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Making the EU a centre of excellence for studies and vocational training |
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One of the objectives of EU action in education is to promote Europe as a whole as a world centre of excellence for studies and vocational training. Bringing more non-EU nationals into the EU for studies is a key factor in that strategy. Migration in this case clearly constitutes a form of mutual enrichment: for the migrants concerned, their country of origin and the host EU State, and helps to promote familiarity with other cultures. Common rules for admission of students  The EU applies common rules of admission for non-EU nationals who request admission to an EU State for one of the following: studies leading to a higher education qualification (students); to follow a recognised programme of secondary education (pupils); to pursue a training period without remuneration (unremunerated trainees); or to take part in a national or EU volunteer programme. These common rules are laid down in the 2004 Directive on the conditions of admission of non-EU nationals for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service. Conditions of admission The conditions of admission are twofold. The general conditions, common to all four groups of non-EU nationals, include, for instance, a requirement to have health insurance or – in the case of a minor – parental authorisation. The specific conditions, which apply to individual groups, cover, for instance, the need to prove either the availability of sufficient resources to cover subsistence or, if the EU State so requires, sufficient knowledge of the language. Some of the conditions provided for in the Directive are optional and their imposition is left to the discretion of the EU State. Residence permit  Once they have met the relevant conditions, the applicants are entitled to a residence permit. The duration of the residence permit and the admissibility of renewal differ depending on the purpose of migration. For instance, a student residence permit shall be issued for a period of no more than one year. For unremunerated trainees it shall correspond to the duration of the placement or a maximum of one year, and it may be renewed once. The rules on duration and renewal are more flexible in the case of students. Additional entitlements for students Under certain conditions, students are entitled to travel within the EU in order to follow or complement their studies. This right depends, amongst other conditions, on a student’s participation in a Union or bilateral exchange programme, or on them having been allowed entry to an EU State as a student for not less than two years. Moreover, non-EU students are entitled to be employed in the host EU State or to exercise self-employed activity. This enables them to cover part of the study costs. This right may be subject to certain requirements or limitations (including a work permit, limitations on the number of working hours, etc.). However, EU States must allow the students to work at least 10 hours per week. Procedures The Directive introduces general rules on procedures for assessing the non-EU nationals’ applications. It also provides rights should, for instance, an application be rejected or a residence permit withdrawn. |
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