Belgium Scholarships 2026-27: All 17 Guides in One Place

We track 17 Belgian scholarship guides, and most of them are listed as fully funded. They fall into a few clear groups: government development scholarships through ARES and VLIR-UOS, research money from FNRS and FWO for PhD and postdoctoral work, EU programmes run from Brussels, and university-level support at Ghent, KU Leuven and VUB.

Who does Belgium suit? Mostly two kinds of Pakistani applicants. The first is the working professional who wants a development-focused Master's or training course and can show a few years of relevant experience. The second is the researcher heading for a PhD or postdoc in Flanders or French-speaking Belgium. Fresh bachelor's graduates have fewer options here than in some other countries, but they are not shut out.

All Belgium scholarships at a glance

Every scholarship we cover for Belgium is below. Click a name to open its full guide. Deadlines are shortened; where the official date shifts each year, the table says so.

Belgian government scholarships for Master's and training

This is where most Pakistani applicants should start. Two bodies fund development-focused study: ARES on the French-speaking side and VLIR-UOS on the Flemish side.

ARES scholarships

ARES Scholarships (Belgium) funds specialized postgraduate training in development-focused fields for professionals from ARES partner countries. It covers full tuition, a stipend, insurance and travel. The catch is experience: the Master's-level track asks for at least two years of relevant work experience. The deadline falls around September 18 but varies by year. Read the guide, then check the full details.

We also keep three more guides on the ARES programme, each written from a slightly different angle:

• Belgium Government ARES Scholarship 2027-28, focused on Master's and training opportunities (full details).
• Belgium Government ARES Scholarship 2027-28, a general overview of the programme (full details).
• Belgium Government ARES Scholarship 2027-28 for International Students, which spells out coverage of living expenses, tuition, travel costs and insurance (full details).

For all three, the deadline varies, so confirm it on the official site before you plan around it.

VLIR-UOS scholarships

VLIR-UOS Scholarships (Belgium) covers students from 29 eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It funds English-taught bachelor, initial master and advanced master programmes at Flemish universities and universities of applied sciences and arts. Deadlines depend on the programme; the examples in our data are January 31, 2026 and February 1, 2026 for specific bachelor tracks (full details).

Our second guide, VLIR-UOS Scholarships (Belgium), looks at the Master's side: full scholarships for students from around 30 eligible Global South countries in specialized international Master's programmes. You apply per programme, not through one central form, and deadlines are commonly in January-February (full details).

Our view: VLIR-UOS is the better first look for a younger applicant because the data lists bachelor and initial master tracks, while ARES leans toward people already in a career. Before you invest time in either, confirm on the official site that Pakistan is on the current eligible country list. Our data does not list the countries by name.

Research fellowships for PhD and postdoc candidates

If you already have a Master's and a research plan, the two Belgian research funds are the strongest route.

• Belgian FNRS Research Fellowships from the Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS) supports doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and permanent research positions across disciplines. Deadlines vary by call; for the FRESH and FRIA grants it was August 25 (full details).
• FWO Flemish Research Fund Fellowships Belgium come from Research Foundation Flanders. They fund PhD and postdoctoral researchers through bottom-up peer review, plus mobility projects and team grants. Calls have separate dates, for example September 3, 2026 for Mobility projects Japan and September 22, 2026 for the RAMP pre-proposal (full details).
• NATO Science for Peace and Security Fellowship is grant-based support for civil security-related research and innovation through Multi-Year Projects, Advanced Research Workshops, Advanced Study Institutes and Advanced Training Courses. The deadline varies (full details).

Research calls have their own dates and rules, so read the specific call text for the grant you want rather than relying on a general overview.

EU programmes based in Brussels

Because the EU institutions sit in Brussels, a few European programmes show up under Belgium.

• Erasmus Mundus EMHRPP Scholarship 2027 (Belgium) is part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scheme, delivered by several universities across countries. Applications run between October and January through the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue (full details).
• EU Jean Monnet Scholarship 2027-2028 funds research or postgraduate study in EU member countries on topics related to the EU acquis. The deadline varies (full details).
• European Commission Blue Book Traineeship (Belgium) is a paid traineeship with the European Commission for students and graduates who want work experience inside EU institutions (full details).
• European Commission Blue Book Traineeship 2027 covers the same official traineeship with placements in Brussels, Luxembourg and other EU locations (full details).

The Blue Book is a job placement, not a degree. It suits someone who already has a degree and wants EU policy experience on a CV. Deadlines for both guides vary.

University scholarships and directories (full or partial)

These options are listed as full or partial funding, which usually means you should plan for a smaller award than the government schemes.

• KU Leuven University Scholarships for International Students are handled through the university's integrated admissions portal. Deadlines vary by program (full details).
• Ghent University Scholarships for International Students offer several kinds of financial support, though the details are being updated on the official portal. Check back before applying (full details).
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel International Scholarships span levels from Bachelor to academic staff across regional and academic tracks (full details).
• Study in Belgium Scholarship Listings is a directory of funding for Master's, doctoral and postdoctoral study in French-speaking Belgium. The WBI MASTER IN grants closed on March 31, 2026 at midnight Brussels time (full details).

Choosing the right Belgian scholarship

Start with your level and your work history. If you have at least two years of relevant work experience and a development-related field, ARES is the obvious fit. If you are earlier in your career, look at VLIR-UOS programmes first. If you are research-bound, FNRS (French-speaking side) and FWO (Flanders) matter more than anything else on this list, and the NATO fellowship is worth a look only if your work touches civil security.

Language is a quieter filter. VLIR-UOS programmes are described as English-taught. The Study in Belgium directory covers French-speaking Belgium, so check the teaching language of any programme you find there.

Several deadlines in our data have already passed for this cycle, and many simply say "varies". Treat every date as a guide to the season, then confirm the current call on the official website.

Getting your documents ready

Belgian schemes reward organised applicants. ARES will want proof of your work experience. VLIR-UOS is applied for per programme, so you may end up preparing several tailored applications. Research funds run call by call, so each one needs its own preparation. Start with transcripts, degree certificates, an updated CV, reference letters and a motivation letter that ties your study to work back home. Our documents checklist for international scholarships lists what to gather, and the scholarships guide for Pakistani students explains how to plan a full application season.

Frequently asked questions

Which Belgian scholarships are fully funded?

Most of them. ARES, VLIR-UOS, FNRS, FWO, the NATO fellowship, Jean Monnet, the Erasmus Mundus EMHRPP scholarship and the Blue Book traineeship are listed as fully funded. Ghent, KU Leuven, VUB and the Study in Belgium listings are full or partial.

Can I get an ARES scholarship straight after my bachelor's?

Not for the Master's-level track, which needs at least two years of relevant work experience. A fresh graduate should look at VLIR-UOS programmes instead.

Is there one application form for VLIR-UOS?

No. You apply per programme, and deadlines differ, commonly in January-February.

When does the ARES deadline fall?

Around September 18, though it varies by year. Check the official site each cycle.

Can I fund a PhD in Belgium?

Yes. FNRS supports doctoral candidates on the French-speaking side and FWO funds PhD researchers in Flanders. Both run separate calls with their own dates.

Each scholarship above has its own guide with eligibility, coverage and application steps. Read the one that fits your profile, then confirm dates and requirements on the official programme website before you apply.