Province of Biscay - Grants for Specialization Studies in the London School of Economics

Bizkaia grants for postgraduate studies in EU affairs

You will receive up to 14,000 EUR to study EU-related subjects for one academic year at a European higher education institution of your choice. The scholarship covers tuition fees and enrolment fees, teaching materials, two return journeys, health and accident insurance, and accommodation at your place of study. In addition, you will receive a daily allowance of 25 EUR, for which no receipts are required. There is also a separate scholarship of 30,000 EUR, which is reserved for the College of Europe (Bruges campus, Belgium) and is paid directly to the institution. A total of up to four scholarships will be awarded as part of the 2026 cycle. The funding is provided by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia (Diputación Foral de Bizkaia) in the Basque Country.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a university degree (Grado or Licenciatura) in economics, law, business administration, political science, sociology or a related subject.
• When you finished: You completed your degree in June 2022 or later. If you are due to complete your degree in June 2026, you can apply now and confirm this by 30 September 2026.
• Connection to Bizkaia: You have lived in the Historical Territory of Bizkaia since at least July 2021, or you did your whole university degree at a university in Bizkaia.
• Nationality: You are a national of an EU Member State.
• Language: You must meet the language requirements set by your chosen higher education institution; this is usually at least level C1 in English. For the College of Europe, you will need an excellent command of English and French.
• Field of study: Your postgraduate studies must focus on matters relating to the European Union.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Diputacion Foral de Bizkaia’s electronic portal. The deadline for applications is 12 May. Candidates will be selected through a competitive process. Your application will be assessed on the basis of your academic achievements (50%), your language skills (20%) and a personal interview (30%). Award of the scholarship will be confirmed as soon as the host university has admitted you.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very narrowly defined. You need an EU-related degree, a clear connection to Bizkaia and a postgraduate programme in the field of EU affairs. This keeps the pool of eligible applicants small, meaning that only a few candidates are competing for a handful of scholarships. If you clearly meet these requirements and can demonstrate good grades and language certificates, your chances are good. A good command of English (as well as French for the College of Europe) and a compelling study plan are what set applicants apart from the rest.