Ghent University PhD Scholarships 2027 in Belgium: Eligibility, Funding and How to Apply

Ghent University PhD Scholarships 2027 in Belgium

Researchers from eligible Global South countries can apply for Ghent University’s 2027 doctoral scholarships, an international research programme supporting collaborative PhD studies between Belgium and partner institutions in the Global South.

Funded through Ghent University’s Special Research Fund (BOF), the programme offers 24 months of doctoral research funding at Ghent University. However, applicants must also arrange full-time funding for the other 24 months at their partner institution in the Global South. This co-funding requirement is essential: the opportunity is not a scholarship that automatically pays every cost for all four years.

The official application deadline is 9 February 2027. Candidates who need an exception to the programme’s funding or mobility arrangements must request approval by 15 January 2027, where applicable.

Ghent University PhD Scholarships 2027: Quick Facts

Detail

Information

Scholarship

Ghent University BOF Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from the Global South

Host institution

Ghent University

Host country

Belgium

Funding body

Special Research Fund (BOF)

Study level

Doctoral / PhD

Programme format

Sandwich PhD with North–South research collaboration

Scholarship duration

48 months across the programme

Funding at Ghent University

24 months

Funding at the partner institution

24 months of mandatory co-funding

Eligible applicants

Nationals of selected Global South countries

Research fields

All disciplines; North–South relevance is preferred

Main application deadline

9 February 2027

Exception request deadline

15 January 2027, where applicable

First Ghent research stay

Between 1 October 2027 and 28 February 2028

Official application channel

BOFapplication@ugent.be

Opportunity status: OPEN — according to the official 2027 call published by Ghent University.

Official source: Ghent University BOF Doctoral Scholarships 2027.

What Are the Ghent University BOF Doctoral Scholarships?

The Ghent University BOF Doctoral Scholarships support doctoral researchers from selected Global South countries through international academic cooperation.

The programme follows a sandwich PhD model. Researchers conduct part of their doctoral research at Ghent University in Belgium and the remaining research at a partner university or research centre in the Global South.

Ghent University awards 15 scholarships annually under this programme, according to the official call.

The arrangement is designed to strengthen research capacity, encourage academic collaboration and connect European research expertise with institutions in eligible countries.

Rather than relocating permanently to Belgium for the entire doctorate, successful candidates follow an approved research schedule involving both institutions.

Applicants should understand that the scholarship is intended for candidates pursuing a PhD degree at Ghent University, including eligible joint doctoral arrangements. Exchange students are not eligible.

Who Can Apply for the Ghent University Scholarships 2027?

Applicants must satisfy the programme's nationality, supervision, funding and research requirements.

1. Nationality requirements

Candidates must originate from and hold the nationality of a country on Ghent University's official Global South eligibility list.

Eligible countries include several African, Asian and other countries classified under the university's published criteria.

Rwanda is included on the official 2027 country list. However, Rwandan applicants must still satisfy every other eligibility condition.

Check the official Global South country list before investing time in an application.

2. Academic and doctoral status

The scholarship targets researchers at the beginning of their PhD studies.

Candidates may have completed a limited amount of preliminary doctoral research, but at least 36 months of doctoral research must remain at the fellowship's start date of 1 October 2027.

Applicants must intend to obtain a PhD degree from Ghent University. Students applying solely for an exchange programme cannot qualify.

3. Two supervisors are required

Each application must be jointly prepared by:

  • The PhD candidate.
  • A supervisor at Ghent University.
  • A supervisor at the partner university or research centre in the Global South.

The Ghent University supervisor must explicitly agree to supervise the candidate. Without this support, the application is not eligible.

The partner institution must also be willing to provide the required supervision and funding for the candidate's research period there.

4. Research discipline

The call does not impose restrictions on academic disciplines.

Nevertheless, preference is given to proposals relevant to the North–South context. Candidates should explain how their research addresses meaningful research needs, development priorities, collaborative opportunities or other relevant challenges.

A strong proposal should establish why the research matters to both the Belgian host institution and the partner institution.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The scholarship funds the doctoral research period at Ghent University for a total of 24 months.

