Scholarships in Belgium

Belgium offers an international and multilingual environment for learning, as well as a wide range of networking opportunities.
Currently, there are 42 universities, university colleges and art colleges that provide a variety of courses in several different disciplines.

Why choose to study in Belgium?

Individuals who choose to study in Belgium enjoy:

Tuition Fees

The Belgian Government has chosen to invest in higher education by financing higher education institutions in the country, thus bearing a large part of the actual cost of studies.
Tuition fees vary according to region. In the Walloon Region, non-EU students pay tuition rates set by the Academy of Research and Higher Education (ARES). The amount should not be more than five times what the EU students pay.
In the Flemish Region, EU and non-EU students pay different fees, all starting from €906 per year.

Living Costs

Living costs vary depending on the city one chooses to study in.
The greatest living cost is attributed to accommodation. Students get to choose between the university halls of residence and off-campus accommodation.
Other expenses that fall into this category include transport, food, books, insurance/healthcare and entertainment.
Yearly living costs range from €700 -€1300.

Scholarships

Belgian universities offer students several forms of financial support in the form of grants, housing benefits, reduction of registration fees, etc.
Scholarships for international students are offered by some universities, the Belgian Government, ARES and other Belgian organizations and agencies.

VLIR-UOS Scholarships

The VLIR-UOS scholarship program fosters academic cooperation between institutions of higher learning in Flanders, Belgium, and those in developing countries.
Citizens of targeted countries get the opportunity to acquire skills, knowledge, and expertise needed to contribute significantly to sustainable development in their country of origin.

Scholarship Overview

VLIR-UOS awards scholarships to students from 31 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, to follow a training or master program at a Flemish university or university college in Belgium.
The training and master programmes are taught in English. They are designed to enable graduates to assume positions of responsibility in their country of origin.
Successful applicants must return to their home countries immediately after the conclusion of the study program.
All study programs should be in development-related subjects.

Host School(s)

Study in Flanders, in any of the universities or university colleges.
Flanders is one of the regions and communities of Belgium, a historical geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.
Flemish universities and university colleges are among the best in Europe.

Fields of Study

One- year Master’s Programs

Two-year Master’s Programs

Master of Science in Food Technology – KU Leuven, UGent
Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management (Oceans and Lakes) – VUB, UAntwerpen, UGent
Master of Aquaculture (IMAQUA) – UGent
Master of Epidemiology – UAntwerpen
Master of Agro- and Environmental Nematology – UGent
Master of Rural Development – UGent
Master of Statistics – UHasselt
Master of Water Resources Engineering – KU Leuven, VUB
Master of Sustainable Territorial Development – KU Leuven
Master of Transportation Sciences and Road Safety in Low- & Middle-Income Countries – UHasselt

What does the scholarship cover?

€1150 monthly allowance to cover transport, meals, accommodation and personal expenses
Program-related travel costs
€40 for insurance
A return air ticket at the lowest possible rates
Tuition fee for Master’s programs with 60 ECTS
One- time payments as follows:
- €150 for indirect travel costs
- €850 logistical allowance (two-year program)
- €700 logistical allowance (one-year program)

How many scholarships are given?

Which countries are targeted?

31 eligible counties in Africa, Asia and Latin America as follows.

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Vietnam
Latin America: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To qualify for this scholarship, you must:

Be a national and resident of one of the 31 eligible countries at the time of application
Be a maximum of 35 years of age for an initial master’s program or 40 for an advanced master’s program, by January 1 of the intake year
Have the relevant professional background and experience. Priority is given to candidates who are employed in academic institutions, research institutions, non-governmental organizations, the social economy, or the government, or individuals who are aiming for a career in one of these sectors.
Have never received a scholarship from the Belgian Government to attend a master’s program or its equivalent
Never have enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution to attend a master’s program or its equivalent before January 1 of the intake year
Have submitted only one VLIR-UOS scholarship application per year

How Do I Apply – Next Steps

First, check the eligibility criteria for the scholarship
If you meet all the criteria, look at the selected master’s programs
Visit the website of the university offering the program that qualifies for a scholarship and follow the instructions on the website. You will then have to apply for admission to the program as well as the scholarship itself. Be sure to indicate that you wish to apply for the scholarship when applying for the master’s program.
Selection results will then be received from the program organizers.

Closing Date

How do I get more information?