Belgian Scholarships FAQ: Questions Everyone Has but Nobody Answers Directly

For VLIR-UOS, you must hold the nationality of one of the 29 eligible countries and be residing in one of them when you apply. If you are a Kenyan national currently living in Ethiopia, you are eligible. If you are a Kenyan national currently living in the UK, Germany, Canada or any other high-income country, you are not.

ARES has a similar rule: you must be a permanent resident working in one of its 32 partner countries. Palestinian nationals are the only exception — they remain eligible regardless of where they currently live.

The underlying intention of both programmes is to train people who are embedded in developing-country contexts and will return to them after graduating. Living abroad for an extended period works against that intention and against eligibility.

The official VLIR-UOS country list is the only one that counts. Third-party aggregator sites frequently publish outdated or incorrect versions. Countries that appear on informal lists but are not on the official VLIR-UOS list include Egypt, India, Nigeria, Ghana and Tunisia — large countries with many scholarship seekers, which is probably why they circulate so persistently. (Tunisia is, however, on the ARES list.) Note too that VLIR-UOS’s 2027–2031 programme names 25 scholarship countries instead of 29: Cambodia, Haiti, Mali and Nicaragua are not on it.

Always verify directly at the official VLIR-UOS website before investing time in an application. The same applies to ARES — its list of 32 partner countries is distinct from the VLIR-UOS list, and the two do not fully overlap.

Private sector workers are not automatically excluded. Both programmes favour higher education professionals, government employees and civil society workers — but they do not make private sector workers ineligible.

In practice, if you compete against someone with equivalent qualifications who works for a public university or ministry, they will likely be ranked higher. The closer your work connects to a public development mandate — healthcare, agriculture, education, public infrastructure, NGO work — the stronger your profile, regardless of employer type.

Fresh graduates face a harder path than private sector professionals. Professional experience of some kind at least shows you have returned to your country and contributed after your previous degree.

For VLIR-UOS bachelor's and initial master's programmes (two-year degrees), you cannot be older than 35 on 1 January of the intake year. Your birthday during the year does not matter — it is your age on 1 January specifically. If you turn 36 on 2 January, you are still eligible for an initial master's starting that September.

If you are over 35, advanced master's programmes (one-year programmes) have a higher limit of 45. These are postgraduate programmes for experienced professionals and require an existing master's degree.

ARES does not publish a fixed age limit in its 2027–2028 call; instead, your degree must be no more than 20 years old when the course starts (plus one year per childbirth or adoption). Individual courses may set their own criteria, so check the course documentation.

No. VLIR-UOS excludes anyone who has previously received a Belgian government scholarship for a study programme — whether or not they completed it. ARES likewise excludes anyone who has already held an ARES grant. Receiving the scholarship, not graduating, is the disqualifying event.

If you were admitted to a VLIR-UOS programme but did not receive the scholarship (you self-funded or had a different scholarship), you may still be eligible to reapply. Note, though, that VLIR-UOS also excludes anyone who enrolled in a programme at a Belgian institution before 1 January of the intake year. Contact the institution to confirm your status before investing in another application.

Short exchanges generally do not count as enrolling in a degree programme in Belgium. For VLIR-UOS, the disqualifying criterion is having enrolled in a study programme at a Belgian institution before 1 January of the intake year; a brief Erasmus exchange is different from enrolling as a degree student. Master Mind explicitly says credit-mobility students (such as Erasmus+) remain eligible.

That said, VLIR-UOS gives preference to candidates who haven't already studied (bachelor's or master's) in a higher-income country. Mentioning an Erasmus stint without context could work against you, so think about how you frame it.

No. Applying for more than one ICP Connect scholarship in the same year leads to the exclusion of all your applications — not just the extras. This is one of the strictest rules in the system, and it applies across all Flemish institutions.

The logic: the scholarship is meant for a specific programme that addresses a specific development challenge in your home country. Applying broadly shows you haven't thought carefully about why that programme is the right one — the opposite of what the committee wants to see.

Choose the one programme that genuinely fits your professional trajectory and your country's needs. Apply only there. Rejected? You can apply again next year to the same programme or a different one.

