Baza natječaja

"Best of South-East" law and econonomics scholarships

General Information

Steiermärkische Sparkasse Bank in cooperation with the University of Graz initiates “Best of South-East”, the advancement and further education program for talented and dedicated graduates and students in and from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.

The program's aim is to provide the target groups mentioned above with international work experience as well as training and further education opportunities. Furthermore, a trainee program or internship makes it easier for students to enter professional life.

Trainee Program and Internship

Graduates or students in economics or law at universities in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia or students at Austrian universities who come from one of these countries will be given the opportunity to complete a one-year trainee program or a two-month internship at the Steiermärkische Sparkasse Bank or in another Styrian business. Selected courses at the University of Graz will round off the academic training and education of the students.

Graduates participating in the "Best of South-East” trainee program will also be given the possibility of extending their language skills in addition to their training in the Steiermärkische Sparkasse Bank or in another Styrian business as well as attending the selected courses.

Students participating in the “Best of South-East” internship program are in the last third of their studies and will be given the opportunity of completing their studies at their home university during the one-year stay in Graz. The two-month internship gets the participants strongly involved in the daily business of the Steiermärkische Sparkasse Bank at one of its locations in Styria or in the participants’ home countries.

Chances through “Best of South-East”

Applicants will be selected on the basis of their personal statement, their academic performance and their references. The selection procedure includes both representatives of the Steiermärkische Sparkasse Bank and the University of Graz. In the personal statement, special attention is paid to the applicants‘ focuses of interest as well as their personal motivation for applying to the trainee program or internship.

Steiermärkische Sparkasse Bank reserves the right to dismiss candidates who do not meet the expected performance standards in the course of the trainee program or internship prior to the end of the program.

Discussion and information events as well as special events make sure that the participants are integrated into the economic, cultural and academic life of Styria. In addition, participants can take language courses offered by the University of Graz in order to broaden or improve their language skills.

Dedicated participants, both in the trainee program and the internship, experience with their engagement a close attachment to the Steiermärkische Sparkasse Bank which is further promoted by the in-company mentoring system. “Best of South-East” is complemented by an additional academic training and further education and is thus a stepping stone to an interesting and challenging international career.

Application Requirements

Interested parties have to meet the following minimum requirements:

• Very good command of English and good command of German
• Native tongue: Slovenian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin or Macedonian
• Degree in economics or law with very good marks
• Dedication, strong communications skills, flexibility, analytical and practical economic thinking

Submission Deadline

Applications have to be received by the Office of International Relations of the University of Graz no later than Tuesday, April 25, 2008. (date by which the application has to be received)

Please send them to:

Office of International Relations
"Best of South-East"
The University of Graz
Universitaetsplatz 3
A-8010 Graz
Austria

Only those applications that are complete and received on time will be considered! We cannot accept faxed or emailed applications!

Application Documents

• Completed application form (attached below)
• Confirmation of academic success (diploma supplement or transcript of records and study confirmation)
• CV in tabular form
• Personal statement in essay form in English or German (no longer than 2 pages) with a special focus on the description of the applicant’s particular interests and motivation
• 2 letters of recommendation in English or German. At least one of them has to be issued by an academic person who is or has been significantly involved in the student’s current or past studies, and one letter by an executive, if available
• Proof of language proficiency
• Copy of identity page of your passport

Amount of Grant

The total amount of financial aid per year and participant is a maximum of EUR 10,000 and specifically consists of the following services:

• Provision of accommodation in one of the dormitories in Graz (single rooms)
• EUR 300 spending money per month
• A 50 percent subsidy for the obligatory student self-insurance with the “Gebietskrankenkasse” health insurance (equivalent to NHS).
• Intensive language course or semester language course at the “Treffpunkt Sprachen” language center of the University of Graz
• Registration at the University of Graz
• Tuition waiver for the University of Graz

For more information, as well as the text of the program in german, please click here.

Materials

Application form (601 kb)