International Student Scholarships in Belgium

Belgium is a great place for students who want to continue their studies abroad. In fact, life in Belgium is quite easy and the cost of living is pretty low in comparison to other countries. That being said, you may still be worried about the living cost or tuition. For that reason, we’ll give you all the information you need on student scholarships in Belgium.

Learn more about the cost of studying and living in Belgium

Types of scholarships in Belgium

The Belgian government offers many scholarships for international students from developing countries. These scholarships will help students with the cost of living and tuition in Belgium. Here is a list of funded scholarships:

VLIR-UOS scholarships for Masters and training

VLIR-UOS offers international students full scholarships in Belgium. The scholarship funds your chosen Masters program or training program at one of the universities in Belgium.

Check our article on the best universities in Belgium

Additionally, the scholarship covers the cost of transportation and accommodation in Belgium. It also covers some of your day-to-day expenditure as an international student.

Learn how to find your ideal student accommodation in Belgium

Scholarships from the Government of Belgium through the Belgian development agency

Through a program called BTC, the Government of Belgium offers scholarships and grants for traineeship for students from developing countries. The purpose is to support development cooperation.

The Belgian development agency, then, gives students all the aid and support they need for their master’s, PhD or training in Belgium. Precisely, the scholarships cover 1 or 2 years, or a stay of up to 4 months per year in Belgium over a maximum of 4 years.

The Government of Flanders Mastermind scholarships

The Government of Flanders Mastermind offers international students scholarships to specific universities. The scholarship covers the cost of postgraduate studies in Belgium.

Moreover, to get this scholarship, you must have been registered in a Belgian school in the Flemish or French region.

The Free University of Brussels (VUB) scholarships

The Free University of Brussels aims to conduct academic and scientific research that can further benefit the society. For that reason, the university offers scholarships to distinguished international students to help them continue on their academic path. Additionally, the university supports a number of PhD programs.

Ghent University Top-up masters scholarship in Belgium

This is a scholarship that supports students from less developed countries to have the chance to earn a master’s degree in Belgium. The grant covers all insurance costs along with an allowance of 1,000 euros per month. However, students still have to pay their tuition fees. Eligibility for this scholarship depends on their country of origin, that should be on the OESO-DAC country list. 

Moreover, students must be holders of a bachelor’s degree. Application is not required, but any eligible student must specify their need for the grant to their course coordinator. A committee then decides which students will be on their top 3 applicants to get the scholarship. 

Learn more about the scholarships and requirements here

KU Leuven Scholarships

Along with the Belgian government scholarships, KU Leuven has a few scholarship programs targeting international students. The institution provides a few funds and grants for master’s, PhD’s students and researchers who wish to pursue studies at KU Leuven in Belgium. 

For instance, the Roger Dillemans Fund offers scholarships for developing world students already having a master, who want a second master’s degrees at KU Leuven. The scholarship program is also for students enrolled at the university who are looking to fund their second-year of master. 

Another program is the PhD scholarship for researchers from low resources countries. This is to fund any research relevant to the development of countries in the South. 

You can take a look at all the KU Leuven scholarships and find out which program suits you the best.

ARES Scholarships

The Belgian Research and Higher Education Council (ARES) offers scholarships for students from developing countries to pursue a 1-year advanced bachelor or a master’s degree or a 2 to 6 months training course in Wallonia or Brussels. The study subject must be in the field of community development. The scholarships are fully funded and cover tuition fees, travel and living cost and insurance for the duration of their studies in Belgium. 

You can learn more about the scholarship program on ARES’s website.

Requirements for Scholarships in Belgium

Requirements for scholarships in Belgium may differ from one university to another. However, they can be summarized as follows:

You can apply for scholarships by filling in an application online. Moreover, the organization or university may discard your application if you do not fulfill all the requirements.