ARES scholarships are an odd fit for most scholarship lists, and that is exactly why they deserve a careful look. They do not fund a regular Master's degree of your choosing. They fund places on specialized programs at Belgian universities that were built for professionals working in international development. If you already work in agriculture, public health, environmental management, GIS or a related field, this could be one of the better-funded routes to Belgium. If you graduated last month and have no work history, it probably is not for you yet.
This guide walks through how the scheme works, who it suits, and where applicants tend to trip up. For a compact summary you can bookmark, see the full scholarship details.
What ARES is and why its programs feel different
ARES stands for Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur, the Academy of Research and Higher Education for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. That is the French-speaking side of Belgium's higher education system. The Federation has a long-standing focus on development cooperation, and ARES funding reflects it.
The money goes to specialized Bachelor's, Master's and continuing education programs in fields tied to international development. The fields named for this scheme include agriculture, health, environment, IT and GIS, economics, human rights, microfinance and food technology, among others. These are purpose-built courses for an international cohort of development professionals. They are not general degree programs, and you will not find an ARES scholarship attached to, say, a standard MSc in computer science.
That design matters for how you plan. You are not choosing a university first and hunting for funding second. You are choosing one of the specific ARES-funded programs and applying for that.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | ARES, Wallonia-Brussels Federation |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Study levels | Specialized Bachelor's, Master's, continuing education |
| Country | Belgium |
| Applications open | Expected May-June |
| Deadline | Around September 18 (varies by year) |
| Official site | ares-ac.be |
The funding package, line by line
ARES is listed as fully funded, and the package goes further than tuition. It covers:
- Full tuition
- A monthly living allowance
- Health insurance
- Round-trip airfare
- Visa fee reimbursement
The airfare and visa reimbursement are the parts many Pakistani applicants underestimate. Plenty of "fully funded" offers leave you paying for flights and visa costs up front, and those can be a real barrier. Here they are part of the award. The visa fee is described as a reimbursement, so expect to pay it first and claim it back.
The exact monthly allowance amount is not something we can confirm for you here. Check the current figure on the official ARES website before you build a budget around it.
Partner-country status comes before everything else
The first eligibility rule is that you must be a national or resident of an ARES partner country. These are developing countries on a list that ARES maintains, and that list is periodically revised.
Do not assume Pakistan is on it. Before you write a single word of your motivation letter, open the current partner-country list on the official portal and confirm your country is there for the coming round. If it is not, no amount of work experience or strong grades will make you eligible, and your time is better spent on other Belgium scholarships.
Why the two-year work experience rule changes who should apply
For the Master's-level track, ARES asks for two things together: a degree equivalent to 300 ECTS credits, and at least two years of relevant professional experience. Both have to be in place.
The experience requirement is the one that filters people out. ARES programs are designed for working professionals, so a fresh graduate is generally not eligible for the Master's track. "Relevant" also carries weight. Two years in a job unrelated to your chosen program will not read the same as two years at an agricultural research station, a district health office or an NGO running microfinance projects.
The 300 ECTS figure is worth checking against your own transcript. ECTS is the European credit system, and Pakistani degrees do not come with ECTS numbers printed on them. How your particular degree is assessed against that bar is something to confirm with ARES or the host university, rather than guess.
The source information for this scheme spells out the experience rule for the Master's track only. If you are looking at a specialized Bachelor's or a continuing education program, read that program's own entry requirements on the portal.
Paperwork to have ready before the portal opens
The documents list is short, which can make it look easy. It is not, because each item has to argue the same case: that you are a development professional who will use this training.
- Degree certificates
- CV
- Proof of professional experience
- Motivation letter
- Passport
Proof of professional experience is the one people leave too late. Experience letters from past employers can take weeks, especially from government departments. Ask for letters that state your job title, dates of employment and actual duties, not just a one-line confirmation that you worked there. Since the experience must be relevant, the duties are what make your case.
Your CV and motivation letter should line up with each other and with the program. If your CV shows soil testing and irrigation work, your motivation letter should explain why a specific agriculture program fits that path and what you plan to do with it afterwards.
For a general checklist covering translations, copies and formatting, our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful companion. Degree certificates may also need attestation, and our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide covers that process.
Applying through the ARES portal
The process itself has two main steps.
- Identify a specific ARES-funded specialized program that matches your field.
- Apply directly through the ARES online portal to that program.
Step one is where most of the real work happens. Read the program descriptions closely and pick the one your experience genuinely supports. A health professional applying to a microfinance program will struggle to explain the fit. Pick the program first, then shape your documents around it.
When to start, given a May-June opening
Applications are expected to open in May-June, with the deadline around September 18. The exact date varies by year, so confirm the current deadline on the official portal rather than relying on last year's.
That window looks generous, but the experience letters, attestation and a properly tailored motivation letter all take time. A sensible plan is to have your partner-country check done and your program shortlisted before the portal opens, then use the open window for writing and submitting. Leaving everything until August is how people end up submitting a generic letter.
Where applicants go wrong
The most common mistake is treating ARES like any other Master's scholarship. Applicants with no work history apply to the Master's track anyway, hoping the requirement is flexible. It is a stated eligibility bar, and the honest advice is to build your two years of experience first and apply after.
The second mistake is skipping the partner-country check because a friend applied a few years ago. The list changes. Check it every round.
The third is a motivation letter that talks about wanting to study in Europe. ARES funds development training. Your letter should be about the work you do, the gap this specific program fills, and where you will apply it.
Finally, remember that a scholarship offer is not a visa. Once you are selected, the visa stage has its own checks, and our guide to common student visa rejection reasons would be worth reading before then.
Frequently asked questions
Can a fresh graduate with no work experience apply?
For the Master's-level track, generally no. You need at least two years of relevant professional experience alongside a degree equivalent to 300 ECTS credits.
Are ARES programs regular Master's degrees?
No. They are specialized, purpose-built courses in development-related fields such as agriculture, health, environment, IT and GIS, economics, human rights, microfinance and food technology.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Only nationals or residents of ARES partner countries are eligible, and that list is revised from time to time. Check the current partner-country list on the official ARES website before applying.
Does the scholarship pay for flights?
Yes. Round-trip airfare is included, along with full tuition, a monthly living allowance, health insurance and visa fee reimbursement.
When is the deadline?
It is around September 18, but it varies by year. Applications are expected to open in May-June, so confirm the exact dates on the official portal for the current round.
Can I apply to ARES without picking a program?
No. You apply directly through the ARES portal to a specific ARES-funded program, so choosing the right program is the first step.
For current dates, the partner-country list and program details, go to the official ARES website, and keep our ARES scholarship page handy for a quick summary.