Scholarships in Belgium

Studying in Belgium with a scholarship

Belgium has several higher education systems, reflecting the country’s different language communities. International students may study in French-speaking Wallonia and Brussels, Dutch-speaking Flanders, or at institutions offering programmes partly or entirely in English.

This matters when researching scholarships because admission requirements, tuition fees and funding programmes are not necessarily identical across the whole country.

The opportunities listed on this page may come from universities, government-supported programmes or organisations such as ARES. Always check which institution and region administers a scholarship before applying.

ARES scholarships

ARES, the Academy for Research and Higher Education, is one of the most important scholarship providers for international applicants interested in French-speaking Belgium.

Its international training scholarships are designed mainly for applicants from eligible partner countries and support specialised academic or professional training.

ARES programmes can include:

• specialised bachelor’s programmes
• specialised master’s programmes
• continuing education
• professional training
• research or academic mobility

The international training programme currently includes one-year specialised bachelor’s and master’s programmes as well as shorter continuing education programmes lasting roughly two to six months.

These are not general scholarships for every bachelor’s or master’s degree available in Belgium.

Applicants need to select one of the eligible programmes offered under the particular ARES call.

Who are ARES scholarships designed for?

ARES development cooperation scholarships are particularly aimed at students and professionals from selected developing countries.

Some programmes target applicants who already have professional experience and want specialised training related to development challenges.

For example, ARES master’s and internship funding is directed toward applicants from developing countries who already hold relevant qualifications and professional experience.

Nationality is therefore extremely important.

Being admitted to a Belgian university does not automatically make someone eligible for an ARES scholarship.

Before preparing an application, applicants should check:

• whether their country is included
• whether their academic background matches the programme
• whether work experience is required
• the age requirement, if applicable
• whether they must currently live and work in their home country
• the documents requested for the current cycle

ARES programmes are specialised

Students sometimes misunderstand the term “master’s scholarship” and assume ARES will fund any master’s programme they choose in Belgium.

That is not generally how the programme works.

ARES scholarships support specific international training programmes selected within its development cooperation framework. These programmes are designed around particular academic and professional areas.

Applicants should therefore first identify an eligible programme, then evaluate whether their qualifications and professional background genuinely match it.

This is very different from receiving a general scholarship that can be used at any university or for any subject.

Wallonie-Bruxelles International funding

Another funding route is Wallonie-Bruxelles International, commonly known as WBI.

One of its programmes is the MASTER IN grant, which supports international graduates who want to undertake master’s study in French-speaking Belgium.

For the 2026/27 academic year, applicants had to submit their scholarship documents through the higher education institution they wished to attend by March 31, 2026.

This is useful to understand even for future cycles because it shows that scholarship deadlines may occur well before the academic year begins.

Applicants should check the new call each year rather than assuming March 31 will remain the deadline permanently.

Some nationalities receive priority under WBI

For the 2026/27 MASTER IN programme, WBI identified applicants who had studied in certain countries or regions as priorities.

These included:

• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• South Korea
• Japan
• Lebanon
• Morocco
• Mexico
• United Kingdom
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Tunisia
• United States

Applicants from other countries should not automatically assume they are excluded, but priority status can affect how competitive the selection process is.

Always check the current year’s eligibility rules.

Scholarships are available beyond ARES

Belgium has more scholarship opportunities than ARES alone.

Wallonie-Bruxelles Campus lists funding offered by:

• universities
• Wallonie-Bruxelles International
• ARES
• foreign governments
• bilateral cooperation programmes
• research organisations
• external foundations

Some awards are available only to applicants from specific countries. Others target doctoral researchers, exchange students or particular academic disciplines.

This means a student who is not eligible for an ARES scholarship may still have other funding options.

Tuition fees in French-speaking Belgium

Tuition costs are important because the rules changed for the 2026/27 academic year.

For many students studying at higher education institutions within the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the maximum standard annual registration fee is currently €1,194.

Many non-EU students who do not qualify for an exemption must also pay an additional contribution of €4,175, bringing the total to approximately €5,369 per academic year.

This should not be presented as the price every international student will pay.

There are important exemptions and special situations.

Some international students can receive exemptions

The additional non-EU contribution does not apply in every case.

Certain students can qualify for exemptions because of nationality, residence status, scholarship status or other recognised circumstances. Students from countries appearing on the United Nations list of Least Developed Countries are among the groups that may receive special treatment under the relevant rules.

This can make a significant financial difference.

Instead of assuming that your tuition will be €5,369, check your personal situation with the university or the official Wallonia-Brussels tuition guidance.

Scholarships may change the tuition situation

Students receiving certain recognised scholarships can also fall under different tuition rules.

For example, scholarship status may affect whether the additional international student contribution applies.

This is why applicants should not calculate their final tuition costs until they know:

1. their university
2. their programme
3. their nationality
4. their scholarship status
5. whether they qualify for an exemption

The institution’s admissions or international office should confirm the amount before enrolment.

Living costs

Belgium is generally less expensive than some neighbouring Western European destinations, although costs vary significantly between cities and lifestyles.

Wallonie-Bruxelles Campus currently suggests budgeting approximately €700 to €1,000 per month for living expenses in French-speaking Belgium.

A realistic budget should include:

• rent
• food
• health insurance
• transportation
• phone and internet
• books and study materials
• personal expenses
• visa and residence fees
• initial housing deposits

Brussels may require a different budget from smaller university cities.

Students should therefore research the actual city where they plan to live.

Language of study

Belgium is multilingual.