The one-application rule applies within each programme's own system. VLIR-UOS and ARES are separate organisations, so applying to one ARES course and one VLIR-UOS programme in the same year does not technically violate either rule.

However, both prohibit combining their scholarship with another one if you are selected. You could not hold an ARES and a VLIR-UOS scholarship at the same time, and in practice their start dates and durations often conflict anyway.

The more practical concern is your own time. Both applications need serious investment. Splitting your focus across two completely different systems — different languages, portals and programme types — usually produces two mediocre applications rather than one strong one. The calendars help here: the ARES call runs August–September, while VLIR-UOS deadlines fall between November and February.

Yes, absolutely. Rejection is not a permanent disqualification. As long as you still meet all the eligibility criteria when you reapply — age, residency, no prior Belgian government scholarship — you can apply again to the same programme or a different one.

Some recipients are selected only on a later attempt. Because selection balances gender and regions, a well-qualified candidate from an over-represented country may be passed over one year and succeed the next when the balance shifts.

One thing to keep in mind: you receive no feedback on rejection. The only way to improve is to critically assess your own motivation letter and profile, ask the programme coordinator for informal guidance if possible, and make concrete changes before reapplying.

Through the university. Each ICP Connect programme is hosted by a Flemish institution, and you apply through that institution's own admission system for both the programme and the scholarship. There is no central VLIR-UOS application form.

The programme organisers select and rank candidates and send their results to VLIR-UOS, which applies its own criteria and contacts the selected candidates. So the scholarship decision flows through the university, not around it.

The practical implication: you must explicitly indicate in your university application that you are seeking the ICP Connect scholarship. If you don't, you may be admitted to the programme but never considered for the scholarship.

No. There are no application fees for ARES or VLIR-UOS scholarships — the ARES call states plainly that applying is free at every stage. Any website or agent charging an “application assistance fee,” “processing fee” or similar is charging you for something you can do yourself for free.

Some universities may charge a separate programme application fee — check with the institution. But the scholarship application itself costs nothing.

Once submitted in GIRAF, the application is locked and can no longer be modified. This is a well-known frustration — the submit action is permanent.

The only path is to contact ARES at scholarships-cooperation@ares-ac.be and explain. They may accommodate a correction at their discretion, but it is not guaranteed. The cleaner approach is to review the entire dossier carefully before submitting, ideally with a second reader.

Also note: creating more than one GIRAF account creates duplicate records that cause problems. ARES validates accounts manually, so be patient and create only one.

The 2027–2028 call lists “a commitment from the employer to re-employ the employee” as a mandatory document, but doesn't say what self-employed applicants should provide. The closest equivalent is a letter from a professional body, cooperative or association you belong to, confirming your professional standing and your intent to continue your activity after returning.

Better still, contact ARES before the deadline, explain your situation and ask what they will accept instead of an employer letter. Written confirmation beats submitting something inappropriate and hoping for the best.

The purpose of the letter is to show you have a professional home to return to and that someone expects you back. Any documentation that genuinely demonstrates that is what you're aiming for.

This varies by country and by institution. Some Belgian universities accept online verification through platforms like Parchment or My eQuals. Others require physical apostille stamps or full diplomatic legalisation — the latter more involved for countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention.

Documents submitted during the application are typically not returned. If legalisation means sending original certificates, check first whether the institution accepts certified copies. Some do.

Check directly with the specific programme rather than relying on general guidance. Requirements genuinely vary.

In some cases, yes. VLIR-UOS and the host institutions know that diploma issuance times vary widely across countries. A temporary certificate of completion or a letter from your institution confirming your degree may be accepted at the application stage, with the final diploma required before you start.

Always ask the specific programme. Don't assume either way — some institutions are flexible, others require the official document.

Many VLIR-UOS host institutions accept an English Medium of Instruction (EMI) letter from your previous institution instead of a test score, if your degree was delivered entirely in English. Some now accept Duolingo English Test scores too.

However, each programme sets its own requirements. Some still require IELTS (typically 6.5 to 7.0 overall) or TOEFL (typically 90 to 94) regardless of your instruction language. Master Mind accepts a letter of exemption from the host university as an alternative to test results. Check before you skip booking a test — registration can take months, and running out of time is a common, preventable problem.

