Brief description:
VLIR-UOS awards masters scholarships to students from developing countries so that they can study a Master’s Programme in Belgium. The master’s programmes, lasting one or two academic years, focus on specific problems of developing countries. These are designed to enable graduates to share and apply acquired knowledge in the home institution and country.
Host Institution(s):
Academic Institutions and Universities in Belgium:
• Universiteit Antwerpen
• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
• Universiteit Gent
• Universiteit Hasselt (tUL inclusief)
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Fields of study/Programmes:
The scholarships support development-related fields of study. The list of supported Master’s Programme for 2012/2013 and its description is found at this page. The list of supported Master’s Programmes for 2013/2014 will be updated on the official website on 1 October 2012.
Number of Awards:
Every year, VLIR-UOS awards up to 180 scholarships to first-year master’s students.
Target group:
Residents and nationals of the following countries are eligible for a VLIR-UOS scholarship:
Africa
Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Palestinian Administered Areas, Philippines, Vietnam
Latin America
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname
Scholarship value/inclusions:
The scholarships cover all related expenses including allowance, accommodation, travel costs, tuition fee and insurance among others.
Eligibility Requirements:
You are a resident AND national of one of the countries on the country list (not necessarily the same country for residence and nationality). Please note that candidates must reside in one of these countries at the moment of application.
You are not older than 40 years* if you apply for a scholarship to follow a master programme. Or you are not older than 45 years* if you apply for a scholarship to follow a training programme. (* on 1 January 2013)
You have the required English proficiency. You need a proof of at least 1 year of comprehensive English-based instruction at a university or recognized equivalent. If not, a TOEFL test is required with a minimum total score of 550 on the paper based test (PBT), or 79 on an internet based test (IBT); or an IELTS test with a minimum overall band score of 6,5; or a proof of another test of similar level as TOEFLE or IELTS.
Professional experience and employment perspectives are not required for a master programme, but they can be a competitive advantage for selection, depending on the programme. Present employment or reintegration perspectives are required for a training programme. The candidate must be currently employed or have a written (future) employer’s guarantee of (re)integration in an employment where the acquired knowledge and skills will be immediately applicable.
Application instructions:
The host university is in charge of the academic admission of applications. The host university – not the applicant – forwards the applications for a scholarship to the VLIR-UOS secretariat after the academic admission.
The academic admission procedure are specific for every programme. It is important to visit the main website (links found above) of the specific Master’s Programme you have chosen for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.
Deadline for application to Master’s Programme is 1 February 2013. You can apply for a VLIR-UOS scholarship by October or November 2012. Detailed steps on how to apply for the scholarship is found at this page.
Website:
Official Scholarship Website: http://www.scholarships.vliruos.be/index.php?language=EN&navid=489&direct_to=Masters%20Programmes
Related Link: List of Masters Scholarships