ARES Scholarships 2027-28 in Belgium

ARES Scholarships 2027-28 in Belgium

The ARES Scholarships 2027-28 in Belgium provide an excellent opportunity for eligible international students and professionals to pursue advanced academic and professional training in Belgium. The scholarships are offered through the Academy of Research and Higher Education (ARES), the federation of higher education institutions in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

For the 2027-28 academic year, ARES offers international training opportunities covering specialized Bachelor’s programs, specialized Master’s programs, and continuing education courses. Specialized Bachelor’s and Master’s programs can last up to 12 months, while the continuing training option can last up to six months.

The program is designed for professionals and graduates from selected partner countries who want to develop knowledge and skills that can contribute to social and economic development in their home countries. The current ARES eligibility tool confirms the participating countries and allows prospective applicants to check their eligibility before submitting an application.

ARES Scholarships 2027-28 Overview

What Are ARES Scholarships?

ARES International Training Scholarships are designed to provide students and professionals from selected partner countries with access to higher education and professional development opportunities in Belgium.

The program focuses on areas connected with development and capacity building. Rather than offering unrestricted admission to every Belgian degree program, ARES publishes a specific selection of eligible training programs for each academic year.

For 2027-28, applicants can choose from one specialized Bachelor’s program, eight specialized Master’s programs, and one continuing education program listed under the international training call.

The scholarship can therefore be particularly valuable for applicants whose professional goals align with development-related subjects such as economics, public health, human rights, food security, microfinance, cybersecurity, disaster management, and supply chains.

Programs Offered Under ARES Scholarships 2027-28

The 2027-28 call includes a specialized Bachelor’s program in Digital Integrated Supply Chain.

The specialized Master’s options include programs related to Human Rights, Integrated Health Risk Management, International and Development Economics, Microfinance, Public Health Policy and Systems, Food Chain Safety Management, Preventive Conservation and Collection Management, and Risk and Disaster Management in the Anthropocene.

The continuing education option is a certificate focused on Cybersecurity Operations and Risk Governance.

Applicants should carefully review the specific admission requirements of their preferred program because academic prerequisites can differ between courses.

ARES Scholarship Benefits

The ARES Scholarships provide substantial financial support to successful applicants. For specialized Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, the scholarship covers international travel expenses, tuition fees, insurance, subsistence support, and eligible exceptional visa-related costs. Continuing education participants receive the benefits applicable to their shorter training program, including travel and insurance support.

The scholarship is therefore designed to reduce the major costs associated with international study in Belgium.

In addition to financial support, recipients gain international academic and professional exposure through their studies in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. This experience can help participants develop specialized skills and strengthen their professional contribution after returning to their home countries.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet both the general ARES requirements and the admission requirements of their selected program.

Candidates generally need to be permanent residents and workers in one of the eligible ARES partner countries. The official ARES eligibility system lists countries including Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cuba, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Palestine, Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe, among others.

Applicants must also hold an appropriate academic qualification and have relevant professional experience. For the 2027-28 call, the relevant academic degree must generally have been obtained no more than 20 years before the beginning of the training, with an extension related to childbirth or adoption under the stated rules. At least two years of relevant professional experience after the most recent graduate degree is also required.

Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the language in which their selected course is taught.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare a complete set of documents before starting the application. Required materials include recommendation letters, certified copies of academic diplomas, certified academic transcripts, proof of professional activity, and proof of nationality or a passport copy. Some programs may additionally require a pre-project or other course-specific documents.

Because admission requirements vary by program, applicants should check the individual course requirements before uploading their documents.

All documents should be accurate, complete, and prepared according to the instructions provided through the ARES application system.

How to Apply

The application is submitted online through the ARES GIRAF application system. Applicants who do not already have an active GIRAF account must first complete the account creation process.

After logging in, candidates should go to Competitive Calls and select the application titled “Application – International Training 2027–2028.” The form can be completed over multiple sessions by saving it as a draft. Once the application has been submitted, however, it can no longer be modified.

Applicants should select only one training program and make sure they meet its specific admission requirements before submitting the final application.

Selection Process

ARES evaluates applications using several factors, including the applicant's academic background, professional experience, development-related experience, and potential to contribute to positive change.

Previous recipients of an ARES scholarship are not eligible for another scholarship under the relevant call. The selection process also considers factors related to institutional links, diversity, and the applicant's potential to share and apply acquired knowledge in their home country.

A strong application should therefore clearly connect the applicant's education, professional experience, proposed training, and future development goals.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the ARES Scholarships 2027-28 in Belgium is September 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM Belgian time (UTC+1), according to the current scholarship call information.

Applicants should begin preparing their documents early because obtaining certified academic documents, recommendation letters, proof of professional experience, and other materials can take time.

Why Apply for ARES Scholarships?

The ARES scholarship is particularly attractive for professionals who want to gain specialized knowledge while studying in Belgium without bearing the major costs of international education themselves.

The program combines financial support, specialized academic training, international exposure, and professional development. Its focus on development-related fields also gives participants an opportunity to acquire skills that can be applied to important challenges in their home countries.

For eligible applicants, the combination of tuition support, living assistance, travel funding, insurance, and other benefits makes ARES one of the notable funded study opportunities in Belgium.

Final Thoughts

The ARES Scholarships 2027-28 in Belgium offer funded opportunities for eligible candidates from selected partner countries to pursue specialized Bachelor’s and Master’s programs or shorter continuing education courses. The 2027-28 call includes programs in areas such as international development economics, human rights, public health, microfinance, cybersecurity, food safety, disaster management, and digital supply chains.

Applicants should carefully verify their country eligibility, academic qualifications, professional experience, and course-specific requirements before applying. Since the deadline is September 18, 2026, candidates should prepare their documents and GIRAF application well in advance. Apply Now