Before You Apply — Three Decisions
Getting these right before you open any application portal saves significant time.
Choose one programme.
Review all 20 programmes on the Programmes page. Choose the one that connects most directly to your professional background and a development challenge in your home country. You cannot apply to more than one per year — if you apply to two, both applications are automatically rejected.
Check your eligibility.
Confirm you are from an eligible country, resident there, under the age limit, have not studied in Belgium before, and are not currently on another scholarship. The full rules are on the Eligibility Rules page.
Check the specific programme deadline.
Most programmes have a 28 February deadline. TROPIMUNDO (Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems) has a 30 November deadline — months earlier than everyone else. If you are applying to TROPIMUNDO and miss November, you wait a full year.
Where to Apply
Important — read before searching for a portal
You do NOT apply to VLIR-UOS directly. The scholarship application is embedded in the programme application at the host university.
Go to the host university's website for your chosen programme.
Find the VLIR-UOS ICP Connect programme page on that university's site.
Apply through that university's admissions portal.
Within the application, indicate that you are applying for the ICP Connect scholarship.
VLIR-UOS does not accept direct applications. Applications submitted to VLIR-UOS are not considered.
The Application Timeline
From cycle opening in September to arriving in Belgium the following September — this is the full year.
September – October
New cycle opens
Programmes publish their admission requirements and start accepting applications. Check the VLIR-UOS website and individual programme pages for the current year's information.
October – January
Prepare your application
Gather documents, write your motivation letter, request recommendation letters, and prepare your CV. This takes longer than most people plan for. Starting in October gives you the full window. Starting in February does not.
30 November
TROPIMUNDO deadline
Applies only if you are applying to TROPIMUNDO (Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems). All other programmes: this date is not relevant to you.
28 February (approximate)
Deadline for all other programmes
The main deadline. Verify the exact date annually on the official VLIR-UOS site and each programme's individual page — the date can shift slightly by year.
February – April
University review
Programme coordinators review applications for academic admission and rank applicants for scholarship consideration. The university forwards ranked applications to VLIR-UOS.
Mid-May to Mid-June
VLIR-UOS scholarship screening and notification
VLIR-UOS conducts its scholarship screening. Selected scholars and waitlist candidates are notified. All candidates — including those not selected — are notified by this point. The waitlist is real: waitlist candidates sometimes get awards when selected scholars decline.
May – August
Visa application
Scholars receive their award letter and begin the Belgian student visa application. The DGD certificate is issued by the host university. Apply for your visa as early as possible — processing can take 4–8 weeks.
September
Academic year begins
Scholars arrive in Belgium. The programme starts.
Required Documents
This is the baseline. Verify each programme's specific requirements on their own page — some programmes add requirements.
Completed programme application form
Via the host university's online portal.
Motivation letter
Explaining why you chose this programme, your professional and development context, and your plan after graduating. See the Motivation Letter page for detailed guidance.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Current, professional format, in English.
Official academic transcripts
Certified copies from all previous institutions.
Degree certificate(s)
Certified copies of your highest qualification(s).
English language proof
IELTS/TOEFL certificate, or proof that your prior degree was taught entirely in English. Minimum requirements vary by programme — check each programme's specific page.
Passport copy
Valid for at least 12 months beyond the end of the scholarship period.
Two recommendation letters
From professors or supervisors who can assess your academic or professional capability. KU Leuven specifies a particular format for these. Check each programme's requirements before asking your referees to write.
Employer support letter
Recommended for all applicants, particularly those in government, NGO, or academic roles. Required for ITP. Should confirm your current position and ideally confirm your institution's support for your return.
Portfolio
Required specifically for the Master of Human Settlements (architecture, urban planning background evidence). Not required for other programmes unless stated.
What Happens After You Submit
Two stages. Your application must pass Stage 1 before it ever reaches VLIR-UOS.
Stage 1 — University Review
The programme coordinator reviews your application against academic admission requirements. If you do not meet the programme's academic standard, your application ends here.
The scholarship question is moot until you pass academic admission. The university ranks admissible applicants and forwards them to VLIR-UOS.
Stage 2 — VLIR-UOS Screening
The IOB (Institute of Development Policy, UAntwerp) acts as the scholarship secretariat. Academically admitted applicants are screened against scholarship criteria: financial need, development relevance, professional background, gender balance, and regional balance.
Both selected scholars and waitlist candidates are notified.
You will hear back no later than mid-June. By mid-May, most scholars know their status. The waitlist is real — waitlist candidates sometimes get awards when selected scholars decline. If you are waitlisted, stay available and confirm your interest to the programme if asked.
Reapplication After Rejection
Receiving a rejection in one year does not disqualify you from applying the next year. The applicant pool changes annually, and relative selection criteria — regional balance, gender balance — mean the odds shift even if your application does not.
Documented cases exist of applicants receiving the scholarship after two or three rejections with applications that were substantively unchanged. Persistence is worthwhile. See the How Selection Works page for a full explanation of why rejection does not always reflect application quality.