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 any country. On the French-speaking side, ARES runs its own set of development scholarships for programmes taught in French 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 realize 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
Around 200 awards per year. EUR 1,150/month living allowance. Programmes taught in French at universities in Wallonia and Brussels. Limited to applicants from 31 partner countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This is the French side of Belgium's development cooperation.
Roughly 200 awards per year. EUR 1,400/month living allowance. Programmes taught in English at Flemish universities. Limited to applicants from 29 partner countries. This is the Flemish side of development cooperation, and yes, the eligible country list is slightly different from ARES.
About 30 awards per year. EUR 10,225/year tuition waiver plus allowance. Open to students from any country — not restricted to developing nations. Purely merit-based. This is a completely separate programme from VLIR-UOS, even though both are Flemish.
Key point: These are three separate systems with separate applications, separate deadlines, and separate eligibility rules. You cannot apply to one and get redirected to another.
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.
Eligibility
Which programme accepts your nationality, degree level, and work experience. The country lists differ between ARES and VLIR-UOS.
Benefits
Monthly allowances, tuition coverage, travel, insurance, and how the three programmes compare financially.
ARES Programme
Deep dive into the French-speaking scholarship: eligible countries, available master's courses, and application timeline.
VLIR-UOS Programme
The Flemish English-taught scholarship: ICP programmes, eligible countries, the one-application-only rule, and how selection works.
How to Apply
Step-by-step application process for each programme, including which portal to use and when deadlines fall.
Required Documents
Transcripts, recommendation letters, motivation statements, and medical certificates. What each programme requires and how they differ.
Selection Process
How applications are reviewed, scoring criteria, and what the selection committees actually look for.
Common Mistakes
The errors that get applications rejected: applying to multiple VLIR-UOS programmes, wrong language certificates, missed embassy steps.
FAQ
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 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 programmes are taught in French. 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 31 partner countries. VLIR-UOS covers 29. The lists overlap but aren't identical. Master Mind is the exception — it's open to all nationalities, but awards only ~30 scholarships per year.
Quick Numbers
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.
Check Your Eligibility