More than chocolates and waffles, Belgium offers a lot of opportunities to foreign students wanting to study in this country. Located in Western Europe and bordered by Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France, Belgium is known for its medieval towns, classic history, and music festivals. But more than these things, this country has a well-developed economy.

If you want to study in Belgium, you’ll get to receive a world-class education that can open a lot of opportunities in your chosen career. The programs they offer in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees are high quality and affordable. International students taking up programs in Belgium are satisfied with their experience.

Additionally, support systems for international students in Belgium are available. Universities and colleges provide support, including financial aids like scholarships are given to them. Belgian institutions recognize their efforts in studying in this country, as they offer these scholarships in Belgium for international students.

Best Scholarships in Belgium

1. University of Antwerp – Erasmus Mundus scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: A monthly stipend of 1,000 – 2,500 € (may vary depending on the degree), insurance, travel, and participation fees
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Post Doctoral, and Ph.D. degrees

One of the scholarships offered by the University of Antwerp is the Erasmus Mundus scholarship, one of the best scholarships in Belgium for international students. This scholarship aims to provide mobility to international students taking up programs in European universities. Together with the University of Antwerp, they provide financial help to support these students.

2. Ghent University Top-up Grants

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: A monthly stipend of €1000, and coverage insurance in health, civil liability, and others.
  • Eligible Degree: Master’s degree

Ghent University is a public research university established in 1817. For many years, this university has continuously provided quality educations to its learners. Internationally speaking, it has an excellent international ranking with the other universities. They also offer various scholarships for international students to support them.

The Top-up Grants of the university are open to incoming international students taking up an English-taught Master’s program. Kindly check first if your country is included in the OECD Development Assistance Committee (OESO-DAC) country list. Since this is for new students, there are no separate applications for this scholarship in Belgium. In your admission application, you can mention this scholarship under the financial section.

Usually, they give out ten or more scholarships per academic year. The department of your chosen program will be the one responsible for deciding their top 3 applicants for the scholarship. The scholarship committee will select the recipients, and successful awardees should do their thesis at the university.

3. UHasselt – Master Mind Scholarships

Hasselt University in Hasselt and Diepenbeek, Belgium, offers scholarships to international students who show excellent academic performance in their respective programs. This scholarship is funded by the Flemish Ministry of Education, and it is awarded to foreign students coming from the countries of Flanders, Japan, Mexico, Palestine, and the USA.

To be eligible for this scholarship in Belgium for international students, applicants should have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 out of 4.0 and a good score or level on the English language proficiency tests. Overall, applicants should show excellent academic performance. To start your application, kindly fill up the application form along with the documents. Aside from the academic and language records, kindly submit two recommendation letters from your previous professors.

Hasselt University will be the one to screen the applicants. Please take note that they only select 20 candidates for the scholarship. After screening, the Flemish Government will be one to decide the successful applicants.

4. Science@Leuven Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: tuition fee coverage, health insurance, and a monthly stipend (the amount may vary).
  • Eligible Degree: Master’s Degree

KU Leuven or Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a research university located in Leuven, Belgium. This institution is a leading research university in Belgium and worldwide. It has a good reputation among universities. The KU Leuven Faculty of Science offers scholarships to international students taking up a master’s program in Science.

The scholarship is open to incoming international graduate students. To qualify for this scholarship, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in a foreign university, a strong knowledge of the English language, and excellent academic records from your previous studies. Other qualifications are written on the scholarship link.

For the submission and application for this Belgium scholarship, kindly prepare your academic records, specifically the course titles you have obtained with their descriptions, two reference letters from your professors, and a letter of motivation for the program. After completing the requirements and your admission, you should submit a separate online application for the scholarship. The selection committee will interview the qualified candidates, and they will be notified if their application is successful. Lastly, the continuity of this scholarship will depend on your academic performance.

5. South Partnership – Ph.D. Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: A monthly stipend for daily living and coverage of airfare tickets
  • Eligible Degree: Ph.D. degrees

The Université Catholique de Louvain or UCLouvain in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, was established in 1425, and for many years, this institution offers a lot of programs in different degrees. Today, as they continuously grow internationally, they aim to provide scholarships to their learners.

The South Partnership – Ph.D. Scholarships, one of the top scholarships in Belgium for international students, are open to students taking Ph. D programs. This award aims to support doctorate students coming from developing countries to promote partnership between the university and other educational institutions in the world. Scholarship awardees will receive this scholarship for a maximum of 36 months.

