How to Apply for Belgian Scholarships
Belgian scholarships have three completely different application systems. There is no universal application form, no single portal, and no way to apply to one programme and get considered for another. Each system has its own platform, its own document requirements, and its own timeline.
ARES uses the GIRAF platform — a centralized online system where you create an account, upload documents, and submit everything through one portal. VLIR-UOS works entirely through individual university portals — there is no central application site, and each host university runs its own admissions process. Master Mind is different again: you cannot apply for it at all. Your Flemish host university must nominate you after you've been accepted for admission.
Getting the process wrong — applying through the wrong portal, submitting to the wrong system, or applying to multiple programmes when you're only allowed one — is an immediate disqualification. Below, we walk through each application system step by step so you know exactly what to do.
Applying to ARES
French-Speaking Programmes — via the GIRAF Platform
Check Eligibility First
Before you touch the application, verify that you meet all the basic requirements. This means your country of nationality, your age (generally under 40), your professional experience, and your French language ability.
- Confirm your country is on the ARES eligible country list
- Check the age limit for your chosen programme type
- Verify you have the required professional experience (minimum varies by programme)
- Ensure you have sufficient French proficiency — all ARES programmes are taught in French
Choose Your Programme
Browse the available programmes for the upcoming 2027–2028 cycle on the ARES programme page or directly on the official ARES website.
You can only apply for ONE programme. Choose wisely.
- Does the programme match your professional background?
- Is it relevant to development in your home country?
- Can you clearly demonstrate the connection between the programme and your career goals?
Create Your GIRAF Account
Go to giraf.ares-ac.be and register for an account. This is the only portal through which ARES accepts applications.
Account validation can take hours to days. Do NOT wait until the deadline to create your account.
- If you had a GIRAF account from a previous year, reuse it — do not create a new one
- You'll receive a confirmation email to set your password
- Check your spam folder if the confirmation doesn't arrive within a few hours
Prepare Your Documents (Before Starting the Form)
Gather everything before you open the application form. Trying to hunt down certified copies while the deadline looms is a recipe for mistakes. See the full required documents page for details on each item.
- Two recommendation letters (academic and/or professional)
- Certified copies of diplomas (“true copy of original” with authority stamp)
- Certified transcripts for ALL years of study
- Employment proof for the past 5 years
- Certificate of nationality or passport copy
- Pre-project document (if required by your chosen programme)
Complete the Application Form
Log in to GIRAF and navigate through the application interface.
Navigation path inside GIRAF:
- Click “Apply for international training 2027–2028” — click only once
- Fill out all required fields — you can save as draft and return later
- Double-check every section before submitting — especially document uploads
Submit
When everything is complete, click “Submit my application.”
This is irreversible. No modifications are possible after you hit submit. Make sure everything is correct first.
- Track your application status in the “My submitted files” table within GIRAF
ARES Key Dates (2027–2028 intake, to be confirmed)
ARES has not yet published the exact 2027–2028 calendar; the dates below follow the programme's usual annual pattern.
Applying to VLIR-UOS
English-Taught Programmes — via Individual University Portals
Verify Eligibility
VLIR-UOS has its own eligible country list, age limits, and residency requirements — these overlap with but aren't identical to the ARES list. Confirm you qualify before proceeding.
- Check the eligibility page for the VLIR-UOS country list
- Verify age limits and residency/nationality requirements
- Confirm you have or will have the required bachelor's degree before the programme starts
Choose ONE Programme
Browse the ICP Connect programmes on the VLIR-UOS programme page or the official VLIR-UOS website.
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL: Apply to only ONE programme
If you apply to more than one ICP programme across ANY Flemish university, every single one of your applications gets disqualified automatically. Not just the duplicates — all of them. You get one shot.
Find the University Application Portal
Unlike ARES, there is no centralized application platform for VLIR-UOS. Each programme has its own application portal on its host university's website.
- Go directly to the programme's page on the host university's website
- Look for the specific ICP Connect or VLIR-UOS application instructions
- If you can't find it, contact the programme coordinator — email addresses are listed on the VLIR-UOS programme page
Apply for Both Admission AND Scholarship
You submit one application that covers both programme admission and the scholarship. There is no separate scholarship form.
- You must explicitly state you are applying for a VLIR-UOS ICP Connect scholarship
- Some universities (like KU Leuven) have a specific ICP Connect application form — check carefully
- Do not assume the university will automatically consider you for the scholarship — you need to opt in
Submit Required Documents
Upload all required documents through the university portal. The exact list may vary slightly by programme, but here are the standard requirements.
