VLIRUOS, the Flemish funding body for university cooperation, has opened its ICP Connect Scholarships for 2027/2028. They are fully funded scholarships to study an English-taught master’s or bachelor’s programme at a university in Flanders, Belgium, starting in September 2027. They’re open to nationals of 25 countries, including 17 in Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, DR Congo, Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco and more.
The VLIRUOS call deadline is 28 February 2027, but each programme sets its own application deadline, and many are earlier. Check your chosen programme now.
At a Glance
| Funder | VLIRUOS (Flemish Interuniversity Council – University Development Cooperation) |
| Study in | Flanders, Belgium, at universities such as Ghent, KU Leuven, Antwerp, VUB and Hasselt |
| Level | Mostly master’s (initial and advanced), plus some bachelor’s programmes |
| Funding | Full scholarship: tuition, travel, insurance and living costs (board and lodging) |
| Language | English |
| Start | 1 September 2027 |
| Deadline | 28 February 2027 (programme deadlines may be earlier) |
| Application fee | None |
Eligible African Countries
You must hold the nationality of one of these countries and live in one of the eligible countries when you apply. It doesn’t have to be your own country.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe
- North Africa: Morocco
The other eligible countries are Palestine, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Note: Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Rwanda and Egypt are not on the official list. Some listings say Mali was recently added, but it isn’t on the VLIRUOS country page at the time of writing, so check before applying.
Programmes You Can Study
The 2027/2028 call covers 12 programmes. Programmes in the ICP Connect scheme include:
- Master of Statistics and Data Science
- Master of Epidemiology
- Master of Water Resources Engineering
- Master of Science in Food Technology
- Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems
- Master of Science in Sustainable Land Management
- International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD)
- Master of Aquaculture (IMAQUA)
- Master of Governance and Development
- Master of Globalisation and Development
- Master of Development Evaluation and Management
- Master of Human Settlements
- Master of Transportation Sciences – Road Safety
- Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management
- Master of Science in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems
- Master in Sustainable Development, and the International Master of Science in Agro- and Environmental Nematology
- Bachelor of Applied Computer Science and Bachelor of Hotel Management
Not every programme on this list is in the 2027/2028 call. Check the VLIRUOS call page for this year’s 12 programmes.
Benefits
- Tuition fees covered
- Return travel to Belgium
- Insurance
- A monthly allowance for living costs (board and lodging)
- No application fee
- Limited part-time work is allowed outside classes
Depending on the university, some costs, such as accommodation and insurance, are paid directly and deducted from the allowance.
Eligibility
- Nationality and residence: a national of an eligible country, and living in one when you apply.
- Age:
- Initial master’s or bachelor’s: 35 or younger on 1 January 2027
- Advanced master’s: 45 or younger on 1 January 2027
- Bachelor’s: at least 19 on 1 January 2027
- Background: preference goes to people working in, or aiming for careers in, higher education, government or civil society. Recent graduates and private-sector applicants with strong motivation may also be considered.
- One application only: you can apply for only one ICP Connect scholarship per year, and you can’t hold another scholarship for the same study.
- No previous Belgian funding: you can’t have had a Belgian government scholarship before, or have enrolled at a Belgian university before 1 January 2027.
- Universities may add their own requirements, for example English test scores or a relevant bachelor’s degree.
How to Apply
- Check your eligibility: country, age and background.
- Choose one programme from the 2027/2028 call and read its page on the host university’s website.
- Apply through the university for both admission and the scholarship, and tick the box saying you’re applying for a VLIRUOS scholarship.
- Prepare your documents: transcripts, degree certificate (or a temporary certificate), CV, motivation letter, references and English proof if required. Some documents may need to be legalised at a Belgian embassy.
- Submit before your programme’s deadline. The university ranks applicants first, then VLIRUOS makes the final selection.
VLIRUOS is holding an online information session on 26 November (14:30–16:30 CET). Registration is on the call page.
Official VLIRUOS ICP Connect 2027–2028 call · Official eligible country list
Tips for a Strong Application
- Link your study to development at home. VLIRUOS funds people who will strengthen institutions in their country.
- Highlight work in a university, ministry, agency or NGO, as these sectors are preferred.
- Apply early. Legalising documents and getting transcripts can take weeks.
- Apply for one programme only, or you’ll be disqualified.
