Council of Europe Treaty Series

The member States of the Council of Europe, signatory hereto,

Having regard to the European Cultural Convention, signed at Paris on 19 December 1954;

Having regard to the declaration of the European Ministers of Education in Resolution No. 4 adopted at their 4th Conference, held in London on 14-16 April 1964, which, recognising the need to encourage exchanges of undergraduate and particularly post-graduate students between European countries, expressed the hope that steps would be taken to ensure that national programmes of financial support for students become equally applicable to periods of study in other European countries;

Considering that the practice of study in a country other than a student's home country is likely to contribute to a student's cultural and academic enrichment;

Considering that the fundamental cultural community existing among the member States of the Council of Europe signatory to the European Cultural Convention and the other States which have acceded thereto, makes such a practice possible;

Considering that within the European cultural and educational community, which they desire to establish on an even firmer basis, there should be, to the greatest extent possible, free movement for persons pursuing university studies or research,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

For the purpose of this Agreement:

1. The term "institutions of higher education" shall denote:
1. universities;
2. other institutions of higher education recognised for the purpose of this Agreement by the competent authorities of the Contracting Party in whose territory they are situated;
2. The term "scholarship" shall denote all forms of direct financial support granted to students, undergraduate and post-graduate, provided by the State or other authority, including grants towards the payment of fees, maintenance awards and study loans.

Article 2

For the purpose of this Agreement, a distinction shall be drawn between Contracting Parties according to whether the authority competent in their territory to deal with the award of scholarships is:

1. the State;
2. other authorities;
3. the State and/or other authorities, as the case may be.

Article 3

A scholarship that has been awarded by a Contracting Party falling within the category mentioned in sub-paragraph a of Article 2, for the purpose of enabling a person being a national of such Contracting Party to undertake a course of study or research at an institution of higher education in the territory of such Contracting Party, shall continue to be paid if that person is admitted, at his request and with the approval of the authorities supervising his studies or research, to pursue the said course of study or research in an institution of higher education in the territory of another Contracting Party.

Article 4

Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to affect the prevailing rules and regulations concerning the admission of students to institutions of higher education, or the requirements of authorities awarding scholarships with regard to the satisfactory pursuance or the duration of the course of study or research for which the award is made or for which it is renewed.

Article 5

1. Contracting Parties falling within the category mentioned in sub-paragraph b of Article 2 shall transmit the text of this Agreement to the authorities competent in their territory to deal with matters pertaining to the award of scholarships and shall encourage the favourable consideration and application by them of the principle set out in Article 3.
2. Contracting Parties falling within the category mentioned in sub-paragraph c of Article 2 shall apply the provisions of Article 3 where the State is the authority competent to deal with the award of scholarships, and the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article where the State is not the competent authority in this matter.

Article 6

Any Contracting Party may, by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, declare that it will extend the application of this Agreement to persons other than those specified under Article 3.

Article 7

1. This Agreement shall be open to signature by the member States of the Council of Europe, who may become Parties to it either by:
1. signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance; or
2. signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance, followed by ratification or acceptance.
2. Instruments of ratification or acceptance shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Article 9

1. This Agreement shall enter into force one month after the date on which five member States of the Council of Europe shall have become Parties to the Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of Article 7.
2. As regards any member State who shall subsequently sign the Agreement without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance or who shall ratify or accept it, the Agreement shall enter into force one month after the date of such signature or after the date of deposit of the instrument of ratification or acceptance.

Article 10

1. After the entry into force of this Agreement:
1. any non-member State of the Council of Europe which is a Contracting Party to the European Cultural Convention, signed at Paris on 19 December 1954, may accede to this Agreement;
2. the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may invite any other non-member State to accede to this Agreement.
2. Such accession shall be effected by depositing with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe an instrument of accession which shall take effect one month after the date of its deposit.

Article 11

1. Any signatory State, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification or acceptance, or any acceding State, when depositing its instrument of accession, may specify the territory or territories to which this Agreement shall apply.
2. Any signatory State, when depositing its instrument of ratification or acceptance or at any later date, or any acceding State, when depositing its instrument of accession or at any later date, by declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, may extend this Agreement to any other territory or territories specified in the declaration and for whose international relations it is responsible or on whose behalf it is authorised to give undertakings.
3. Any declaration made in pursuance of the preceding paragraph may, in respect of any territory mentioned in such declaration, be withdrawn according to the procedure laid down in Article 11 of this Agreement.

Article 12

1. This Agreement shall remain in force indefinitely.
2. Any Contracting Party may, in so far as it is concerned, denounce this Agreement by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
3. Such denunciation shall take effect six months after the date of receipt by the Secretary General of such notification.

Article 13

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council and any State which has acceded to this Agreement, of:

1. any signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
2. any signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
3. the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession;
4. any date of entry into force of this Agreement in accordance with Article 8 thereof;
5. any declaration received in pursuance of the provisions of Article 6 and of paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 10;
6. any notification received in pursuance of the provisions of Article 11 and the date on which denunciation takes effect.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement.

Done at Paris, this 12th day of December 1969, in English and French, both texts being equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory and acceding States.