Are you interested in furthering your academics in any of the European countries? If yes, make sure you pay attention to everything that I am going share with you in this article. I would like to start by making an important recommendation. That is, to choose Belgium as your country of study. Why? There are a lot of benefits that one stands to enjoy while studying in Belgium.
One of those benefits of studying in Belgium is access to scholarships at all level. Scholarship in Belgium is one of the fundamental factors that have attracted scholars from different parts of the world into the country. Studying in the country, there are free access to education and this has brought education to limelight and as well encouraged many persons, especially those who have not access to good education due to lack of sponsorship.
In this article, I have devoted time to share with you many of the scholarship opportunities that are available in Belgium and how to get them. Therefore, if you have been looking for sponsorship in your education and you would like to study in Belgium, kindly read this article till the end to discover one.
Belgium Scholarships without IELTS [Fully Funded]
- Scholarships in Belgium for International Students
- Government-Funded Scholarships
- University Scholarships in Belgium
- International Scholarships That Apply to Belgium
- Belgian Government & Institution Scholarships
- University-Specific Scholarships
- Others & Fellowships
- Summary Table
- How to Get Scholarships in Belgium
- Procedure for Applying International Scholarships
Scholarships in Belgium for International Students
Scholarships in Belgium range from fully funded to partial scholarships. There are being offered to both citizens and international students by the Belgian Government, institutions, fellowships and individuals. It is up to you to discover any of the opportunities and apply for them. In this section of the article, I am going to start by exploring some of the scholarships in Belgium for international students. They include the following:
Government-Funded Scholarships
1. VLIR-UOS Scholarships
- Target: Students from developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- Level: Master’s and training programs.
- Includes: Full tuition, accommodation, travel, and allowance.
- Website: www.vliruos.be
2. ARES Scholarships
- Target: Students from developing countries (mostly from Africa).
- Level: Advanced bachelor’s and master’s degrees, short training courses.
- Covers: Full tuition, travel, living expenses.
- Website: www.ares-ac.be
3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees
- Target: Students worldwide.
- Level: Master’s degrees (joint programs with Belgian universities).
- Covers: Full scholarships including travel and living expenses.
- Details: Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
University Scholarships in Belgium
Most major universities in Belgium offer their own scholarships:
KU Leuven
- Programs: Science@Leuven Scholarships, Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships.
- Website: www.kuleuven.be
Ghent University
- Programs: Doctoral Scholarships for students from developing countries.
- Website: www.ugent.be
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
- Programs: UCLouvain Scholarships for international students.
- Website: uclouvain.be
University of Antwerp
- Programs: Master Mind Scholarships, institutional scholarships.
- Website: www.uantwerpen.be
International Scholarships That Apply to Belgium
- Fulbright Program (for U.S. citizens)
- DAAD scholarships (if part of a joint program with Germany)
- Commonwealth Scholarships (if through a partner university)
- Rotary Foundation Global Grant
Belgian Government & Institution Scholarships
ARES Scholarships
- For master’s or advanced training (2–6 months) in Wallonia/Brussels.
- ~150 master’s and 70 training grants each year.
- Fully covers tuition, travel, living, insurance, housing allowance, installation costs, and more.
VLIR‑UOS ICP Connect Scholarships
- For students from Asia, Africa or Latin America pursuing a training or master’s programme in Flanders.
- Full funding: tuition, living, insurance, travel.
Government of Flanders “Master Mind” Scholarships
- A limited number (~35 per year) of master’s scholarships,
€7,500–10,000 + tuition fee waiver(€100/year). - Hosted and applied through Flemish universities.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees
- EU-wide joint programs (including Belgian universities).
- Full scholarship: tuition, subsistence, insurance, sometimes travel.
University-Specific Scholarships
Science@Leuven Scholarships (KU Leuven)
- For international master’s students in science.
- Up to €10,000–12,000 for one year + tuition, insurance.
Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships (KU Leuven)
- Fully funded PhD for scholars from developing countries.
- Covers tuition, monthly stipend, insurance, travel, research allowance.
Ghent University Top-Up Grants / Doctoral Scholarships
- Master’s top-up: ~€1,000/month + insurance for students from OESO‑DAC (developing) countries.
- PhD “Sandwich” scholarships: half research at Ghent and half in home country.
University of Liège Scholarships
- Tuition discounts + living allowances to both EU & non‑EU undergrad, master’s & PhD candidates.
Others & Fellowships
Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) Fellowship
- For U.S. citizens or residents.
- Master’s/PhD/post-doc study in Belgium; $28,000–33,000 stipend + health insurance.
Prince Albert Fund
- For Belgian nationals under 30 with 3+ years work experience.
