VLIR-UOS funds full scholarships for students from its scholarship countries (many in Sub-Saharan Africa) to do English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes at Flemish universities in Belgium. It covers tuition, travel, insurance and living expenses for the whole degree. The 2027–28 call opens by end of October 2026, with each programme setting its own deadline.
Why it is notable: you apply through the host institution's website (not to VLIR-UOS directly), ticking the scholarship option; only ONE ICP Connect scholarship application per year is allowed — applying to two programmes gets both excluded.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Full tuition fees for the programme duration (12/24/36 months).
Living expenses (board and lodging) via a monthly allowance.
Travel (economy return flight to Belgium).
Insurance.
Note: the institution may deduct tuition, insurance or housing before paying the allowance — check with the host institution what you will actually receive.
"This scholarship is offered for the English-taught ICP Connect programmes listed for academic year 2027–28 (professional bachelor's, initial master's, advanced master's)."
Who can apply
must hold nationality from one of the eligible scholarship countries (list published on vliruos.be — currently 25–28 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, including many Sub-Saharan African states) AND reside in any of these countries at the time of application (not necessarily the country of nationality).
Experience
preference for candidates employed in higher education, government or civil society, or targeting a career in one of these sectors; newly graduated candidates or private-sector candidates with no work experience may be considered with strong motivation and a compelling profile.
Language Certificate
course-dependent (host institutions set English requirements per programme)
Other Certificates
per-programme admission documents via the host institution's website
Age Limit
bachelor or initial master — not older than 35 as of 1 January of the intake year (and at least 19 for bachelor); advanced master — not older than 45 (official VLIR-UOS rule)
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
nationals of the eligible scholarship countries who reside in one of those countries pass. All other nationalities fail.
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
Nationality & residence
hold nationality of an eligible scholarship country AND reside in any eligible country at the time of application.
02
Age
≤35 (bachelor/initial master) or ≤45 (advanced master) as of 1 January of the intake year; bachelor applicants must be at least 19.
03
Documents
host institution's programme application documents (varies per programme).
04
Motivation
motivation and professional goals must reflect competence in transferring knowledge/skills and themes relevant to sustainable development; candidates are assessed as potential 'agents of change'.
05
Single application
only one ICP Connect scholarship application per year — two applications lead to exclusion of both; no simultaneous other scholarship.
06
No prior Belgium link
no prior Belgian government study scholarship; no enrolment at a Belgian higher education institution before 1 January of the intake year.
Document checklist
01per the host institution's programme application (varies by programme — check the programme page's "more detailed information & application" section on vliruos.be).
Application fee
No fee — completely free (no fee stated anywhere official; never pay anyone for this scholarship).
Visa, kept concise: Visa type: Belgian long-stay (type D) student visa — apply at the Belgian embassy/consulate in your country of residence once you hold the admission letter and scholarship confirmation.
Application Procedure
5 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Check eligibility against all criteria (nationality + residence
age, no prior Belgian scholarship/enrolment).
→
02
Pick ONE programme from the 2027–28 list
on vliruos.be and note its individual deadline.
→
03
Visit the host institution's website and follow its instructions
apply for BOTH the programme and the scholarship through the institution's website — indicate the scholarship option in the programme application. (You never apply to VLIR-UOS directly.)
↓
05
VLIR-UOS receives selection results from the programme
organisers and contacts selected candidates and the waiting list by email no later than mid-May (results in past cycles by mid-May; programmes start September 2027).
←
04
Submit before that programme's deadline.
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official Flemish universities and universities of… platform.
Do I apply to VLIR-UOS directly? A: No — apply for both the programme and the scholarship through the host institution's website, indicating the scholarship option.Can I apply for two programmes? A: No — one ICP Connect scholarship application per year; applying for more than one leads to exclusion.When will I hear back? A: VLIR-UOS contacts selected candidates and the waiting list by email as soon as possible after selection, no later than mid-May — no need to contact them earlier.Can I get a partial scholarship or an extension? A: No — scholarships are only for the full programme duration (12/24/36 months).What does the scholarship cover? A: Tuition fees, travel, insurance and living expenses (board and lodging).I studied in a high-income country before — does that matter? A: Preference is given to candidates who haven't studied in a higher-income country (bachelor or master) before.Are women encouraged? A: Yes — VLIR-UOS targets gender balance and strongly encourages female candidates to apply.Can I hold another scholarship at the same time? A: No — receiving any other scholarship or grant simultaneously leads to exclusion.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Belgium · Flemish universities and universities of…
