Are you a national of an ARES partner country? Do you have a higher education degree? Do you have professional experience and would you like to deepen your skills in a development-related topic? Here’s an amazing scholarship on offer to international students who wish to further their academic studies in Belgium. Applications for 2023/24 Belgian Government ARES Scholarships are currently open to international students seeking to pursue their studies in a Belgian higher education institution.
Moreover, each year, ARES publishes calls for proposals or applications relating to the activities it finances in the area of development cooperation.
However, in this article, we will provide information in detail on everything you need to know about the Belgian Government ARES Scholarships. From scholarship benefits to eligibility requirements, how to apply, and any other important information on the scholarship program.
About the Belgian Government ARES Scholarships
ARES is an important non-governmental partner of the Belgian Development Cooperation. Together with the universities, colleges, and colleges of the arts of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, it ensures the definition and execution of the “French-speaking” academic component of Belgian Cooperation.
The Belgian Government ARES Scholarships offer you the opportunity to follow a one-year advanced bachelor’s or master’s degree program or a 2-to-6-month continuing education program within a higher education institution of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium.
Moreover, within the framework of the ARES 2022-27 cooperation program, three types of training are offered through international training scholarships. They include the Advanced bachelor’s and master’s degrees, which are inter-institutional training programs organized in one academic year and at the end of which an academic degree is awarded. Then, there are also the continuing education programs which are more practical and of shorter duration (2 to 6 months), and a certificate is awarded at the end.
Scholarship Overview
Furthermore, here’s a brief summary of the Belgian Government ARES Scholarships:
Scholarship Sponsor(s):
Belgium Government
Host Institution(s):
Higher education institutions in Belgium
Scholarship Type:
Full funding scholarships
Study Level:
Undergraduate and postgraduate studies
Field(s) of Study:
Just like we mentioned earlier, three types of degrees and training are offered through the ARES Scholarships in Belgium:
- Bachelors:
- Business Data Analysis
- Pediatrics and neonatology
- Masters:
- Human Rights
- Risk and Disaster Management in the Anthropocene Era
- Integrated Health Risk Management
- International and Development Economics
- Microfinance
- Public Health Methodology
- Public Health Science – analysis and evaluation of international health policies programs and systems
- Transport and Logistics
- Social Innovation Design
- Nexus Water-Energy-Food
- Training:
- Data Science for Global Health
- Digital University Pedagogy
- Inter-University and Interdisciplinary Certificate in Transitional Justice
- Understanding and Managing the Human Dimensions of Change Projects in Sustainable Development
- Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Drugs and Health Products
- Free Geographic Information System
Scholarship Value:
See the scholarship benefits section below for details
Number of Awards:
Each year, ARES awards an average of 130 scholarships for baccalaureate and masters and 70 scholarships for continuing education to nationals of its partner countries.
Eligible Nationalities:
Nationals of specific developing countries. See the scholarship eligibility requirements below for the list.
Deadline:
January 27th, 2023, at 12 noon (Belgian time, UTC + 1) at the latest.
Scholarship Benefits
Moreover, the Belgium Government ARES Scholarships provides the recipients with the following inclusions:
For bachelor’s or master’s scholarships:
International travel expenses | to justify | In economy class on an IATA company, a maximum of one return trip per academic year. |
Living allowance | package | For a period of 12 months. |
Indirect mission expenses | package | Amount awarded once per stay, upon arrival of the scholarship holder. |
Registration fees | At the reduced rate in force for DGD scholarship holders. | |
Insurance costs | Directly paid by ARES. |
For training scholarships:
International travel expenses | to justify | In economy class on an IATA company, one round trip. |
Living allowance | package | For the duration of the training. |
Indirect mission expenses | package | Amount awarded once per stay, upon arrival of the scholarship holder. |
Insurance costs | Directly paid by ARES. |
Eligibility Requirements for the Belgian Government ARES Scholarships
However, applicants must meet the following criteria below to be eligible to apply for the ARES Scholarships:
Eligible Nationalities:
South Africa, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cuba, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Uganda, Peru, Philippines, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Guinea (Conakry), Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.
- Applicants must reside and/ or work in their country of origin when they submit their application
- Be a national of one of the countries mentioned above
- Have a diploma comparable to a 2nd cycle diploma (300 ECTS credits) from Belgian university education for specialization masters and continuing education (equivalent to Bac + 5); · Teuse be a carrier of a degree comparable to a degree of 1 st cycle (180 credits) from the Belgian higher education for specialization graduates (equivalent +3). The candidate must have held the relevant academic degree requested for a maximum of 20 years at the time of the start of the training. This maximum period is increased by one year per childbirth and/ or adoption.
- Evidence of a relevant professional occupation, in an ARES partner country, of at least two years after the end of Bac + 3 for specialization baccalaureate holders, Bac +5 for specialization masters and continuing education.
- Complete the file in the language in which the training is given and can attest to a good written and spoken knowledge of it. In addition, knowing a minimum of French allows a good integration into daily life in Belgium.
- Apply for only one training.
How to Apply
Furthermore, follow the step-by-step guide below to apply for this scholarship program:
The application procedure for the ARES Scholarships is done online. Therefore, to apply for the scholarship, firstly, you must create an account online on the GIRAF platform and complete the scholarship application form by January 27th, 2023.
Additional Notes
Moreover, it is important to visit the official website to access the application form and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.
Applications must be submitted via GIRAF by January 27th, 2023, at 12 noon (Belgian time, UTC + 1) at the latest. Applications submitted after this date will not be taken into consideration.
Applying for an ARES scholarship is completely free. ARES does not charge any fees at any stage of the application or selection process whatsoever.
Official Website
In conclusion, please refer to the official website of the scholarship provider using the link below for more details on the eligibility requirements and application instructions for the Belgian Government ARES Scholarship program.