Belgian Government Scholarships Guide 2027/28
Belgium splits its scholarships between Flanders and Wallonia-Brussels: ARES, VLIR-UOS and Master Mind each run their own rules, deadlines and websites. This guide covers all three in one place.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
5 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Why Belgian scholarships are uniquely confusing
Here's something nobody tells you upfront: Belgium doesn't have one scholarship system. It has two completely separate ones, run by two different governments within the same small country. The Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking north) runs its own higher education system and its own international scholarships. The Wallonia-Brussels Federation (French-speaking south) does the same. These two sides barely talk to each other, and their scholarship websites certainly don't link to one another.
On the Flemish side, VLIR-UOS manages development cooperation scholarships for English-taught master's programmes, while Master Mind is a separate merit-based scholarship from the Flemish government that's open to students from almost any country. On the French-speaking side, ARES runs its own set of development scholarships for programmes at universities in Brussels and Wallonia. Each has different eligible country lists, different allowance amounts, different deadlines and different application portals.
To make things worse, the main portals — studyinbelgium.be for the French side and studyinflanders.be for the Flemish side — each only cover their own scholarships. If you visit just one of them, you'll miss half the picture. Most applicants don't even realise this until they've already started applying to the wrong thing.
This guide puts all three major programmes plus the smaller Belgian options in one place. We break down who qualifies for what, how the money compares, and which application system you should actually be using. No more bouncing between four different websites trying to figure out whether you're looking at the French system or the Flemish one.
The three scholarship systems you need to know
The French side of Belgium's development cooperation. Around 200 awards a year in past cycles and a living allowance of about EUR 1,150 a month, for courses at institutions in Wallonia and Brussels. Open to people who live and work in one of 32 partner countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Most courses are taught in French.
The Flemish side of development cooperation, now branded ICP Connect. Roughly 200 awards a year in past cycles (our estimate) and a EUR 1,400 monthly allowance, for English-taught programmes at Flemish universities. Limited to nationals of 29 partner countries in 2026–2027 — a different list from ARES. VLIR-UOS’s 2027–2031 programme names 25 and fewer scholarships per programme, so expect smaller numbers.
An estimated 30 or so awards a year (Study in Flanders does not publish a total): a EUR 10,225 grant plus a tuition fee waiver for each academic year. Open to students from any country except Russia — not restricted to developing nations. Purely merit-based, and a completely separate programme from VLIR-UOS even though both are Flemish.
These are three separate systems with separate applications, separate deadlines and separate eligibility rules. You cannot apply to one and get redirected to another.
The 2027/28 cycle at a glance
How to apply →The three programmes run on completely different calendars, and as of October 2026 they are at very different points.
- Closed 18 September 2026ARES 2027–2028 call
The call opened on 3 August 2026 and closed at 12 noon (Belgian time) on 18 September 2026. Selection runs from October 2026 to May 2027, and results are sent by June 2027. The next ARES call is announced for August 2027 (for 2028–2029).
- 2Expected mid-November 2026VLIR-UOS ICP Connect call opens
VLIR-UOS says the 2027–2028 call is expected to open in mid-November 2026, when each programme publishes its own deadline. In past cycles most deadlines fell in February. Selected candidates hear no later than mid-May 2027.
- 3Expected January–April 2027Master Mind host-institution deadlines
Each Flemish institution sets its own deadline. For 2026–2027 they ran from 15 January 2026 (KU Leuven) to 13 April 2026 (Erasmus Brussels). Study in Flanders notes the scholarship is under review for 2027–2028, so the amount and process may change.
- 4September 2027Programmes start
VLIR-UOS, Master Mind and the ARES degree courses all start with the academic year in September 2027.
What this guide covers
Each page tackles one piece of the Belgian scholarship puzzle. Start with eligibility to figure out which programme you actually qualify for, then work through the rest.
Which programme accepts your nationality, degree level and work experience. The country lists differ between ARES and VLIR-UOS.
Monthly allowances, tuition coverage, travel, insurance, and how the three programmes compare financially.
Deep dive into the French-speaking scholarship: eligible countries, available courses and the application timeline.
The Flemish English-taught scholarship: ICP programmes, eligible countries, the one-application-only rule, and how selection works.
Step-by-step application process for each programme, including which portal to use and when deadlines fall.
Transcripts, recommendation letters, motivation statements and medical certificates. What each programme requires and how they differ.
How applications are reviewed, scoring criteria, and what the selection committees actually look for.
The errors that get applications rejected: applying to multiple VLIR-UOS programmes, wrong language certificates, missed embassy steps.
Quick answers to the most common questions about Belgian scholarships, from age limits to work permits.
The confusion nobody warns you about
One application only (VLIR-UOS)
If you apply to more than one ICP Connect programme through VLIR-UOS, all your applications get disqualified automatically. Not just the extras — all of them. You get one shot, so choose carefully.
The language divide
ARES courses are mostly taught in French, and you must apply in the language the course is taught in. VLIR-UOS programmes are taught in English. This isn't a preference — it's a hard requirement. Your language ability determines which system you can even enter.
Country restrictions differ
ARES covers 32 partner countries. VLIR-UOS covers 29 (25 under its 2027–2031 programme). The lists overlap but aren't identical. Master Mind is the exception — it's open to all nationalities except Russian, but awards only an estimated 30 or so scholarships a year.
Quick numbers
The ARES allowance and the award counts are approximate figures from recent cycles; the official 2027–2028 documents do not publish them. VLIR-UOS (Scholarship Framework, revised December 2025) and Master Mind (Study in Flanders) state their amounts.
Ready to find your scholarship? Start with the eligibility page to figure out which of Belgium's three main scholarship systems you actually qualify for. It'll save you hours of going through the wrong application.