Masters Degree in European Studies

Deadline for application for academic year 2005-06 is Saturday, 30 April 2005

Belgium-Hong Kong Society Scholarship 2005-06

The Belgium – Hong Kong Society invites applications for a scholarship of EUR10,000 to study in the prestigious College of Europe in Belgium in 2005-06.

Background

2. The Belgium – Hong Kong Society was formed in Brussels, Belgium in 1986 to promote bilateral economic, social and cultural exchanges between Belgium and Hong Kong. The Society comprises business leaders from major Belgian companies and commercial organisations. More information about the Society can be found on the website at www.bhks.be.

3. The Society established the Belgium-Hong Kong Society Scholarship on the occasion of the visit to Belgium of Mr. Donald Tsang, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in May 2002. The Scholarship provides an opportunity for a Hong Kong student to undertake a one-year Masters Degree in European Studies at the College of Europe, situated in the historic city of Bruges (90 km from Brussels), Belgium. So far two Hong Kong students have been awarded the Scholarship and completed studies in the College.

College of Europe

4. Founded in 1949, the College of Europe was the world’s very first university institute of postgraduate studies and training in European affairs. Over the past 55 years the College of Europe has built an extensive reputation in the field of European studies, and is the leading place for those wishing to study, understand and literally “live” in Europe. As the careers of many of its alumni illustrate, the College degree opens up interesting professional prospects in Europe and at the international level. The European Commission's top civil servant, Secretary-General David O'Sullivan, studied in Bruges, as did around 1 000 alumni who now occupy key posts in all the European Union institutions.

5. The College has two campuses: one in Bruges, Belgium; and the other in Natolin (Warsaw), Poland. Entry requirements and rigorous selection procedures ensure that students admitted are of the highest calibre. Across both campuses, students come from over 47 different countries and usually speak three to four languages. The Bruges campus had 281 students whereas Natolin had 123 in 2003-04 academic year. All have completed a university degree in a field appropriate for participation in the College’s postgraduate programme, and quite a number already hold a postgraduate degree. About 87% of students are under whole or partial scholarships granted by governments or private institutions.

Academic Programme

6. The 2005-06 postgraduate programme covers two semesters commencing in September 2005 and finishing in June 2006. On the Bruges campus, a student may choose to enrol in one of the three departments of European Studies: Law, Economics, and Politics and Administration. Upon completion of the one-year programme, students are awarded the “Master in European Law (LLM)”, or the “Master of Arts in European Economic Studies”, or the “Master of Arts in European Political and Administrative Studies”. The two working languages of the College are English and French. Candidates for the academic year 2005-06 are invited to consult the College of Europe website at www.coleurop.be or contact the College at info.admissions@coleurop.be for more information about the academic programme.

The Scholarship

7. The Belgium – Hong Kong Society Scholarship 2005-06 provides the opportunity for a Hong Kong student to study on the Bruges campus of the College. The Scholarship covers the full tuition fee amounting to EUR10,000. The selected student is expected to pay for his/her own board and lodging amounting to EUR6,000, which covers a residence in the College throughout the academic year and daily meals (except on Sunday and public holidays).

8. The selected student is required to organise one social event in the College during the academic year to promote the understanding of Hong Kong/Asia, with the participation of the Belgium – Hong Kong Society.

Admission Requirements

9. Applicants should normally be below 30 years of age, have (or will receive soon) a relevant Bachelor degree at least. The application must be endorsed in writing by the college or university where the applicants received/will receive their Bachelor degrees (there is no limit as to how many candidates one college/university can endorse).

10. Applicants need to have good knowledge of both English and French. They should demonstrate their language capabilities by completing the “Language Knowledge Statement” downloaded from the College website at www.coleurop.be, and where possible, should supply internationally recognised language certificates. Language levels will be tested in selection interviews. The College may suggest the successful candidate follow an intensive summer course with the Alliance Française in Brussels in August, before the school term starts in September 2005. The tuition costs of this language course will be covered by a grant.

11. Applicants should submit a formal application for admission, which consists of a completed application form downloaded from the College’s website at www.coleurop.be, and a number of supporting documents as specified in the form. The application should be sent in parallel to the Selection Committee (Hong Kong), the Selection Committee (Belgium) as well as to the College of Europe (see contact details at the bottom). The deadline for applications is Saturday, 30 April 2005.

Selection Criteria

12. In considering the applications, the Selection Committees and the College will have regard to the following qualities:

(a) proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard;

(b) linguistic abilities (fluency in English and French);

,,,,, (d) communication and inter-personal skills; and

(e) potential to promote understanding between Europe and Hong Kong.

13. The Selection Committees and the College reserve complete discretion to determine an applicant’s eligibility. In the absence of a sufficiently qualified candidate, the Selection Committees and the College will make no nomination.

Selection Process

14. There will be a first round of interviews by a Selection Committee appointed in Hong Kong representing the College and the Belgium-Hong Kong Society. The second round of interviews will be conducted by telephone/video-conference by the College and the Selection Committee in Belgium.

15. The Secretariat of the Belgium-Hong Kong Society will inform applicants about the details of the interviews by email and by phone. Interviews will take place in May and June 2005, and candidates will be informed of the outcome a few days after the completion of the second-round interview.