Statelessness Summer Course 2014, Tilburg University (The Netherlands)
4 - 8 August 2014
Deadline for application: 1 April 2014

The third edition of the Tilburg University Statelessness Summer Course aims to consider statelessness and the right to nationality from various angles. It will deal with legal and policy issues associated with statelessness. The status of stateless persons, their human rights and international protection will be addressed, as well as ways to research and document statelessness. The course will draw on experiences from many places around the world. In addition, it will take a closer look at a number of specific questions relating to statelessness, such as UNHCR's mandate and work, gender discrimination, and the litigation of the right to a nationality.

Course information
The course provides participants with new knowledge, tools and skills to address statelessness and enforce the right to nationality. The curriculum is taught by lecturers from a variety of backgrounds, both professionally and geographically, all of whom are internationally recognized experts with many years of experience working on statelessness. Participants from all over the world engage actively in the different sessions, with several opportunities throughout the week to work in smaller teams and focus specifically on their own area of interest, e.g. through assignments designed to develop strategic ideas on research, advocacy or litigation. As such, the participants will benefit from the knowledge and professional experience of both the lecturers and their fellow participants.

Course specifics
As both the sessions and the course materials will be in English, applicants should have proficiency in the English language. Applicants are not required to provide proof of language proficiency, however as a rule Foreign-language English speakers should be able to obtain a score of 7.0 in ELTS/IELTS or 570 in TOEFL as a minimum in order to feel confident that they can actively participate in the course in English.

Costs
The course fee is € 950. This covers all weekday lunches, tuition, course materials, and a closing dinner. Other evening and weekend meals are not included in the course fee. A limited number of scholarships are available for applicants who are able to demonstrate how their work would benefit from participation in the course, but who would otherwise be unable to participate. Note that all scholarship positions are highly competitive and we strongly encourage you to seek alternative funding to secure your participation in the course.

Application procedure
A maximum of 30 participants will be admitted to the course. Eligible candidates have experience in working on issues related to citizenship and statelessness, or significant experience in a related field such as minority rights, migration, forced displacement or child protection and an interest in the issue of statelessness. Such work experience may have been gained in NGOs, inter-governmental organizations, governments or research institutes and universities.

You can apply for the course by sending an email to: Statelessness.Programme@tilburguniversity.edu.

Please add your CV and a completed course application form as an attachment in your email. The application form can be downloaded here. The closing date for applications is 1 April 2014. All applicants will receive notice as to whether they have been selected for the course by 15 April 2014.

Full details can be found on the Statelessness Program website.