The ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028 are now open for eligible professionals from selected countries in Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean who want to undertake specialised higher-education training in Belgium.
The programme is administered by the Académie de recherche et d’enseignement supérieur (ARES) and provides financial support covering major study and travel-related expenses. For the 2027–2028 call, applications opened on 3 August 2026, with a final deadline of 18 September 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Belgian time (UTC+1).
One important clarification for prospective applicants: despite descriptions of the opportunity as a European scholarship for “BS, MS and PhD” applicants, the supplied ARES announcement does not list PhD scholarships. The current call covers one specialised bachelor’s degree, eight specialised master’s degrees and one continuing education course. Applicants should therefore check the official programme list before applying.
The ARES scholarship programme is designed to provide international training opportunities for professionals from partner countries. Successful scholars undertake their selected programme in Belgium while receiving financial support from the scholarship.
For the 2027–2028 intake, ARES offers:
- One specialised bachelor’s degree
- Eight specialised master’s degrees
- One continuing training course
- International travel support
- Subsistence allowance
- Tuition fees for specialised bachelor’s and master’s programmes
- Visa-related exceptional costs for bachelor’s and master’s scholarship recipients
- Insurance coverage
The maximum duration is 12 months for specialised bachelor’s and master’s programmes and six months for continuing training.
Who Can Apply for the ARES Scholarship?
The scholarship is not open to applicants from every country. Candidates must meet both the nationality/residence requirements and the academic and professional criteria established by ARES.
Applicants must:
- Be a permanent resident and currently work in one of the eligible countries.
- Be a citizen of an eligible country, with Palestinian nationals also eligible under the stated exception.
- Hold a graduate degree and satisfy the admission requirements for the selected programme.
- Have obtained the relevant academic qualification no more than 20 years before the beginning of the programme, subject to the stated extension for childbirth or adoption.
- Have at least two years of relevant professional experience in an eligible country between completing their most recent graduate degree and the scholarship application deadline.
- Demonstrate adequate written and spoken proficiency in the language of instruction.
- Apply for only one programme.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection. Applicants must also satisfy the admission conditions of their chosen training programme.
Eligible Countries
The 2027–2028 ARES International Training Scholarships are available to applicants from 32 partner countries.
Africa
Eligible countries listed by ARES include:
Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
South America and the Caribbean
The eligible countries are:
Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti and Peru.
Southeast Asia
Eligible countries include:
Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines and Vietnam.
Asia
Palestine is also included in the eligible-country list.
For applicants from Africa, this means the programme is particularly relevant to professionals in countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya and others listed by ARES.
What Does the ARES Scholarship Cover?
The ARES scholarship provides several forms of financial assistance. The exact package depends on the type of programme selected.
For specialised bachelor’s and master’s programmes, support includes:
- International travel expenses
- Subsistence allowance
- Tuition fees
- Exceptional costs associated with visa applications
- Insurance costs
For continuing training, ARES lists international travel expenses, subsistence support, insurance and indirect mission expenses.
This makes the opportunity particularly attractive to eligible professionals who would otherwise face significant costs associated with international study and travel.
How to Apply for ARES Scholarships 2027–2028
Applications are submitted through the GIRAF online system.
Step 1: Create a GIRAF Account
Applicants who do not already have a validated GIRAF account must complete the ARES account creation request.
Step 2: Access the Scholarship Application
After logging in, go to “Competitive Calls” and select the “Application – International Training 2027–2028” form.
Applicants should click the application button only once.
Step 3: Complete the Application
Fill in the required information and save the application as a draft if additional work is needed. ARES allows applicants to return to a saved draft during the application period.
Step 4: Review the Application
Before submission, applicants should carefully check their personal information, academic details and supporting information against the requirements of their chosen programme.
Step 5: Submit Before the Deadline
The completed application must be submitted by 18 September 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Belgian time (UTC+1).
Once submitted, the application can no longer be modified, so applicants should not wait until the final hours to complete the process.
ARES Scholarship Deadline 2027–2028
The key dates are:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 3 August 2026 |
| Application deadline | 18 September 2026, 12:00 p.m. Belgian time |
| Study period | 2027–2028 |
| Specialised bachelor’s/master’s duration | Up to 12 months |
| Continuing training duration | Up to 6 months |
The deadline is strict, making early preparation important for candidates who need to gather academic or professional documentation.
Important Advice for Applicants
Prospective applicants should first identify the ARES programme that matches their academic and professional background. Because the current call is specifically structured around specialised bachelor’s, master’s and continuing training opportunities, applicants should not assume that a PhD option is included.
Candidates should also pay close attention to the language requirements of their selected programme. ARES requires applicants to demonstrate good written and spoken command of the programme’s language of instruction.
Professional experience is another important eligibility condition. Applicants should ensure that their work history demonstrates the required two years of relevant professional experience in an eligible country.
How to Access the Official Application Information
The official ARES announcement provides the application procedure, eligible-country list, funding information and links to the applicant guide and reference document.
Applicants should rely on ARES for the definitive programme requirements and should carefully read the official call before submitting an application.
Official ARES scholarship page: ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028
Final Thoughts
The ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028 offer eligible professionals from 32 partner countries an opportunity to undertake specialised training in Belgium with substantial financial support.
The current call includes one specialised bachelor’s degree, eight specialised master’s degrees and one continuing training programme, rather than a general BS, MS and PhD scholarship scheme. Applicants should therefore select an eligible programme carefully and verify its individual admission requirements before applying.
With applications closing on 18 September 2026, eligible candidates should begin preparing their applications well before the deadline and ensure that all information submitted through GIRAF is complete and accurate.
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