Barely comfortably, depending on the city — and remember that under the VLIR-UOS framework, tuition and health insurance also come out of the EUR 1,400. Average student costs range from around EUR 1,000 a month in smaller cities like Ghent, Leuven or Liège to EUR 1,350 or more in Brussels, where rents run roughly 20–25% above the national student average.

In Ghent or Leuven, most students manage adequately — covering a room in a shared flat (EUR 350–550), food (EUR 200–300), local transport (EUR 50) and basic personal costs. In Brussels the margin is very thin, and unexpected costs (illness, an emergency trip home, course materials) can cause real strain.

VLIR-UOS describes the allowance as compensation for transport and living expenses in Belgium — not a salary, and not designed to leave money for savings or family support back home. Budget carefully and treat any surplus as a buffer.

A limited amount of part-time work is not prohibited. Belgium lets international students with a valid residence permit work around 20 hours a week during term and full-time during official breaks, and the scholarship programmes don't explicitly forbid it.

What they caution against is depending on part-time work to fund your studies. These are intensive programmes with demanding workloads and international cohorts who take the academic work seriously. Splitting your attention between a job and a full-time master's puts your results at risk.

Practically, finding part-time work with limited Dutch or French is also not straightforward, especially early on. Treat the allowance as your main income and any job income as occasional extra money.

No. VLIR-UOS says plainly that candidates cannot receive any other scholarship or grant for the same programme or another one at the same time, and that receiving an extra scholarship leads to exclusion. The ARES 2027–2028 call does not spell out a rule on combining grants, so ask ARES before accepting other funding. Master Mind cannot be combined with another Flemish government scholarship, Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus, BAEF or Fulbright.

Home-government scholarships, employer sponsorships or small bursaries that don't cover the same period may or may not be acceptable. The safest approach is to disclose any other funding you have or expect and let the programme coordinator confirm what is allowed.

Not directly. The scholarship covers the scholar only. Earlier guidance mentioned a VLIR-UOS family allowance of about EUR 62 a month per dependent for master's scholars, but the current VLIR-UOS Scholarship Framework (revised December 2025) does not list one — and even that would not come close to covering a family member's costs. The framework also states that family members' travel and visa costs are not covered.

Dependants need their own family reunification visas, with their own requirements and processing times. Housing, food and daily life for a family in Belgium would far exceed the allowance. Most VLIR-UOS and ARES scholars with families leave them at home for the programme and plan visits.

It depends on the scholarship and programme. All VLIR-UOS ICP Connect programmes are taught in English. Dutch is not required, not tested for admission and not needed for coursework. You'll meet Dutch in shops, on public transport and in administrative offices in Flanders, but the academic environment is in English.

ARES is mostly the opposite. Most ARES courses are taught in French, and you must apply in the course's language and show good written and spoken command of it. ARES also notes that basic French makes everyday life in Belgium much easier. If your French is not functional, a French-taught ARES course is not the right path — no IELTS score compensates for weak French in an ARES application.

Extensions are not possible. VLIR-UOS funds only the official programme duration — 12, 24 or 36 months depending on the level — and does not extend for thesis delays. The framework allows a postponement or, rarely, a prolongation only for urgent medical reasons backed by a doctor's certificate. Once the scholarship period ends, the money ends. (Conversely, if you graduate early, the remaining allowance is still paid.)

If your thesis runs late, you would need to finish it from home (if your institution allows remote completion) or find other funding to stay in Belgium. Neither is easy. This is why most VLIR-UOS alumni recommend starting thesis research early rather than leaving it to the final semester.

No, and this surprises a lot of applicants. Academic merit is one criterion, but VLIR-UOS explicitly balances selection across gender (targeting a balance between men and women), regions (so candidates from less-represented eligible countries aren't consistently passed over), professional background, and a “Leave No One Behind” principle that gives extra consideration to candidates from disadvantaged circumstances. ARES similarly weighs nationality diversity and gender parity.

In practice, a highly qualified candidate from a country already well represented in a programme (say, Vietnam or Ethiopia, which have many applicants) may be passed over for a slightly lower-scoring candidate from an under-represented country. A strong female applicant may be selected over a male applicant with a similar profile.

