Ghent University in Belgium does not run one single scholarship for international students. What it has is a collection of grants and financial support schemes, some handled centrally, many tied to a specific faculty, department or research project. That matters for how you search. If you go looking for "the Ghent scholarship" with one deadline and one form, you will not find it. You will find a grants page, a set of programs that change from year to year, and a lot of instructions to check with the right office.
This guide explains how that system works, what kinds of support exist, and how a Pakistani student can approach it without wasting a full application season. For the summary listing, see the full scholarship details.
One grants page, many separate schemes
Ghent University keeps a centralized system for managing student grants, and the starting point is its official grants page for international students. The support on offer is meant to help with the cost of higher education and with living expenses while you study there.
At the time of the most recent check (May 2026), specific program details on the official portal were being updated. So treat everything below as a map of how the system is structured, not as a promise that a particular grant is open this cycle. The university itself tells students to keep watching the website for updates on which scholarships are available, who qualifies and when the application windows run.
Who does this suit? Students who are already serious about Ghent as a university, and who have a clear program in mind at Bachelor's, Master's or PhD level. It suits research-minded applicants especially, because a good share of the funding sits inside departments and research projects. It is a poor fit for someone who wants a guaranteed, fully funded package with a fixed amount and a single national deadline. If that is what you need, keep Ghent on your list but do not make it your only plan.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Ghent University |
| Country | Belgium |
| Funding | Full or partial, depending on the specific grant |
| Study levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Fields | Varies by program |
| Deadline | Varies. Confirm on the official site |
| Opening date | Varies |
| Official site | ugent.be grants page |
Tuition waivers, stipends and research money: what each grant might cover
Because these are different schemes, the coverage depends on which one you land. Across the programs, the types of support include:
- tuition fee waivers
- living expense stipends
- research funding
- travel grants
Some grants cover tuition and living costs together. Others give partial support, which might mean a fee waiver with no stipend, or a smaller contribution toward costs. No fixed amounts are published in the information available, so do not budget around a number you have seen on a forum or social media. Read the terms of the specific grant you apply for.
For a Pakistani student this point is practical, not academic. A partial award can still leave you needing to show funds for the rest of your costs when you apply for a Belgian visa. If your grant is partial, start preparing your financial documents early. Our guide to bank statements and proof of funds covers how to do that properly.
Admission comes first, then the grant
The single biggest rule here: for most grants you must be admitted to a Ghent University degree program before you can apply for funding. The listed eligibility requirements are:
- admission to a Ghent University degree program
- academic merit
- specific requirements set by individual departments
- proof of language proficiency
- compliance with Belgian visa regulations
The support is aimed at international students. Even so, individual grants can have their own conditions, and one of the official tips is to check whether your home country has bilateral agreements with Belgium. That suggests some funding depends on nationality. Before you put time into a particular grant, check that it is open to students from Pakistan.
Language proficiency is listed without a set score. The required test and level will depend on your program and the grant, so check the program page rather than assuming a number. "Academic merit" is also left open, which in practice means your transcripts need to be competitive for the faculty you are applying to.
The five documents to prepare before a window opens
The documents checklist is short, but each item takes time to get right:
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of enrollment
- Motivation letter
- Letters of recommendation
- CV or resume
"Proof of enrollment" is the item people overlook. It ties back to the admission rule above: you generally need to be in the program, or admitted to it, before the grant application makes sense. Your transcripts from Pakistani institutions may also need attestation for use abroad. If you have not done that yet, the IBCC and MOFA attestation guide walks through the process.
Your motivation letter should be written for the grant, not recycled from your admission statement. If the funding sits inside a department or research project, say clearly how your study plan fits that department's work. Recommendation letters should come from people who can speak to your academic ability, since merit is one of the stated criteria.
How the application actually runs
The official process has five steps:
- Check the official Ghent University grants page for current openings.
- Select the specific scholarship program relevant to your level of study.
- Apply for admission to the corresponding degree program at Ghent University.
- Submit the scholarship application through the university portal.
- Await notification from the scholarship committee.
Notice the order. You identify the grant first, then apply for admission, then submit the scholarship application. Doing it in that order lets you choose a program where funding exists, instead of getting admitted somewhere and only then discovering there is nothing to apply for.
Why there is no fixed deadline to plan around
Both the opening date and the deadline are listed as "varies". This is the hardest part of Ghent for applicants who like a clear calendar. Each scheme runs on its own cycle, and departmental or project-based funding can follow a different timeline from the general grants.
The honest approach is to work backwards from your intended start year. Have your documents ready well before you expect any window to open, then check the official grants page regularly. If you find a grant that fits, confirm the exact deadline on the official portal and note whether it falls before or after the admission deadline for your program.
Where applicants go wrong with Ghent funding
The most common mistake is treating the central grants page as the whole picture. Since financial support is often tied to specific departments or research projects, one of the official tips is to contact the faculty office directly about department-level funding. For Master's and especially PhD applicants, that faculty contact can matter more than the central page.
A second mistake is giving up when a link is broken or information is missing. The university runs a helpdesk for students who have trouble finding grant information. It can help with the administrative requirements and point you to the correct documents. Given that the portal was being updated at the last check, you may well need it.
A third mistake is assuming full funding. The funding is listed as full or partial. Plan your finances as though you might receive partial support, and treat anything more as a bonus. That also protects your visa application, since the eligibility rules require compliance with Belgian visa regulations. Our article on why student visas get rejected is worth reading before you file.
Finally, apply widely. Ghent is one option among several in Belgium, and you can compare it with other schemes in our list of all Belgium scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Are Ghent University scholarships fully funded?
Some are and some are not. Funding levels depend on the specific grant. Some cover tuition and living costs, while others give partial support.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The grants are aimed at international students, but individual schemes set their own rules and some may depend on agreements between Belgium and particular countries. Check the eligibility of each grant for Pakistani nationals before applying.
Do I need admission before applying for a grant?
For most grants, yes. Applications usually go through the university portal, and you must be admitted to a program first.
Which study levels are covered?
Support exists for Bachelor's, Master's and PhD students. Eligible fields vary by program.
When is the deadline?
It varies by scheme, and the opening date varies too. Confirm the current cycle and deadline on the official grants page.
What if I cannot find information on the website?
Use the university helpdesk, which assists students who run into broken links or missing grant details, and contact your faculty office about department-level funding.
Check the official Ghent University grants page for current openings, and keep the Ghent University scholarship page handy for the summary.