Belgium Government ARES International Training Scholarships 2027 (Fully Funded) | Bachelor’s, Master’s & Short Training in Belgium

Overview

The ARES International Training Scholarships are open to international students and young professionals who want to pursue higher education in Belgium. The program is fully funded by the Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (ARES) and aims to support capacity building in developing countries through access to advanced bachelor’s programs, specialised master’s degrees, and continuing training courses in institutions within the Wallonia–Brussels Federation.

Program Levels and Duration

• Specialised Bachelor’s degree: 1 year
• Specialised Master’s degree: 1 year
• Continuing Training Programs: 2–6 months

Fields of Study

The scholarships support multiple fields focused on development-related topics, including:

• Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
• Public Health and Medicine
• Social Sciences
• Economics and Development Studies
• Education and Pedagogy
• Engineering and Technology
• Political and Human Rights Studies

Scholarship Benefits (Fully Funded)

The ARES scholarship covers:

• International travel expenses
• Living allowance for the entire study period
• Visa application costs (only for bachelor’s and master’s degrees)
• Tuition fees (only for bachelor’s and master’s degrees)
• Insurance coverage
• Indirect mission expenses (for continuing training only)

Eligible Nationalities (Partner Countries)

Applicants must be permanent residents of one of the 31 ARES partner countries, or be Palestinian nationals. Eligible countries include:

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
South America & Caribbean: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru.
Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam.
Asia: Palestinian Territories.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

1. Be a permanent resident and working in one of the eligible countries
2. Hold the required academic qualification:
   • Specialised Master’s / Continuing Training: degree comparable to a second-cycle diploma (300 ECTS) from a Belgian university
   • Specialised Bachelor’s: diploma comparable to a first-cycle diploma (180 ECTS)
3. Have at least two years of relevant professional experience in an ARES partner country
4. Commit to returning and contributing to the development of their home country after the program

How to Apply (Online Only)

Applications must be submitted online via the GIRAF platform. Paper or email submissions are not accepted.

Steps:

1. Create or log into your GIRAF account: form.ares-ac.be/international_trainings_2026_2027
2. Open the form via: International Training (year) > My tasks > Competitive calls
3. Complete the application (you can save and edit before final submission)
4. Submit the application (after submission, modifications are no longer possible)
5. Check the Applicant’s Guide for detailed instructions

Important note: Do not send personal data by email. Any such requests may be a phishing attempt.

Key Dates

• Applications open: 4 August
• Applications close: 19 September

FAQs (From the Source)

• Minimum work experience required? Yes—at least two years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Is French required? Not necessarily; some programs are in English, while others may require French proficiency. Applicants should check the language of instruction for their chosen course.
• Can you apply for more than one program per year? No—each applicant may apply for one program per year under ARES scholarships.