- 12-month grant (1 mo prep + 11 mo business project abroad).
Francqui Foundation Programs
- For researchers and professors: International Professorships, Start‑up Grants, Research Chair & Fellowships .
FWO Doctoral/Postdoctoral Grants
- For research in Flemish universities (PhD & postdoc), including mobility and infrastructure funding.
Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme
For international students, the Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme offers a fully funded master’s scholarship. The full cost of tuition, housing, economy airfare, and a monthly living stipend will all be covered by the JJ/WBGSP scholarship.
- Institution: Newcastle University
- Level of Study: Masters
Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Programme
International students can apply for the fully funded Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Programme. This fellowship is available for PhD studies and offers up to $42,750 net per fellow for an eight-month period.
Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships
International students can apply for Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarships to study for master’s and doctoral degrees at any highly regarded university, with the exception of those in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, and Ireland.
- Institution: Any highly reputable university except universities in UK, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Norway and Ireland
- Level of Study: Masters / PhD
Human Frontier Science Programme Postdoctoral Fellowships
Programme for Human Frontier Science International students can apply for fully funded Postdoctoral Fellowships. HFSP Fellowships will cover living expenses in addition to research and travel expenses. Fellows may also be eligible for a relocation allowance, a parental leave allowance, and a child allowance, depending on their individual circumstances.
- Institution: Human Frontier Science Programme
- Level of Study: Postdoctoral
For overseas students, the IIE-SRF Fellowship is a fully funded scholarship. This scholarship is available to support research for doctorates. A grant of up to US$25,000 and individual health insurance are provided by the IIE-SRF Fellowship to support a visiting academic appointment for a maximum of one year.
- Institution: IIE-SRF
- Level of Study: PhD
Facebook PhD Fellowship
International students can apply for a fully funded scholarship through the Facebook Fellowship Programme. This scholarship is available to support research for doctorates. The award includes a yearly stipend, conference travel assistance, and two years of tuition and fees.
Summary Table
| Scholarship | Target Group | Level | Coverage |
| ARES | Dev. country students | Master/Training | Fully funded |
| VLIR-UOS | Asia, Africa, Latin America | Master/Training | Fully funded |
| Master Mind | Outstanding master’s | Master | €7.5–10k + tuition waiver |
| Erasmus Mundus | Global | Master/PhD | Fully funded |
| Science@Leuven | Intl science masters | Master | up to €12k + tuition |
| Global Minds | Developing-world PhD candidates | PhD | Fully funded |
| Ghent Top-up | Dev-country masters | Master | €1k/mo + insurance |
| Ghent Doctoral sandwich | Dev-country PhD | PhD | Fully funded |
| Liège Scholarships | All intl levels | UG/Master/PhD | Tuition discount + allowance |
| BAEF Fellowship | Americans | Master/PhD/Post-doc | $28–33k + insurance |
| Prince Albert Fund | Belgian young pros | Leadership/project | Fully funded |
| Francqui Foundation | Researchers | Professorships & grants | Competitive |
| FWO Grants | Flemish researchers | PhD/Postdoc | Competitive funding |
Check:
How to Get Scholarships in Belgium
Before submitting an application for a scholarship in Belgium, there are a few important things you should know. Only those applicants who have submitted applications for the available scholarships will be considered in the final selection process. To help everyone understand how to apply for scholarships in Belgium, I have customised this section.
The following requirements must be met in order for you to be eligible for a scholarship in the Netherlands. Some of them are
- Ascertain that you have completed or are almost finished with your bachelor’s degree.
- If you are applying for an undergraduate programme, make sure you have your higher education credential before applying.
- Verify that you meet any language requirements set forth by the organisation that awards scholarships.
- Provide a strong motivational letter or, depending on the circumstance, a personal statement.
- Assemble and confirm that all necessary paperwork is genuine. Any forged document that you submit will automatically disqualify you.
- Obtain a Blocked Account
- Apply for academic programmes offered by Belgian universities.
- Observe the application procedures with great attention.
- Avoid missing the window for applications. Remember the deadlines that apply to this.
Procedure for Applying International Scholarships
Once you have chosen to apply for any scholarship online, you are expected to follow the necessary procedure from the beginning till the end. A few of the standard processes for applying for international scholarships are given below:
- Apply and get accepted in a degree programme
- Prepare your scholarship application
- Submit your application
- Receive notification
- Accept the scholarship
See Also:
- Scholarship In Italy
- Scholarship In France
- Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students
- Scholarship In Germany
- Scholarships In Belgium
With everything that you read in this article, I am sure you will be happy to apply scholarships in Belgium. Be confident enough that you are going to get one. If you have any other questions about this subject, kindly make use of the comment section below>
Do well to share this article with others.
