The Future Leaders of Europe: Europaeum Scholars’ Programme offers a unique opportunity to be part of a network of some of the brightest people of your generation. You will be able to connect your doctoral research with the world of policy making, to draw on the combined resources of eighteen Europe’s leading universities, to learn how to work as a team (and what leading a team involves), and to understand the complexity of policy making.

About the course:

• participants attend six modules and a conference over two years while studying for their existing doctoral degrees
• for the most talented, energetic and committed doctoral candidates from within the Europaeum network – the people who will make a difference to Europe
• multi-disciplinary, multi-university, and multi-locational and focuses on contemporary European policy
• entry via open competition for around 30 places every other year
• it is the flagship programme of the Europaeum
• aim of the Programme is to engage academic thinking with policy making and to produce a new generation of leaders, thinkers, and researchers with the capacity to meet the cultural, political and societal challenges facing Europe today

Each scholar is fully funded by a scholarship, that covers full accommodation, food, and lectures, but does not provide a stipend.

A maximum of 30 places are available.

What the course offers:

• Learn how to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team
• Develop key leadership skills for success in the public or private sectors
• Network with scholars and academics from leading European universities and a wide variety of non-academic stakeholders
• Hear from a range of professionals involved in shaping policy in Europe
• Visit key EU and international institutions
• Develop professional skills working with the best professional trainers
• Stand out in the increasingly saturated job market for graduates

Applicants must be:

• enrolled on a doctoral programme at one of the participating Europaeum universities
• pursuing research related to Europe (broadly defined) in the Humanities or Social Sciences OR have very strong extra-curricular interests in European affairs

Application Deadline: Sunday, 15 March 2026

Applications must include:

• evidence of academic record
• personal statement
• short answer to our questions (posted online)
• two academic references (one of which should be from the applicant’s supervisor)
• one leadership reference
• one personal reference
• CV

Information sessions (Open to Europaeum Doctoral students and staff)

Thursday 12 February 2026

• 9.30 GMT / 10.30 CET, Registration link
• 11.00 GMT / 12.00 CET, Registration link;

Friday 13 February 2026

• 14.00 GMT / 15.00 CET, Registration link;
• 15.30 GMT / 16.30 CET, Registration link;

Wednesday 25 February 2026

• 9.30 GMT / 10.30 CET, Registration link;
• 11.00 GMT / 12.00 CET, Registration link;

Thursday 26 February 2026

• 13.30 GMT / 14.30 CET, Registration link;
• 15.00 GMT / 16.00 CET, Registration link;

Monday 2 March 2026

• 13.00 GMT / 14.00 CET, Registration link;
• 14.30 GMT / 15.30 CET, Registration link.

For more information, please see the Europaeum website.