If you want to apply for this scholarship, you should meet the university’s requirements. One of the criteria is to be a student from a developing country (the list of countries is on the website), and you should be admitted to the UCLouvain’s Ph. D. programs. The university will be the one to process and review the applications, and they will review your curriculum vitae and research proposal. Lastly, applications will be sent through the university’s email, and the forms needed are available on the website.

6. Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships Programme at KU Leuven

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: 50% of the complete fees
  • Eligible Degree: Ph.D. degree

Every academic year, the largest university in Belgium, KU Leuven, chooses outstanding scholars from different universities as scholarship applicants to pursue their PhDs as part of its contribution to global development. This scholarship’s primary goal is to give students from developing countries access to quality education and various opportunities to expand their skills and knowledge. Additionally, this fellowship intends to assist international refugees in obtaining a formal education at some of the best colleges in the country.

The goal of this scholarship is to provide students with the chance to complete a 4-year Ph.D. degree in a dual format, in which at least 50% of the study is at the student’s home university, and KU Leuven funds at least 50% of the study, with assistance from a local co-promoter. The Global Minds Doctoral Scholarship program is transparent and fair toward the applicants, and only the best and brightest students can benefit from this scholarship.

7. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel Flanders Master Mind Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: Up to €115,800 of paid tuition expenses
  • Eligible Degree: Master’s degree

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is located in the heart of Europe and is known for some of the best leadership programs in the country. Outstanding international students are given scholarships by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training to attend master’s programs in Flanders and Brussels. To qualify for this Belgium scholarship, students must first become part of the host university as full-time students.

The university offers vast help regarding the tuition fees associated with the student’s program, where the maximum fee that is paid is up to €115,800 in paid tuition expenses. Still, the best opportunity that is a part of this scholarship is the chance to study at a prestigious university in Belgium. Students from all countries are allowed to apply for this scholarship, except students who have graduated from or are presently enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution. The application process for this scholarship is directly connected with the application process for a university program. Additional information regarding this scholarship can be found in the attached link.

8. Université Libre de Bruxelles Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: Up to €850 a month of paid tuition expenses
  • Eligible Degree: Master’s degree

The Université Libre de Bruxelles is one of the most prestigious universities in Belgium, and it offers various opportunities for students to attend some of its most well-known programs. A respected, comprehensive, international study program called the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree is offered by a global alliance of colleges and universities throughout Belgium. This Belgium scholarship is offered for a joint master’s degree that can be completed at the Université Libre in Belgium and also at the student’s home university, so in a way, it is a master’s degree collaboration that is financed by the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship.

The tuition discount that is offered by the university depends on the students and their financial situation, and it can reach up to €850 a month of paid tuition expenses. The top student applicants who submit applications through yearly selection rounds are given EU-funded scholarships by this program, and the advantage is given to students that have monetary difficulties.

9. Université of Liège Department of Study Allowances Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: Discounted tuition fee and allowance budget
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees

The Université of Liège is a prestigious university that is located in the Wallonia region, which is known as a French-speaking region in Belgium.

Students have the option to ask the Université de Liège for a discount on registration costs for the current academic year and an allowance budget throughout their studies. The discount on tuition fees is given based on the student’s financial situation and application process, where the best students who need financial help are rewarded by the department of study allowances and loans.

The Université de Liège supports all international students who want to be a part of its study programs, and they offer this scholarship for all undergraduate and postgraduate studies that are available. The only restriction that is a part of this university is that the students that benefit from this scholarship should not be under the effect of other scholarships that may help them financially.

10. Thomas More University of Applied Sciences Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: Up to 60% of paid tuition expenses
  • Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s degree

Thomas More University of Applied Sciences is one of the highest-ranking universities in Belgium, and it is known for its hospitality toward international students. The cost of some of the programs at this university may be expensive, and that is why it offers a tuition discount scholarship that can be beneficial to students.

Based on your academic achievements, you might be eligible for a merit-based scholarship. You will receive a discount on the tuition for the following semester if you pass at least 60% of the registered credits in the first semester. The total payment for a single year is around 6,200 euros and, after the tuition discount, the students may be required to pay around 2,600 euros.

This is very helpful for students that originate from underdeveloped countries but want to study at a prestigious university. This Belgium scholarship depends on the student’s achievement and merit, so the application process for this scholarship is not needed because it will be awarded automatically to the students that meet the criteria. The scholarship link contains more information about the scholarship and its eligibility requirements.

 

We hope that this article on the best scholarships in Belgium for international students was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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