Belgium offers international students much more than its famous chocolates and waffles. Located in Western Europe and bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea, Belgium is known for its medieval towns, history, cultural events, and highly developed economy.
International students in Belgium can choose from a broad range of programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Belgian higher education institutions offer internationally recognized programs, although tuition fees and living costs vary by institution, program, nationality, and region. You can learn more about the Belgian education system and explore affordable universities in Belgium.
Support services are also available for international students. Universities and other higher education institutions may provide academic guidance, student services, and financial assistance. Scholarship availability, eligibility requirements, and benefits vary by program and institution. The following are some scholarship opportunities available to eligible international students through European, Flemish, and Belgian institutions.
Top Scholarships in Belgium for International Students
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Type | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| Erasmus Mundus Scholarships | European Union scholarship | Master’s | Participation costs and contributions toward travel, visa, and living expenses |
| Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship | European Union research funding | Doctoral | Living and mobility allowances; applicable additional allowances; and research, training, and networking support |
| Master Mind Scholarships | Flemish Ministry of Education and Training | Master’s | €10,225 and a tuition-fee waiver per academic year |
| Science@Leuven Scholarship | KU Leuven | Master’s | €12,000 per academic year for up to two years, plus a partial tuition-fee waiver for eligible non-EEA students |
| Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships Programme | KU Leuven | Doctoral | Four-year sandwich Ph.D.: a maximum of 50% financed and conducted at KU Leuven and at least 50% financed and conducted at the home institution |
| VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarships | VLIR-UOS | Bachelor’s and Master’s | Full tuition fees, travel expenses, insurance, and living expenses, including accommodation and meals |
| MASTER IN – WBI Grants | Wallonia-Brussels International | Master’s and Specialized Master’s | €10,020 per academic year, plus insurance coverage and reduced tuition fees |
1. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Participation costs and contributions toward travel, visa, and living expenses
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
One of Europe’s major scholarship opportunities for master’s students is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarship. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are offered by international consortia of higher education institutions and normally involve study in more than one country. Full scholarships may be awarded to the highest-ranked applicants and cover participation costs while contributing toward travel, visa, and living expenses.
Several Belgian universities participate in Erasmus Mundus programs. The University of Antwerp, for example, currently participates in the Master of Leading International Vaccinology Education and the Master of Applied Ecohydrology. Applicants apply directly to the consortium offering their chosen Erasmus Mundus Joint Master, and requirements and deadlines vary by program.
One scholar’s journey: Malaysian recipient Tuo Sern earned an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for the WE-TEAM textile engineering master’s program, ranking eighth among 15 shortlisted applicants from a pool of 209. He strengthened his application with a Europass CV highlighting his industrial engineering background, international work experience, and extracurricular achievements, although he later wished he had completed the optional video interview. Through the scholarship, he studied at Ghent University in Belgium and other European institutions, completing research on textile-based protective sports equipment. View More Erasmus Mundus Scholarship recipients →
Here is what Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Scholars Say:
“Fortunately, I received a fully funded scholarship of 49,000 euros so, in total, I didn’t have to pay anything.”
Sandra Babu
“For my programme, I was accepted as one of 25 students out of 356 applicants, and the competition has only become tougher in recent years.”
Shihabur
“I paid close attention to eligibility requirements, gathered strong recommendation letters, crafted a clear and personalized motivation letter, and highlighted relevant academic achievements, fieldwork, and research experience.”
Sachin Timilsina
“It consists of 3 semesters of courses, one short internship, and one full semester internship, which includes a Master’s thesis.”
Valeria Morales
2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship (Belgium)
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount for Ph.D.: Living and mobility allowances; applicable family, long-term leave, and special-needs allowances; and support for research, training, and networking activities
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship, commonly offered through MSCA Doctoral Networks, supports doctoral candidates recruited by funded international research projects. Doctoral Networks provide research training, international and intersectoral experience, and transferable-skills development.
EU funding supports recruited candidates through living and mobility allowances. Family, long-term leave, and special-needs allowances may also apply. Funding is additionally provided to participating organizations for research, training, networking, management, and indirect costs. Candidates do not submit an individual scholarship application to the European Commission; instead, they apply for advertised doctoral vacancies in funded MSCA projects, including positions listed through EURAXESS. Each vacancy has its own academic, mobility, and application requirements.
Lucas Argandoña’s path to the Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship: After multiple unsuccessful applications, including final interviews against fewer than five or ten candidates, Chilean biotechnology researcher Lucas Argandoña secured a fully funded doctoral position through the NANAQUA Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie Doctoral Network. He focused his application on connecting his previous research to the project’s goals, refining his CV and motivation letter, and preparing to explain his experimental approach during interviews. His PhD in Engineering Technology combines industry-based water treatment research at PureBlue Water in the Netherlands with doctoral supervision from KU Leuven in Belgium. View More Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship recipients →
Here is what Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship Scholars Say:
“This fellowship provided a living allowance, a mobility allowance, and funding to support research, training, and networking activities.”
Hilal
“An essential aspect of the MSCA is mobility, which requires you to move to the hosting institution and also undergoes two secondments at two institutions abroad.”
Barbara Lazarotto
3. Master Mind Scholarships (Flemish Ministry of Education and Training)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €10,225 and a tuition-fee waiver per academic year
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
The Master Mind Scholarship, funded by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training, supports outstanding international students entering eligible master’s programs at participating higher education institutions in Flanders and Brussels. For the 2026–2027 academic year, the scholarship includes a grant of €10,225 and a tuition-fee waiver per academic year. The host institution may still charge the scholarship holder the reduced annual tuition rate permitted by the program.
