Scholarships in Belgium for International Students (2027/28 Guide)

The main scholarships for non-EU students in Belgium are the Flemish Master Mind Scholarship (€10,225 plus a tuition waiver in 2026/27), the French Community's WBI MASTER IN grant (€10,020 for 2026/27), Erasmus Mundus scholarships, development scholarships from VLIR-UOS and ARES for listed countries, and university-specific awards. Competition is strong, and almost all of them are for master's programs.

This guide tells you who can apply, how much each pays, and the deadlines we could verify. We are honest about eligibility: several well-known schemes exclude large applicant groups, including students from Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Master Mind Scholarship (Flanders)

The Master Mind Scholarship is the Flemish government's flagship award for international master's students at Flemish universities and university colleges. For 2026/27 it paid a grant of €10,225 and a tuition fee waiver per academic year (the institution may still charge the lowest local rate, €136.50 in 2026/27). It runs one year for a 60 ECTS master's or two years for a 120 ECTS master's.

• Who: all nationalities except Russian, according to the 2026/27 terms.
• Academic level: GPA of 3.5 out of 4 and, for universities, IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 94.
• How: you are nominated by your host institution, so you apply through the university, not directly to the government.
• Deadlines: for 2026/27, institutional deadlines ranged from 15 January (KU Leuven) to 13 April 2026. Hasselt University, for example, set 15 March and asked applicants to apply for admission by 1 February.

WBI MASTER IN grant (French Community)

Wallonia-Brussels International's MASTER IN grant funds master's students at French Community institutions. For 2026/27 it paid €10,020 in 12 monthly payments, plus health, repatriation and liability insurance and exemption from the Immigration Office administrative fee. It also meets the visa proof-of-means requirement.

• Deadline 2026/27: the form and documents had to reach your institution by 31 March 2026 at midnight Brussels time. No 2027/28 deadline is published yet.
• Admitted first: you must be admitted to the master's program to apply, and enrolled to receive the grant.
• Degree: your last degree must have been awarded no more than five years before the program starts.
• Excluded: applicants already studying in higher education in Belgium and previous ARES scholarship holders.
• Priority countries: Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Japan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mexico, the UK, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia and the USA. Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are not on the priority list.

VLIR-UOS scholarships (Flemish development cooperation)

VLIR-UOS funds scholarships for selected master's and training programs in Flanders. You must hold the nationality of a listed country and live in one of the listed countries when you apply. The VLIR-UOS country list includes countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, Morocco, Palestine, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bolivia and Peru.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt and Iran are not on the list. If you are eligible, apply early: Hasselt University's deadline for VLIR-UOS ICP applicants for 2027/28 is 1 February 2027. VLIR-UOS scholarship holders pay the EEA fee at Ghent University.

ARES scholarships (French Community development cooperation)

ARES offers international training scholarships for people who live and work in one of its 32 partner countries. The 2027/28 call closed on 18 September 2026, so the next chance is the following cycle. Afghanistan is not among the partner countries. The University of Namur's English-taught SMIDE master's, for example, links to 10 ARES scholarships for residents of partner countries with two years of professional experience.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are open to all nationalities and award EU-funded scholarships in annual selection rounds. Several Belgian universities take part, and these programs use their own application procedures and earlier deadlines. Ghent University and the University of Antwerp both note that their Erasmus Mundus programs have separate procedures.

University scholarships and fee waivers

Not every institution offers awards. Howest, for example, states it has no scholarships for international students. Always check the funding page of your chosen university.

Options for students from Afghanistan

Afghan students cannot use VLIR-UOS or ARES development scholarships, and Afghanistan is not a WBI priority country. Your best options are the fee rules that already favour you, plus open competitions:

• Exemption from the €4,175 contribution at French Community universities (you pay the €1,194 fee in 2026/27).
• Ghent University's developing-country rate.
• The Master Mind Scholarship (open to all nationalities except Russian in 2026/27) if you meet the GPA and IELTS 7.0 requirements.
• Erasmus Mundus scholarships, open to all nationalities.

How a scholarship helps with your visa

A scholarship does more than pay your bills. Belgian visa rules accept a scholarship certificate as proof of sufficient means instead of a blocked account, as long as it covers the required amount (€1,062 per month in 2026/27). Study in Belgium says the WBI MASTER IN grant meets the means requirement on its own.

• Lower visa costs: at the Belgian Embassy in Islamabad, D visas for cooperation scholarship students cost €0 instead of €250.
• Administrative fee exemption: certain government or institution scholarship holders, including WBI MASTER IN grantees, are exempt from the Immigration Office administrative fee.
• Lower tuition: at Ghent University, VLIR-UOS scholarship holders pay the EEA tuition rate, and the Master Mind Scholarship includes a tuition fee waiver.

If your scholarship covers less than the visa minimum, you must top it up with a blocked account, bank guarantee or sponsor. Ask the scholarship provider for an official certificate that states the amount and duration clearly, because the embassy will check it.

What makes a strong application

• Grades: Master Mind asked for a GPA of 3.5 out of 4 in 2026/27, so only top students should count on it.
• English score: a higher score than the program minimum (for example IELTS 7.0 for Master Mind) keeps more doors open.
• A clear motivation letter: explain why this specific program in Belgium fits your career plan.
• Complete, early documents: incomplete WBI files are not forwarded to the selection jury.

How to apply: a scholarship timeline

1. 1

   September–November: shortlist programs and scholarships

   Note whether each scholarship needs a separate application, a nomination, or only admission.

2. 2

   November–January: apply for admission early

   Most Belgian scholarships require admission first. Use our guide on how to apply to universities in Belgium.

3. 3

   January–March: submit scholarship files

   Master Mind deadlines started on 15 January at KU Leuven in 2026/27; WBI closed on 31 March 2026.

4. 4

   Prepare strong documents

   A high GPA, a strong IELTS or TOEFL score and a focused motivation letter matter. Master Mind asked for IELTS 7.0 in 2026/27.

5. 5

   Keep a backup funding plan

   You still need €12,744 (2026/27) for the visa if you do not win. See our cost of studying in Belgium guide.

Remember that fee exemptions are automatic in many cases and do not need a separate application. In the French Community, your authorisation to enrol states the amount you pay, so check that your exemption from the €4,175 contribution is applied if your nationality qualifies. At Ghent University, ask which document you need at enrolment to receive the developing-country rate.

Scholarship scams to avoid

• No genuine Belgian scholarship asks you to pay a fee to an agent to be selected.
• Official scholarships are listed on Study in Flanders, Study in Belgium, VLIR-UOS, ARES or university websites.
• Be careful with promises of a guaranteed full scholarship: every scheme above is competitive.

Scholarship calls and university deadlines for 2027/28 are still being published. Track deadlines for free on FindUniPath to see official dates as they appear, and explore the Belgium country hub.