Visitor programmes

OCEAN Academic Visits

OCEAN Academic Visits are an important element contributing to enhancing academic research on Council of Europe conventions.

What we offer

The OCEAN Academic Visitor’s programme offers the possibility of facilitating short-term visits, with participants staying between three to seven days in Strasbourg in view of producing academic work relating to one or more of the Council of Europe's conventions or related human rights issues. Visitors receive support from OCEAN staff for the organisation of meetings within the Council of Europe. Depending on the academic work produced, OCEAN may also support the presentation of research within the Council of Europe and its academic networks. Participants commit to acknowledging OCEAN´s support in their written studies (articles, books etc.) and to sharing the academic work they produce with the Council of Europe.

How to apply

Interested candidates may send their request to the OCEAN Secretariat via this contact form.

Study visit programme at the Directorate of the Jurisconsult at the European Court of Human Rights

What we offer

As a part of its activities aimed at the continued sharing of knowledge on the European Convention of Human Rights (“the ECHR”), the European Court of Human Rights (“the ECtHR”) offers a programme of long-term study visits at the Directorate of the Jurisconsult. The programme provides an opportunity for participants to gain experience and enhance their professional development in the working environment of the ECtHR, and to put their academic knowledge into practice under the supervision of working professionals.

The programme accommodates a limited number of study visitors per year, for a period of up to 10 months.

Typical responsibilities given to study visitors include, under direct supervision within the Directorate of the Jurisconsult:

Assisting in preparation of reports on comparative law research; international and/or European Union law research; or the ECtHR’ case-law research;
Drafting thematic guides and other information documents (key themes) on the ECtHR’s case-law;
Fulfilling other assignments at the Directorate of the Jurisconsult.

Provided that study visitors have the relevant academic background and demonstrate interest, the above-mentioned assignments may either be related to general questions on the ECtHR case-law or focus on specific topics explored from the standpoint of the ECHR standards (for example: international humanitarian law, the ECHR and business, violence against women, bioethics, rights of the child, digital technologies and human rights, minority rights or other).

In certain cases, time permitting, study visitors may be requested to provide direct assistance to the judges of the ECtHR.

Conditions

The programme is unpaid. The ECtHR is unable to provide any accommodation or remuneration, nor to reimburse transportation or accommodation costs and expenses incurred by study visitors.

Who can apply

Interested candidates must meet the following criteria:

be a national of one the Council of Europe member states (certain exceptions may apply);
be a student of an advanced masters’ programme, a doctoral degree candidate (or equivalent) or a young professional beginning an academic career in the legal sphere;
be affilitated to one of the selected partner academic institutions of the Council of Europe;
demonstrate high academic achievements;
possess knowledge of, and interest in, the ECHR system and the ECtHR’s case-law;
have excellent drafting ability in English or French.

How to apply

Interested candidates may send their curriculum vitae and letter of motivation to [email protected].

Council of Europe Study Visits

The Council of Europe also offers tailored study visit programmes to meet the needs and interests of university students, teachers, lawyers, professional associations, diplomatic delegations and public officials.