Applicants generally need a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, calculated from their most recently obtained bachelor’s or master’s degree. Applicants to universities and universities of applied sciences must normally provide English-language evidence equivalent to an IELTS overall score of 7.0, a TOEFL score of 94, CEFR level C1, or another comparable test accepted by the host institution. Different minimum English requirements apply to schools of arts. The language certificate must generally be no more than three years old when the institution processes the application.
Students apply through a participating Flemish host institution rather than directly to the Flemish government. The institution evaluates the application and may nominate candidates, after which the Flemish selection process determines the recipients. Each institution may submit a maximum of 20 applications. A limited number of scholarships are reserved for candidates from Japan, Mexico, Palestine, and the United States, but applicants from other eligible nationalities remain eligible.
The scholarship normally lasts one academic year for a 60-ECTS master’s program or two academic years for a 120-ECTS master’s program. It cannot be combined with certain other awards, including another Flemish Government scholarship, an Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus scholarship, a BAEF scholarship, or a Fulbright scholarship. Applicants should check the participating institution’s own requirements and deadline because these differ by institution.
4. Science@Leuven Scholarship (KU Leuven)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €12,000 per academic year for up to two consecutive years, plus a partial tuition-fee waiver for eligible non-EEA students
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
KU Leuven, formally Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, is a research university based in Leuven, Belgium. The university’s Faculty of Science offers the Science@Leuven Scholarship to talented international students entering selected master’s programs in science.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, the scholarship provides an allowance of €12,000 per academic year for a maximum of two consecutive years. Continued support for the second year depends on satisfactory performance during the first year. Non-EEA recipients receive a partial tuition-fee waiver and pay the reduced fee specified by KU Leuven for that academic year. EEA recipients receive the allowance but no additional tuition-fee waiver.
The scholarship is available to applicants of all nationalities, but only for specifically listed master’s programs. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a non-Belgian university that provides access to the relevant master’s program. They must not previously have studied or worked at KU Leuven and must not already hold a master’s degree or Ph.D. Applicants must also meet the admission requirements of their chosen program and have excellent previous academic results.
Required materials include the standard admission documents, a transcript listing completed courses, credits, and grades, descriptions of the most relevant previous courses, two reference letters from internationally recognized professors, and a letter of motivation. Applicants must apply to an eligible master’s program and complete the separate scholarship registration process. Shortlisted applicants are normally invited to an online interview. Selection considers academic results, English proficiency, motivation, knowledge of the program, and the applicant’s ability to serve as an ambassador for the Science@Leuven Fund.
5. Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships Programme (KU Leuven)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: A maximum of 50% of the four-year research period is financed and conducted at KU Leuven, while at least 50% is financed and conducted at the scholar’s home institution
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
Through the Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships Programme, KU Leuven selects exceptional scholars affiliated with institutions in eligible Global South countries to pursue development-related doctoral research. Proposals should preferably be connected to one or more United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Candidates must have the support of a KU Leuven supervisor and a local co-supervisor at their home institution.
The program follows a four-year, or 48-month, sandwich model. A maximum of 50% of the research is financed by and conducted at KU Leuven, while at least 50% must be conducted and financed by the scholar’s home institution. The home institution must provide sufficient financial support during the periods spent there. The Ph.D. degree is awarded by KU Leuven.
Candidates must satisfy the program’s nationality, academic, institutional-affiliation, language, and research-proposal requirements. They are expected to use the knowledge and experience gained through their doctorate to strengthen the research and educational capacity of their home institution. KU Leuven states that, because of budget constraints, the number of Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships it will be able to award under the current call is uncertain.
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Fully funded tuition fees, travel expenses, insurance, and living expenses, including accommodation and meals
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, including initial and advanced Master’s programs
The VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarships are fully funded opportunities offered by VLIRUOS to support students from eligible countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America who wish to pursue English-taught degree programs at participating higher education institutions in Belgium. Applicants must meet the nationality and residence requirements, as well as the academic and admission criteria of their chosen program.
The scholarships cover the full duration of eligible programs, ranging from 12 to 36 months. Applicants must demonstrate strong academic preparation, motivation, and a commitment to sustainable development, with preference given to those whose professional goals align with higher education, government, or civil society. Applications are submitted directly through participating institutions, and candidates may apply for only one ICP Connect scholarship per year. For the 2027–2028 academic year, VLIRUOS has announced scholarships for 12 programs beginning in September 2027, with application deadlines varying by institution.
7. MASTER IN – WBI Grants (Wallonia-Brussels International)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €10,020 per academic year, paid in monthly installments, plus insurance coverage and reduced tuition fees
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s and Specialized Master’s degrees
The MASTER IN – WBI Grants are offered by Wallonia-Brussels International to support international students pursuing master’s degrees at recognized higher education institutions in French-speaking Belgium. The program welcomes applicants of all nationalities who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a recognized institution outside Belgium. Priority is given to applicants from designated countries and regions, although candidates from other countries may also be considered.
The grants provide financial assistance toward living expenses, health insurance, repatriation insurance, and personal liability insurance. Students also benefit from reduced tuition fees but must have additional personal funds to cover expenses not included in the scholarship. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their chosen institution, and some universities may limit eligibility to specific programs. Applications are submitted through participating institutions, which preselect candidates before final selection by Wallonia-Brussels International. Continued funding for longer programs depends on satisfactory academic progress.
Belgium offers a diverse and internationally connected higher education system, but tuition and living costs can be significant for international students. Scholarships from the European Union, the Flemish government, universities, and other organizations can help eligible students meet some or all of these expenses. Because award amounts, eligibility rules, and application deadlines can change each academic year, applicants should always confirm the current conditions on the official scholarship and university websites.
We hope this article on scholarships in Belgium for international students was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