This is by design — the scholarships are development instruments, not pure merit competitions. But it means applicants from heavily represented countries need an exceptionally strong development-impact case, not just strong grades.

For the 2027 intake, the call is expected to open in mid-November 2026, with deadlines set by each programme — in past cycles most closed in February. VLIR-UOS contacts selected and waiting-list candidates by email as soon as possible after selection, and no later than mid-May 2027. That can mean roughly three months of silence after you submit. Programmes start in September 2027.

For questions about your application or the selection, VLIR-UOS asks you to contact the host institution directly, and rejected candidates often hear from the institution rather than VLIR-UOS.

The long wait is structural: the university screens and ranks applications, VLIR-UOS applies its balancing criteria, and the results are communicated back. Following up during this period won't change anything.

Yes, the waiting list is actively used. When a selected candidate declines, the next candidate on the list is offered the place. This happens regularly — some selected candidates have visa problems, take other scholarships or have family circumstances change. Waiting-list offers can come late, sometimes well into the summer.

Being on the waiting list is not a consolation prize. Treat it as a real possibility: don't accept incompatible commitments over the summer, and keep your visa documents ready so you can move quickly.

This is a common frustration. Neither ARES nor VLIR-UOS gives individual feedback on rejected applications. You won't be told whether it was academics, your motivation letter, your country being over-represented, or simply a stronger candidate under the balancing criteria. ARES says it provides no information beyond the result, and appeals can only go to Belgium's Council of State.

Without feedback, you need an honest self-assessment. Re-read your motivation letter critically: does it name a specific development problem in your home country? Does it explain precisely why this programme is the solution? Does it describe what you'll do after graduating in concrete, credible detail? A vague motivation letter is the most common weakness, and it's entirely within your control.

Some programme coordinators will reply to a politely worded informal enquiry after results are out. It's not guaranteed, but worth trying once — not to contest the decision, but to ask for general guidance for reapplying.

Start as soon as your place is confirmed — ideally by June for a September start. Ghent, Leuven and Brussels in particular have very competitive rental markets in August and September, when thousands of students arrive at once. Waiting until July or August often means choosing between poor-quality rooms and paying well above the normal student rate.

Most Belgian universities have an international housing service with room listings and sometimes reservations for international students. Contact your host institution's housing office as soon as your admission and scholarship are confirmed. University residences are usually the safest starting point, even if they're not your long-term choice.

You need a D-visa (long-stay visa) to enter Belgium for studies of more than 90 days. The Immigration Office asks for proof of enrolment or admission, proof of sufficient means (your scholarship), a medical certificate and a criminal record extract no older than six months; the decision is due within 90 days of the receipt for a complete file. Embassies may ask for more.

Once in Belgium, you must register with the local commune (municipality) within eight days of arrival. The commune then starts the process for your residence card (the A-card for students). Your university's international office will guide you, and most have staff assigned to help scholarship students register.

Start your visa application as early as possible after your offer. Some consulates have long queues, and September arrivals who applied in July are regularly caught by delays.

The return expectation is built into the scholarships' philosophy. Both ARES and VLIR-UOS describe themselves as development scholarships aimed at strengthening institutions and communities in the scholar's home country, and ARES asks for an employer's commitment to re-employ you and “maximum guarantees” that you will return.

Whether there is a formal legal enforcement mechanism comes up often, and the honest answer is that enforcement is mostly moral and reputational rather than contractual: we have not found a repayment clause for scholars who don't return. This may differ for ARES scholars who signed specific commitments with their employer.

Still, these are finite public resources designed for development. Using one to relocate permanently to a high-income country defeats the purpose for which the money was spent, and affects the opportunities available to future candidates from your country.

Yes, continuing to a PhD is possible. Several VLIR-UOS alumni have gone on to doctoral research in Belgium or elsewhere. If a Belgian professor becomes interested in your master's thesis work, they may approach you about a PhD position or help you find funding.

What it would not be is another Belgian government study scholarship — you have already received one. PhD funding would need to come from research grants, university funding, or sources such as the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) doctoral fellowships, European research projects or industry partnerships.