The present article contains a review of the literature devoted to gifted education in Europe. Forms of supporting the development of gifted students provided in European schools are presented with reference to the problems of diagnosing exceptional abilities, the existence and forms of educational measures for gifted students and forms of in-service training for teachers of such students. The individual European countries have not developed a uniform system of educational provision for supporting gifted students. This variety, however, gives educationalists, psychologists, teachers and parents involved on a daily basis in the process of educating gifted students an opportunity to avail themselves of the rich practical experience.