The ARES Scholarships 2026 present an outstanding fully funded study opportunity in Belgium for international students from developing countries. Offered by the Academy of Research and Higher Education (ARES) under the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles, these scholarships support students enrolling in bachelor’s, master’s specialization programs, and short-term professional training courses. ARES scholarships are designed to promote academic excellence and development-focused education by covering all essential academic and living expenses during the study period in Belgium.

Key Features of ARES Scholarships 2025-2026:

• Full tuition fees covered at participating Belgian universities

• One round-trip international airfare per academic year

• Monthly living allowance of €1,150 for bachelor’s and master’s students

• Arrival, return, and tuition allowance of €700 per stay

• Health and medical insurance provided by ARES

• One-time indirect mission fee of €150 upon arrival

• Reimbursement of inter-university travel costs based on actual expenses

• For short training: €83/day (8–17 days) or €1,400/month (up to 6 months)

The VLIR-UOS Scholarships 2025-2026 are fully funded opportunities provided by the Belgian government for students from 29 eligible countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to pursue development-focused master’s degrees at leading Flemish universities in Belgium. These scholarships aim to empower early-career professionals and students who are committed to contributing to the sustainable development of their home countries. The program is available for a wide range of development-relevant fields such as climate, agriculture, health, education, and water management, through internationally recognized ICP Connect master’s programs. Key features of the VLIR-UOS scholarship include: full coverage of tuition fees, a monthly living allowance of €1,150, accommodation and housing support throughout the study period, comprehensive health and travel insurance, reimbursement of round-trip international airfare, eligibility limited to one program application per year, age limit of 35 years for initial master’s and 45 for advanced master’s programs, and focus on applicants with strong academic backgrounds and development goals. Hosted by top Flemish institutions such as KU Leuven, UGent, VUB, UAntwerp, and others, this scholarship provides a life-changing platform for students to gain world-class education and return equipped to create meaningful change in their communities.

VLIR-UOS Scholarship Features 2025-2026

• Fully funded scholarship for master’s programs.

• Hosted at top Flemish universities in Belgium.

• Open to students from 29 eligible developing countries.

• Focused on development-related fields like climate and health.

• Covers full tuition fees.

• Provides a monthly stipend of €1,150.

• Includes free accommodation support.

• Offers health and travel insurance.

• Covers round-trip international airfare.

• Program duration is 1 or 2 years.

• Applicants must be under 35 or 45 years (depending on program).

• Only one program application is allowed per year.

The Master Mind Scholarships 2026, funded by the Government of Flanders, are prestigious merit-based scholarships designed for outstanding non-EU/EEA students seeking to pursue English-taught master’s degrees at top Flemish universities such as KU Leuven, Ghent University, VUB, and the University of Antwerp. The scholarship offers a generous annual grant of up to €8,400, along with partial or full tuition fee waivers, and in some cases, additional top-up support from the host university. It is open to academically excellent students with a strong GPA, a demonstrated commitment to academic success, and proof of English language proficiency. Key features include: hosted at leading Flemish institutions, available for master's level study, open to non-EU/EEA students, provides an annual grant, reduces or waives tuition fees, and offers a platform for academic growth in development and research-focused environments.

You said:

Master Mind Scholarship Features 2026

• Offered by the Government of Flanders.

• Available for international master's students.

• Open to non-EU/EEA applicants only.

• Hosted at top Flemish universities like KU Leuven and UGent.

• Provides an annual grant of up to €8,400.

• Includes partial or full tuition fee waiver.

• Possibility of additional top-up from the university.

• Requires strong academic performance and GPA.

• Proof of English language proficiency is mandatory.

• Applications submitted through the host university.

As one of Europe’s highest-ranked and oldest universities, KU Leuven offers a wide range of scholarship opportunities for international students, including fully funded programs through prestigious partnerships such as VLIR-UOS and the Master Mind Scholarship by the Government of Flanders. These scholarships are designed to support highly qualified non-EU/EEA students and those from developing countries who wish to pursue master’s or PhD programs in a variety of fields including engineering, biosciences, environmental studies, business, and social sciences. Depending on the scholarship type, benefits may include full tuition coverage, a monthly living stipend, international travel costs, accommodation, health insurance, and even university-specific top-ups. KU Leuven also offers its own merit-based and research-focused scholarships such as Science@Leuven for master’s students and Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships for PhD researchers. Applications can be submitted directly through the KU Leuven admissions portal or through external portals like VLIR-UOS for development cooperation programs. With world-class research facilities, English-taught programs, and strong global rankings, KU Leuven is a top destination for international students seeking academic excellence and affordable higher education in Belgium.

KU Leuven Features:

• Offered at KU Leuven, one of Europe’s top-ranked universities

• Available for Master’s and PhD international students

• Includes fully funded options like VLIR-UOS and Master Mind

• Covers full tuition for eligible programs

• Provides monthly living allowance (varies by scholarship)

• Covers travel, insurance, and accommodation (for VLIR-UOS)

• Open to students from developing countries and non-EU/EEA regions

• Fields include engineering, biosciences, environment, business, and more

• Apply directly via KU Leuven or through VLIR-UOS/Master Mind portals

• Deadlines vary by program, typically between December and March

The Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships offer a unique opportunity for talented researchers from developing countries to pursue a fully funded PhD through a collaborative model that splits the research period equally between Ghent University in Belgium and the applicant’s home country. Known as the sandwich PhD model, this approach ensures both international academic exposure and local impact, enabling scholars to develop relevant, high-quality research that directly contributes to sustainable development in their regions. The scholarship is available in all academic fields, particularly those addressing global challenges such as agriculture, public health, environmental science, water management, and social development. Applicants must secure the support of both a Ghent University supervisor and a co-supervisor in their home country, and submit a strong joint research proposal. The scholarship covers all essential costs, including tuition fees, bench fees, living allowance in Belgium, and international travel, making it one of the most comprehensive PhD funding options available for scholars from low- and middle-income countries.

Ghent University Doctoral Scholarship Features:

• Fully funded PhD scholarship for researchers from developing countries

• Based on a sandwich model: 50% research in Belgium, 50% in home country

• Covers full tuition fees at Ghent University

• Includes bench fees and monthly living allowance during the Belgian stay

• Provides round-trip travel costs between Belgium and the home country

• Open to all academic disciplines with development-relevant proposals

• Requires a Ghent University supervisor and home-country co-supervisor

• Research proposal must show potential for local impact and feasibility

• Application submitted by the Ghent University supervisor on behalf of the candidate

The University of Liège (ULiège), a leading public research institution in Belgium, offers several scholarship opportunities to international students pursuing master’s and PhD programs. These scholarships are available through nationally funded programs such as the ARES Scholarship and the Master Mind Scholarship, both of which aim to support talented students from developing countries and outside the EU. ULiège is known for its academic excellence in fields such as applied sciences, engineering, medicine, and social sciences. The scholarships offered typically cover full tuition, monthly stipends, housing support, and health insurance, enabling international students to study in Belgium without financial stress.

Scholarship Features:

• Host Institution: University of Liège

• Level of Study: Master’s and PhD

• Scholarship Type: Fully funded or partially funded (depending on program)

• Tuition Fees: Covered in most programs

• Monthly Stipend: Provided for living expenses

• Accommodation: Free or subsidized housing may be offered

• Health Insurance: Included in most scholarship packages

• Travel Expenses: Covered under specific programs (e.g., ARES)

• Eligible Fields: Applied Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Social Sciences

• Language of Instruction: English or French (depending on the program)

• Eligibility: Open to international students, especially from developing countries and non-EU regions