Ghent University funds 15 "sandwich" PhDs a year for researchers from the Global South: you do half your doctorate (24 months) in Ghent on a Ghent scholarship and half (24 months) at your home university — which must guarantee you a full-time local scholarship or salary plus release from teaching. The mobility scheme is strict (start and end with 3–12 months in Ghent; at least 24 months of locally funded research in between), and you need a Ghent professor AND a home supervisor on board before you apply.
Why it is notable: the co-funding model — your home institution's written funding commitment is a hard eligibility requirement, not a nice-to-have; and a Ghent supervisor may support at most 2 candidates per call (only if of different genders — an explicit push for more female researchers).
Funding at a glance
What it covers
24-month PhD scholarship at Ghent University (monthly rate per Ghent's PhD scholarship scales — confirm in the call documents):
Bench fee €310 per month of research in Ghent, paid to the Ghent promoter for operational costs:
€8,000 travel budget to the Ghent promoter, covering part of the travel costs of the student and both promoters:
24 months of home-institution funding (full-time local scholarship/salary — guaranteed by the partner, mandatory):
Joint (sandwich) PhD supervision across Ghent and the home institution:
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Masters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for PhD programs.
Who can apply
candidates who come from AND have the nationality of one of the selected Global South countries (official country list: "Country List Global South 2027" — check the call page). The proposal must be jointly submitted by the candidate, a Ghent University supervisor (ZAP professor) and a supervisor at the partner university in the Global South.
Experience
No experience required (meant for students at the beginning of their PhD; limited preliminary research allowed)
Language Certificate
not stated on the call page — check the call documents / Ghent doctoral admission requirements
Other Certificates
per the application form and call documents (confirm on the official page)
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
eligible only if national of AND coming from a country on the official "Country List Global South 2027"; all other nationalities excluded for this call.
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Qualification
Master's-level degree; beginning-of-PhD status (≥36 months of doctoral research still required at 1 Oct 2027); degree-seeking (joint) PhD at Ghent only.
02
Nationality
national of and coming from a Global South country on the official 2027 list.
03
Supervision
joint submission by candidate + Ghent ZAP supervisor + Global South supervisor; Ghent professor support is mandatory; max 2 candidates per Ghent supervisor and only of different genders.
04
Co-funding
home institution's written guarantee of 24-month full-time local scholarship/salary + teaching exemption (≤10% other tasks).
05
Mobility
start and end with 3–12 months in Ghent; ≥24 months locally funded research in between; first Ghent stay 1 Oct 2027–28 Feb 2028; exceptions need prior approval by 15 Jan 2027.
06
Fee
no fee.
Document checklist
01Application form 2027 (in English, jointly with both supervisors)
04Ghent supervisor's advice on the ethical and biosafety context
05(If applicable) exception form + supporting documents (by 15 January 2027)
06Further documents per the official call documents (confirm on the call page)
Application fee
No fee — completely free.
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: Belgium national (type D) student visa / researcher route for the Ghent stays — Ghent University's international office guides admitted fellows; the sandwich mobility means multiple entries over 4…
Application Procedure
10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Check the official Country List Global South
2027 for your nationality.
→
02
Find a supervisor (promotor) at Ghent University —
a ZAP professor willing to supervise (use the Ghent University Research Explorer). Without Ghent professor support the application is not eligible.
→
03
Find a supervisor at a partner university/research
centre in the Global South willing to co-supervise.
↓
06
Complete the application form in English (jointly
with both supervisors); the Ghent supervisor additionally submits (a) an advice on the candidate and (b) an advice on the ethical and biosafety context — all before the deadline.
←
05
If you need an exception to the funding/mobility scheme
submit the exception form with supporting documents to BOF@ugent.be by 15 January 2027 (prior approval required).
←
04
Secure the home institution's written statement
full-time local PhD scholarship/salary for 24 months + sufficient exemption from teaching/other assignments.
↓
07
Email the application forms to BOFapplication@ugent.be by
9 February 2027. Results announced online from 12 May 2027; non-selected candidates receive feedback within 6 weeks.
→
08
Application form 2027 (in English
jointly with both supervisors)
→
09
Home institution's written co-funding statement (24-month full-time
scholarship/salary + teaching exemption)
↓
10
Ghent supervisor's advice on the candidate
Application milestones
9 Feb 2027
Application deadline
15 Jan 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official Ghent University platform.
9 Feb 2027 — , 23:59 Belgian time (exception requests: 15 Jan 2027)
Who can apply?
candidates who come from AND have the nationality of one of the selected Global South countries (official country list: "Country List Global South 2027" — check the call page). The proposal must be jointly submitted by the candidate, a Ghent University supervisor (ZAP professor) and a supervisor at the partner university in the Global South.
What does the scholarship cover?
24-month PhD scholarship at Ghent University (monthly rate per Ghent's PhD scholarship scales — confirm in the call documents):; Bench fee €310 per month of research in Ghent, paid to the Ghent promoter for operational costs:; €8,000 travel budget to the Ghent promoter, covering part of the travel costs of the student and both promoters:; 24 months of home-institution funding (full-time local scholarship/salary — guaranteed by the partner, mandatory):
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Belgium · Ghent University
