Young Cell Scheme
EU Postgraduate Scholarship Programme for Kosovo
Young cell scheme Rounds XIII-XIV-XV is a scholarship programme, co-funded by the European Union and by the Government of Kosovo, managed by the EU Office in Kosovo and implemented by the Consortium of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Institute National du Service Public, France.
Call for Applications - Young Cell Scheme Round XV
Post-Graduate EU Scholarship Programme
The European Union Office in Kosovo and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Government of Kosovo announce the opening of the Round XV of Applications to the Young Cell Scheme, the EU post-graduate scholarship programme for Kosovo citizens, which is currently implemented by the Consortium of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and the Institut National du Service Public, France. Applications are open from Friday 8 November 2024 until Monday 9 December 2024 at 17:00. Successful applicants will be offered the opportunity to study in a Master programme at universities in the EU Member States. The Scholarship Programme’s working language is in English, and will offer 40 full grants (the actual number of scholarships awarded may change depending on suitability of candidates and availability of funding). This call is open to general public and to civil servants who are graduates with degrees specified in the Rules of Procedures available on the official website of the programme at https://ycskosovo.org in line with the following sectors:
This call is open to the general public and to civil servants in the following areas:
- European Integration and Policy Planning - up to 15 scholarships available
- Law– up to 10 scholarships available
- Environment and Energy – up to 8 scholarships available
- Economics– up to 7 scholarships available
Eligible applicants are:
- Kosovo citizens with a valid Kosovo passport or ID card issued by Kosovo institutions or with valid birth certificate and citizenship certificate are required where any form of Kosovo ID cannot be provided).
- University graduates holding a bachelor degree in one of the areas of study pertaining to the sectors
- Fluent in English and Albanian or Serbian.
- Born on 1st January 1990 or later.
Scholarships will cover the following costs:
- application costs and tuition fees
- living allowances
- visa costs & health insurance
- one return flight ticket
- English preparatory language training for- and cost of IELTS English test (in case the studies are to be under in another EU language, other required language tests could also be reimbursed)
Selected participants will commit to:
- Be available to undergo training/internship from February 2025 onwards and to move abroad from August-October 2025 until the end of the estimated completion of studies.
- Work for the Kosovo Public Administration as an intern for up to 4 months before departure (with the exception of civil servants already employed in the public administration of Kosovo).
- Follow the YCS language training programme (where needed).
- Attend and complete their chosen post-graduate studies at stay.
- Complete three (3) consecutive years of employment or re-employment (if civil servants) in the public administration of Kosovo (including employment in municipalities and local government) upon their return.
Selections will be carried out in three stages and they include:
- Pre-selection based on the administrative and eligibility criteria.
- Written tests (English knowledge, EU General Knowledge and Verbal & Numerical Reasoning).
- Interviews by a panel composed of academics from selected EU universities.
EUO and GoK representatives, might attend the interviews as observers.
The whole selection procedure will be implemented in accordance with the new Regulation (GRK) No. 04/2024 on the Beneficiaries of Scholarship Schemes in Civil Service (https://gzk.rks-gov.net/ActDetail.aspx?ActID=97669).
Representatives of non-majority or diverse communities and women are strongly encouraged to apply. Application forms, Rules of Procedure and the full set of accompanying documents will be sent by email to all interested applicants upon registration at the following website: https://ycskosovo.org until Monday, 9 December 2024 at 17:00.
YCS Round XV Scholarships’ Rules of procedure, including selections criteria and related procedures must be carefully read and understood before submitting an application. Round XV Rules of Procedure are available at https://ycskosovo.org .
Applicants must complete in English the Europass CV format, the YCS RXV Application Form and they must accompany their application with a signed and dated Letter of Motivation (explaining why they wish to take part in the scheme) and Self-declaration to prove that all documents submitted are valid. All applicants must also enclose with their application copies of diplomas or degrees and original (or certified copies of) transcripts and copies of valid Passport/ID card issued by Kosovo authorities or other proofs of birth and citizenship in Kosovo.
In case of undergraduate applicants, they must enclose with their applications up to date original (or certified copy of) transcripts with the exams and a self-declaration regarding the expected date of graduation.
Make sure to include a VALID e-mail address and phone number both in the YCS RXV Application Form and in the Europass CV of your application. All communications to applicants will be sent only through emails.
The Europass CV format, the YCS RXV Application Form and the YCS RXV Rules of Procedure will be received by email by registering on the YCS official website and filling the application form.
NOTE: Missing documents, incomplete applications (such as missing the CV, the application form, the letter of motivation), applications not in English, and applications including CVs not in the Europass format will not be reviewed and will be automatically excluded from the selection procedure.
Applications deadline: Monday, 9 December 2024 at 17:00
Applications received after this deadline will not be considered under any circumstance.
DELIVER OF APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ONLINE in compressed folder (all documents in PDF format in zip folder), through this link: https://ycskosovo.org/index.php/en/apply
or in case of technical difficulties, applications can be submitted also in hard copies in a sealed envelope at the following address:
Young Cell Scheme – Round XV Application, Str. Behije Dashi, No.14, 6th floor, Aktash, Prishtina 10000 Kosovo, Tel. +38349444357
Please do not make direct inquiries regarding your application.
Applicants who have not been contacted by Saturday, 14 December 2024 have not passed the pre-selection phase and have not been short-listed to sit written exams.
Launched in 2004, the Young Cell Scheme offers an opportunity to young Kosovar students from diverse background to study in top universities located in EU Member States with a purpose to systematically attract young candidates for the civil service for a period of three consecutive years, after the successful completion of their studies.
The overall objective of YCS is to strengthen the professional capacity of the civil service in the long term to better serve Kosovo citizens and meet the obligations and acquis arising from the process of EU integration of the country. In line with the best EU standards, YCS scholarship programme assists Kosovo to generate a depoliticised, professional, inclusive and effective public administration, capable of implementing EU legislation and offers a better career management policy.
Overall, by improving the professional capacity of the Kosovar civil service, the action will accompany the progress of the reform on public administration in Kosovo and shall contribute to respond to the Kosovar citizens’ demands for a greater strengthening of State structures and processes, in a context of political, social, and economic challenges.