Belgium Is Offering Fully Funded Training Scholarships to Professionals From 32 Countries. Most European scholarships are built for students. This one is built for professionals who already have a degree and want to go further.
The ARES International Training Scholarships for 2027/28 are now open. Funded by the Belgium Government through the Federation of Wallonia-Brussels, the program brings working professionals from 32 eligible countries to Belgian universities for specialized study — fully funded, covering flights, tuition, living costs, insurance, and visa fees.
The deadline is 18 September 2026.
ARES Scholarships Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Funder | Belgium Government / Federation of Wallonia-Brussels |
| Host Country | Belgium |
| Programs Available | 1 Specialized Bachelor’s, 10 Specialized Master’s, 6 Training Courses |
| Program Duration | 1 year (degrees) / 2–6 months (training courses) |
| Eligible Applicants | Citizens, residents and employees of 32 ARES partner countries |
| Experience Required | Minimum 2 years professional experience |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Application Deadline | 18 September 2026 |
This Scholarship Is Not What Most People Expect
Before going further, one thing needs to be clear.
ARES scholarships are not full degree programs. You won’t emerge with a two-year Master’s. These are specialized, advanced programs designed for professionals who already hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and want to deepen expertise in development-related fields.
The specialized Bachelor’s and Master’s programs run for one academic year. Training courses run for two to six months.
Fresh graduates with no work experience are not eligible. The program requires at least two years of relevant professional experience in an ARES partner country. That requirement is firm.
If that description fits where you are in your career, keep reading.
Also See: DAAD Master Studies Scholarships in Germany
What Belgium Covers
The scholarship is genuinely comprehensive. Recipients don’t need to fund any part of the program themselves.
The ARES scholarship covers:
- Round-trip international travel
- Monthly living allowance
- Tuition fees (for Bachelor’s and specialized Master’s programs)
- Visa application fees (for Bachelor’s and specialized Master’s programs)
- Comprehensive insurance coverage
- Miscellaneous program-related costs (for training courses)
One distinction worth noting: visa fees and tuition are explicitly covered for degree programs. Training course recipients receive miscellaneous cost support instead. Check which category applies to your chosen program.
Is Your Country Eligible?
Eligibility is restricted to citizens, residents, and employees of 32 ARES partner countries. This is the first filter every applicant should check.
Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe
South America and the Caribbean: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru
Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam
Asia: Palestine
If your country isn’t on this list, you are not eligible for this cycle. The list reflects ARES’s bilateral development cooperation agreements and does not change between cycles.
Programs Available for 2027/28
The 2027/28 competition offers 17 programs across three categories.
- 1 Specialized Bachelor’s program (1 year)
- 10 Specialized Master’s programs (1 year)
- 6 Continuing training courses (2–6 months)
All programs are delivered at higher education institutions within the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium. The specific programs available, their academic focus areas, and their individual admission conditions are detailed in the official ARES documentation — check the current call for the full list before selecting your program.
Some courses require a pre-project as part of the application. This is program-specific, not universal. Read the admission conditions for your chosen program carefully.
Who Qualifies
Three conditions must all be met:
- Nationality and residence: You must be a citizen, resident, and employee in one of the 32 eligible countries listed above.
- Degree: You must already hold a higher education diploma (Bachelor’s or Master’s level).
- Experience: You must have at least two years of relevant professional experience in an ARES partner country.
The experience requirement eliminates a significant portion of applicants who might otherwise qualify academically. ARES is investing in professionals with an established track record in development-related work — not recent graduates looking for their first international experience.
Documents to Prepare Now
Gathering certified documents takes longer than most applicants expect. Start collecting these before the application window closes.
- 2 recommendation letters (academic and/or professional)
- Certified copies of original diplomas
- Certified copies of transcripts for all years of study
- Proof of occupancy for the last 5 years
- Certificate of nationality or copy of passport
- Pre-project (required for certain courses only — check your program’s specific conditions)
Certification requirements for diplomas and transcripts vary by country. In some cases, documents need to be notarized and apostilled. Factor in processing time at your institution or relevant authorities.
Also See: Top 35 Europe Scholarships Without IELTS
Applying Through GIRAF — One Step Most People Miss
Applications are submitted through ARES’s dedicated online platform, GIRAF. The process is free.
Here’s the step most applicants overlook: your GIRAF account must be validated by ARES before you can access the application form. This is not instant. Create your account well before the September 18 deadline — not in the final week.
The four application steps:
- Create a GIRAF account and wait for ARES validation
- Log in and navigate to “Application for international training” → “My tasks” → “Competitive calls”
- Complete the application form (you can save and return multiple times before submitting)
- Submit your application — once submitted, no changes can be made
That last point carries weight. Review every document and every answer before clicking submit. Unlike some portals that allow edits after submission, GIRAF locks your application the moment it goes through.