- Academic transcripts and diplomas (certified copies)
- English proficiency proof — TOEFL or IELTS (minimum scores vary by programme)
- Passport copy
- 2 recommendation letters
- CV / resume
- Motivation letter (emphasize development impact and knowledge transfer to your home country)
- Programme-specific additional documents (check the university's requirements)
Wait for Results
There is no application fee for VLIR-UOS scholarships. After submitting, the university and VLIR-UOS handle the review process. Results are communicated by email before mid-May (expected mid-May 2027 for the next cycle, to be confirmed).
VLIR-UOS Key Dates (2027–2028 intake, to be confirmed)
VLIR-UOS has not yet published the exact 2027–2028 deadlines; the dates below follow the programme's usual annual pattern.
Applying to Master Mind
You Can't Apply Directly — The University Must Nominate You
You cannot apply for Master Mind yourself.
The Flemish host university selects and nominates candidates. There is no application form you can fill out independently. Your role is to get accepted to a Flemish university first, then ask about Master Mind nomination.
Apply to a Flemish University
Apply for admission to a Master's programme at a Flemish university through their regular admissions process. You need to get accepted first — the Master Mind scholarship comes after admission, not before it.
Contact the International Office
Ask the university's international office whether they allocate Master Mind scholarships for your specific programme. Not all programmes participate, and the university decides internally which programmes to put forward.
Express Interest in Nomination
Let the university know you'd like to be considered for a Master Mind nomination. The university selects candidates internally — only about 30 Master Mind scholarships exist across ALL Flemish universities combined, so competition is fierce.
Prepare Supporting Documents
Have these ready when the university requests them for the nomination process.
- GPA transcript showing 3.5/4.0 or higher
- IELTS 7.0+ or TOEFL 94+ (score must be no older than 3 years)
- Motivation letter
- Two recommendation letters
The university handles everything after this point — they submit the nomination package to the Flemish government on your behalf.
Timeline Comparison: All Three Programmes
The three programmes run on completely different calendars. ARES has the earliest and tightest window. VLIR-UOS deadlines are spread across months depending on the university. Master Mind depends entirely on the host university's internal schedule.
| Programme | Applications Open | Deadline | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A
ARES
|
early Aug 2026 (exp.) | mid-Sep 2026 (exp.) | June 2027 (exp.) |
|
V
VLIR-UOS
|
~October 2026 (exp.) | ~Nov 2026 – Feb 2027 (exp.) | Before mid-May 2027 (exp.) |
|
M
Master Mind
|
Varies by university | Varies by university | Varies by university |
The 5 Biggest Application Mistakes
These are the errors that get people disqualified before their application is even reviewed. Every single one of them is avoidable.
Applying to multiple VLIR-UOS programmes
This is the single most common way to get disqualified. VLIR-UOS cross-checks applications across all Flemish universities. If your name appears on more than one programme's applicant list, every application you submitted gets thrown out automatically. No exceptions, no appeals.
Clicking the GIRAF apply button multiple times
The GIRAF platform is not fast. When you click “Apply for international training,” it takes time to process. If you click it again because you think it didn't work, it creates duplicate applications. This causes confusion in the review process and can result in your application being flagged or rejected.
Submitting the ARES application before it's ready
Once you click “Submit my application” in GIRAF, that's it. You cannot edit, update, or add documents after submission. If you submitted with a missing recommendation letter or an incorrect transcript, you're stuck with that incomplete application for the entire review cycle.
Not certifying document copies properly
A plain photocopy of your diploma is not a certified copy. You need a “true copy of original” stamp from a recognized authority — your university registrar, a notary, or your country's ministry of education. Uncertified copies get your application thrown out at the document-check stage, before anyone even reads your motivation letter.
Waiting until deadline day to create a GIRAF account
GIRAF account creation requires validation, and it doesn't happen instantly. If you try to create your account on the deadline day itself (the ARES window typically closes in mid-September) and validation takes 24 hours, you've missed the deadline. Create your account weeks in advance, even if you're not ready to start the application yet.
Know What You Need to Submit
Each programme has specific document requirements — certified transcripts, recommendation letters, language certificates, and more. The next page breaks down exactly what you need for ARES, VLIR-UOS, and Master Mind.
Next: Required Documents →