In French-speaking universities, French remains important, although many master’s programmes are offered partly or entirely in English.

Applicants should check the exact language of instruction for their chosen programme.

A programme may be:

• entirely in French
• entirely in English
• bilingual
• mostly English with some French requirements

Do not assume that because a programme page is available in English, all teaching will be conducted in English.

Admission requirements vary by institution

Belgian universities determine their own academic admission requirements.

Depending on the programme, applicants may need:

• previous degree certificate
• academic transcripts
• recognised equivalent qualification
• language proficiency
• CV
• motivation letter
• recommendation letters
• professional experience
• research proposal
• portfolio

Specialised programmes can have stricter requirements than ordinary degree programmes.

Applicants should read both the university admission conditions and the scholarship conditions because they may be separate.

Admission and scholarship applications may be separate

One of the most important things to check is whether university admission and scholarship selection follow the same process.

For some opportunities, you may need to:

1. apply to the university
2. obtain an application or admission reference
3. submit a separate scholarship application
4. wait for separate decisions

The WBI MASTER IN process, for example, requires university-related application information before the scholarship file is completed.

Submitting a scholarship form does not necessarily mean that you have completed the university admission process.

Research opportunities

Belgium also offers funding for doctoral researchers, postdoctoral researchers and academic mobility.

ARES operates mobility funding intended for researchers, teaching staff and professionals connected with institutions in its partner countries.

Eligible activities can include doctoral mobility, postdoctoral mobility and capacity-building visits.

Researchers should pay particular attention to institutional partnerships because some mobility schemes are designed around cooperation between Belgian institutions and universities in partner countries.

Documents to prepare

The exact requirements depend on the scholarship, but applicants may need:

• passport
• academic certificates
• transcripts
• CV
• motivation letter
• recommendation letters
• proof of professional experience
• language certificate
• proof of university application
• research proposal
• employer documentation
• certified translations

Professional experience is especially important for some ARES programmes.

Applicants should not assume that academic grades alone will determine selection.

Explain your professional background clearly

For scholarships connected with development cooperation, applicants should explain how the proposed study fits their previous work and future goals.

A strong application should show a logical connection between:

• previous education
• professional experience
• chosen programme
• problems the applicant wants to address
• skills the applicant hopes to gain
• plans after returning home

Avoid writing general statements such as “Belgium has a good education system.”

Selection committees need to understand why this particular programme makes sense for your background.

Do not exaggerate experience

If a scholarship requires professional experience, describe the experience you actually have.

Do not inflate job titles or responsibilities to make an application look stronger.

A clear explanation of genuine work, internship, volunteering or project experience is more credible than language that sounds impressive but cannot be supported by documents.

Some scholarship programmes may request employment certificates or other evidence.

Visa and residence preparation

Non-EU students planning to study in Belgium for an extended period normally need to complete immigration procedures before travelling.

Requirements can depend on nationality and the length of study.

Students may need documents relating to:

• university admission
• passport
• financial resources
• health insurance
• criminal record
• medical examination
• accommodation
• scholarship funding

Visa rules should always be checked through Belgium’s Immigration Office and the Belgian embassy or consulate responsible for your country.

Scholarship approval and visa approval are separate decisions.

Financial proof is important

Even when tuition is covered, students may still need to demonstrate that they have sufficient resources for their stay.

Scholarship documentation can sometimes be used as evidence of financial support, but the required amount and acceptable proof depend on immigration rules.

Do not assume that a scholarship automatically removes every financial requirement.

Applicants should check the official visa checklist before transferring money into accounts or paying for financial documents.

Scholarship deadlines can be early

Funding deadlines in Belgium can be much earlier than the start of classes.

For example, the 2026/27 WBI MASTER IN deadline was March 31, 2026.

ARES also operates annual application cycles.

Students hoping to begin study the following September should therefore start researching scholarships many months earlier.

Waiting until university admission season is nearly finished can mean that major funding programmes have already closed.

Read the current call, not an old scholarship article

This is particularly important for ARES.

Programme lists, partner countries, requirements and application dates can change between cycles.

The current ARES cooperation framework covers 2022 to 2027, which means future calls may also be affected when a new cooperation programme begins.

Older scholarship articles can still be useful for understanding how a programme works, but they should never replace the current official call.

Avoid scholarship scams

Applicants should be suspicious of anyone promising:

• guaranteed ARES selection
• guaranteed Belgian university admission
• guaranteed visas
• private access to scholarship places
• selection in exchange for unofficial payments

ARES and university scholarships use formal application and selection procedures.

Use scholarship websites for discovery, then complete the application through the official institution or funding organisation.

What to check before applying

Before preparing a scholarship application for Belgium, confirm:

• your nationality is eligible
• the exact programme is covered
• required academic level
• required professional experience
• language of instruction
• university admission procedure
• separate scholarship procedure
• tuition fees after any exemption
• living allowance provided
• accommodation support
• travel support
• insurance coverage
• visa requirements
• scholarship deadline
• university deadline

Do not judge the opportunity only by whether a website describes it as “fully funded.”

Check the actual financial package.

Final advice

Belgium offers useful opportunities for international students, especially through ARES, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, university scholarships and research mobility programmes.

The most important thing is choosing the right funding route.

ARES scholarships are particularly relevant to applicants from eligible developing countries seeking specialised training, while other university and WBI programmes can serve different groups of international students.

Check your nationality, academic background and professional experience before investing time in an application.

The scholarship listings below can help you identify opportunities in Belgium, but always verify the current deadline, funding package and eligibility requirements with the official provider.

Last reviewed: September 10, 2026