Scholarships for international students in Belgium

Higher Education

Scholarships for international students in Belgium

Belgium has some great scholarship options for international students, but they are split across regions, universities, and program types. That makes it easy to miss a good match if you only search one national list

This guide breaks Belgian scholarships down by study level, eligibility, and funding coverage so you can compare realistic options quickly. If you are applying for a master’s degree, start there first, as this is where many of the strongest opportunities sit

Route	Typical level	Who it suits	What it may cover	Where to verify
Flemish schemes	Master’s and some research routes	Students applying through participating universities	Often tuition, living support, travel, or a mix	Official Flemish scholarship pages
Wallonia-Brussels schemes	Master’s and specialized programs	Students admitted to eligible French-speaking institutions	May include grants or partial support	Study in Belgium and WBI pages
ARES	Specialized master’s and training programs	Applicants from eligible partner countries with relevant experience	Can include tuition, travel, insurance, and living support	ARES official scholarship page
Erasmus Mundus	Joint master’s programs	Students applying to consortium programs with Belgian partners	Often broad support, depending on the program	Erasmus Mundus catalogue
University scholarships	Mostly master’s and institution-specific routes	Students already targeting a Belgian university	Coverage varies widely	University scholarship pages

Important warning: not every scholarship in Belgium is fully funded, and many awards cover only part of tuition or living costs

Belgium does not run one single scholarship system. Opportunities are split between Flemish, French-speaking, EU-level, and university-specific routes, so the best starting point depends on where you plan to study

Students targeting Flanders should start by exploring Flemish government scholarship portals alongside host university awards. For studies in Brussels or Wallonia, focus your search on grants funded by the French Community (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles). If you are enrolling in a multi-country joint master’s degree, Erasmus Mundus funding is usually the best starting point

• Flanders: Often used for university-nominated or institution-linked awards.
• Wallonia-Brussels: Best suited for French-speaking universities and region-specific funding programs.
• EU-level joint programs: Useful if Belgium is one partner in a wider master’s consortium.
• University-specific awards: Best when you already know your host institution.

Higher Education

Universities in Belgium

These terms are not interchangeable

• Scholarship: Usually a competitive award based on merit, need, nationality, or program fit
• Grant: A broader term that may cover part of study costs
• Tuition waiver: Reduces or removes tuition only
• Living allowance: Helps with day-to-day expenses such as housing and food
• Travel support: Helps with flights or relocation costs
• Loan: Borrowed money that must be repaid

Never call a tuition discount or partial grant “fully funded” unless the official

For most international students, master’s funding is the main opportunity area in Belgium. Start with the official scheme pages, then check whether the award is open to all international applicants or only certain countries or institutions

Two of the best-known Flemish routes are Master Mind and VLIR-UOS. They are both highly competitive, but they serve different audiences

• Master Mind: A Flemish scholarship route for strong international master’s candidates
• VLIR-UOS: Aimed at selected applicants from 29 eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, usually through participating institutions
• University awards: Some universities also offer their own scholarship or tuition-reduction options

At the time of writing, the official Master Mind page says the 2026–2027 call is closed and that 2027–2028 terms may change because the scheme is under review. Readers should check the official page

French-speaking Belgium has its own scholarship routes, and they should not be lumped together with Flemish options

Two names to watch are MASTER IN – WBI and ARES. They both support international students, but they are not the same thing:

• MASTER IN – WBI is tied to institutions recognized by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
• ARES is more selective and can include partner-country, language, and professional-experience rules

The official WBI financial support page says the standard support amount is €10,020, which does not cover a full academic year in Belgium. That is a helpful reminder that even an award with a clear cash amount may still leave a funding gap

Erasmus Mundus is not a Belgium-only scholarship, but it is still relevant because Belgian universities often participate in joint master’s programs

The key point is that students apply to the program consortium, not to Belgium as a country. Depending on the program, Erasmus Mundus scholarships can cover participation costs and may also help with travel, visa, and living expenses

If your degree is international by design, this route can be one of the strongest options on the table

