ARES Scholarships 2026–2027 in Belgium: Fully Funded Study Opportunity

The ARES Scholarships 2026-2027 are awarded by ARES, the Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur, for study in Belgium at higher education institutions in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. They support specialised bachelor's, specialised master's and continuing education programmes, and are fully funded.

They are open to students and professionals from eligible developing countries in development-related fields such as health, agriculture, environment and economics. Funding covers travel, a subsistence allowance, registration fees, visa costs, insurance and tuition support. The deadline is 18 September 2026. Read the sections below for eligibility, coverage and how to apply.

ARES scholarship recipients receive financial support associated with their study or training in Belgium.

Depending on the programme and applicable scholarship conditions, the funding package can include:

• International travel expenses.
• Subsistence allowance.
• Registration fees.
• Visa costs.
• Insurance.
• Tuition-related support for eligible specialised bachelor’s and specialised master’s programmes.

The exact financial arrangements can vary according to the type of programme. Applicants should therefore consult the official ARES information for the selected course before applying.

The ARES scholarship programme supports several levels of advanced study and training, including:

• Specialised Bachelor’s degree programmes.
• Specialised Master’s degree programmes.
• Continuing education courses lasting approximately 2 to 6 months.

Applicants must meet the academic requirements of the particular programme they select.

ARES scholarships are available for selected programmes rather than every degree offered by Belgian universities.

Current eligible study and training areas include fields such as:

• Agriculture
• Aquaculture
• Health
• Food technology
• Economics
• International development
• Information technology
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Environmental studies
• Human rights
• Microfinance
• Other development-related fields

The complete list of eligible programmes should be checked on the official ARES website because applicants must select a programme included in the relevant scholarship call.

The current ARES scholarship call targets applicants from 32 eligible partner countries.

The countries listed for the current call include:

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Ethiopia
• Guinea
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Niger
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Rwanda
• Senegal
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
• Uganda
• Zimbabwe
• Bolivia
• Cuba
• Ecuador
• Haiti
• Peru
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Nepal
• Philippines
• Vietnam
• Palestine  

Applicants should always verify their status against the official ARES eligibility information before applying. Pakistan is not included in the current 32-country ARES scholarship list, so Pakistani applicants should not assume that they are eligible for this particular call.

Applicants must satisfy both the general ARES scholarship conditions and the admission requirements of their selected programme.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• Be a national of, and live and work in, one of the eligible ARES partner countries.
• Hold the academic qualification required for the selected programme.
• For specialised master’s and continuing education programmes, applicants generally need an appropriate second-cycle qualification or equivalent.
• For specialised bachelor’s programmes, applicants need the relevant first-cycle qualification or equivalent.
• The required academic degree must generally have been obtained within the specified time limit before the programme begins.
• Demonstrate at least two years of relevant professional experience in a partner country.
• Demonstrate sufficient command of the language in which the selected programme is taught.
• Apply for only one ARES scholarship programme.

Meeting the eligibility conditions does not automatically guarantee selection. ARES evaluates eligible applications through a competitive selection process.

Applicants should also check the specific academic admission requirements of their chosen programme because scholarship eligibility and programme admission are related but separate requirements.

The ARES scholarship application is submitted online through the ARES application system.

For the current 2026–2027 call, applicants should:

1. Review the eligible countries and available programmes.
2. Select one eligible study or training programme.
3. Check the academic and professional requirements for that programme.
4. Create an account through the ARES application system.
5. Complete the online scholarship application.
6. Provide the required academic, professional and personal information.
7. Upload the requested supporting documents.
8. Submit the application before the official deadline.

The current application instructions state that applicants must create a GIRAF account and complete the scholarship application form online. Applications must be submitted by 18 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Belgian time (UTC+1).

Applicants should not submit applications for multiple programmes because the current ARES eligibility conditions specify that candidates may apply for only one programme.