the host university and receive an invitation from it.
In 2004, the Finnish scholarship is 725-1,000 euros per month. The exact amount depends on the academic level of the scholarship holder and on the support provided by the specific research department. It is assumed that the scholarship covers the costs of living in Finland for one person; no additional payment for travel to the country, accommodation of relatives, or housing is made.
The Finnish studies and researchers program is intended for graduate students who seriously study the Finnish language and literature, Finno-Ugric linguistics, ethnology, and folklore. The scholarship is given for a semester at the rate of 760 euros per month. The application must be submitted in Finnish.
Certificates of education and other documents that must be submitted with the application must be translated into Finnish, Swedish, English, German, or French and notarized.
Those who are directly involved in theater, dance, visual arts, design, architecture, music, film, and literature can also go abroad. The costs of such an internship are paid under the Scandinavian program Sleipnir. This program, named after the horse of the god Odin, has been operating in Europe for many years. It finances trips to seminars, festivals, exhibitions, and concerts related to the participant's work. The scholarship does not cover the cost of materials needed for any direct work: brushes, canvases, paints. In principle, everyone draws up their own internship program; you only need to prove its feasibility to the Sleipnir expert council. The scholarship covers travel expenses and accommodation for a period from one or two days to six months.
Switzerland
Switzerland is ready to allocate scholarships for postgraduate study at a state university to people under 35 years old with higher education. A mandatory condition is fluent knowledge of German or French. In addition to a diploma of higher education, written consent from a teacher at the chosen university is required. The language exam is taken in December. To be admitted to the test, you must fill out questionnaires that can be obtained at the embassy. The number of places in state universities is limited (15-20 people in general disciplines and only one place for those wishing to specialize in the arts).