Eligibility in Belgium often depends on nationality, country of residence, study level, host institution, and sometimes work experience or language

Some scholarships are open broadly, but many are restricted to specific regions or partner countries

Before you apply, check whether the scheme:

• Accepts non-EU applicants
• Is limited to partner countries
• Requires current residence in a specific country
• Is only for students admitted to a certain university or program

For example, some official Belgian routes are designed for selected partner-country applicants rather than all international students. That is why you should always read the official eligibility page carefully

Belgian scholarships can also vary by degree level

• Bachelor’s routes: Less common for international scholarship funding
• Master’s routes: The most common focus for funding
• Advanced master’s or research routes: May have extra academic or professional requirements

Language requirements vary by program and field. While many master’s degrees are taught entirely in English, others require proven fluency in French or Dutch. Certain scholarship routes, particularly development-focused schemes, also expect candidates to demonstrate relevant professional work experience

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Scholarship names tell you less than the coverage details do. Before you apply, check exactly which costs are included

Look for these items on the official page:

• Tuition
• Living allowance
• Travel support
• Insurance
• Visa or relocation support
• Any extra university fees

Scholarships covering tuition alone fall under partial funding. Similarly, awards offering a lump-sum stipend without explicitly guaranteeing coverage for daily living costs usually leave you to pay the remaining living expenses out of pocket

Securing a scholarship rarely eliminates upfront expenses entirely. Housing deposits, public transit passes, groceries, health insurance, and visa fees must often be paid out of pocket long before any stipend arrives

A full tuition waiver helps significantly, but navigating daily expenses in student hubs like Brussels, Leuven, Antwerp, or Ghent still demands a clear monthly budget. Exploring our breakdown on the overall cost of living in Belgium provides a realistic look at typical monthly expenses and helps identify potential funding gaps before departure

Supplementing a partial scholarship often involves transferring family funds or moving USD savings into euros prior to departure. When moving money from abroad, comparing conversion costs and processing times helps avoid unnecessary banking charges

Opening a multi-currency account like Wise gives you access to a European SEPA IBAN alongside a euro debit card before arriving in Belgium. This simplifies converting USD to EUR and paying early expenses like holding deposits. However, always confirm your university’s payroll policies first, as some scholarship boards may require a local Belgian bank account for official grant disbursements

Overlapping deadlines make or break Belgian scholarship applications. Because universities screen and nominate applicants internally before regional funds open, late academic submissions can disqualify even the strongest candidates

Use this simple checklist:

1. Shortlist scholarships by study level and region
2. Check whether you need university admission first
3. Confirm eligibility for your nationality or country of residence
4. Gather transcripts, motivation letters, and language proof
5. Request recommendations early
6. Verify the deadline on the official scholarship or university page
7. Recheck the call status before submitting

Aligning your scholarship timeline with your long-stay visa (Type D) application is equally critical. Because obtaining police clearances, medical certificates, and official proof of financial solvency can take several weeks, reviewing Belgian student visa requirements early ensures you arrive in time for orientation

Avoid these common errors:

• Trusting old deadline summaries
• Assuming a scholarship is open because it ranks in search
• Applying to a partner-country scheme you do not qualify for
• Mixing up admission deadlines with scholarship deadlines
• Assuming a partial award is fully funded

The safest way to verify an open call is to check the official scholarship page, the host university page, and the contact details listed by the scholarship administrator

Frequently Asked Questions about scholarships for international students in Belgium

Yes, but they are limited. Many Belgian awards are partial grants, tuition waivers, or targeted scholarships, so always check what is actually covered before you apply

Some are open to non-EU students, but many are restricted by country, institution, or program type. Check the eligibility rules on the official page before you spend time on an application

Yes, but they are usually tied to a region, institution, or specific route rather than one national bucket. Compare Flemish and French-speaking options separately

Not always. Many master’s programs are taught in English, but some scholarships or institutions may still require French or Dutch for admission or integration

Many calls open months before the academic year starts, often in fall or winter for the following year. Always confirm live dates on the official scholarship or university page

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Source: www.expatica.com