The programme also requires funding for the other 24 months of doctoral research at the partner institution in the Global South.

This distinction is important when evaluating the opportunity's financial value.

Funding overview

Funding component

Official arrangement

Ghent University doctoral scholarship

24 months

Research at the partner institution

24 months requiring co-funding

Local PhD scholarship or salary

Must be guaranteed by the partner institution for the relevant period

Supervisor's research bench fee

€310 per month of research in Ghent

Travel and operational budget

€8,000 allocated to the Ghent University supervisor

The €310 monthly bench fee and €8,000 travel budget are allocated to the Ghent University supervisor to help cover research operations and part of the travel costs of the candidate and supervisors. They should not be presented as personal monthly payments to the student.

The official call does not establish that Ghent University independently pays all expenses for the entire four-year doctorate. Applicants should confirm the applicable doctoral salary, personal living costs and other financial arrangements directly with the university and supervisors.

Why co-funding matters

The partner university or research centre must provide a written statement confirming that the candidate will receive a full-time local PhD scholarship or salary for 24 months of research in the Global South.

The institution must also ensure that the candidate is sufficiently released from teaching and other duties to concentrate on doctoral research. Other duties may occupy no more than 10% of the candidate's full-time appointment under the published conditions.

Before applying, discuss this arrangement with your home institution. A supportive supervisor alone is not sufficient if the required funding cannot be secured.

What Is the Required PhD Research Schedule?

The programme follows a mandatory mobility arrangement.

Candidates must begin and end their doctoral research with research stays at Ghent University. Each of these stays must last between three and 12 months.

The first research stay at Ghent University must begin between 1 October 2027 and 28 February 2028.

At least 24 months of locally funded research in the Global South must be scheduled between the first and final Ghent University research stays.

The complete research plan should therefore be discussed with both supervisors before submission. It must fit the programme's funding, mobility and doctoral completion requirements.

Can applicants request an exception?

Yes. Ghent University allows eligible candidates to request exceptions to the funding or mobility arrangements in specified circumstances.

Examples include cases in which the partner institution requires a preliminary doctoral study period, the candidate must complete field research in the Global South before beginning research in Belgium, or certain previously completed funded doctoral periods may qualify for consideration.

Exceptions are not automatic. Candidates must request approval from Ghent University's Research Administration and submit the appropriate form and supporting documents.

The deadline for applicable exception requests is 15 January 2027. Contact BOF directly if you are uncertain whether your circumstances qualify.

How to Apply for Ghent University PhD Scholarships 2027

The application process involves coordination between the candidate, the Belgian supervisor and the partner institution.

Step 1: Confirm your nationality eligibility

Consult the official 2027 Global South country list. Do not rely on general descriptions such as “developing country” or “African country” without checking the university's actual list.

Step 2: Identify a suitable research topic

Review Ghent University's faculties, research groups and available research topics. Develop a proposal that fits your academic background and establishes a credible connection with a research partner in the Global South.

Step 3: Secure a Ghent University supervisor

Contact a relevant professor with a concise research proposal and a clear explanation of your doctoral objectives.

Explain your academic preparation, the research question, the intended partner institution and the potential value of the collaboration.

You can explore research topics through the Ghent University Research Explorer.

Do not assume that submitting an email to a professor automatically secures supervision. You need explicit agreement from a qualified Ghent University supervisor.

Step 4: Secure a partner-country supervisor

Identify a supervisor at a university or research centre in an eligible Global South country.

Discuss the research design, supervision arrangements, research facilities and the feasibility of completing the doctoral work across both institutions.

Step 5: Confirm the co-funding arrangement

Obtain confirmation that the partner institution can provide the required full-time PhD scholarship or salary for the 24-month research period in the Global South.

The institution must also be able to provide the written confirmation and working arrangements required by Ghent University.

Step 6: Download the official application documents

Use the forms available on the official BOF scholarship page.

Read the complete call instructions carefully. Check which forms must be completed by the candidate and which must be prepared by the Ghent University supervisor.

Step 7: Prepare the supervisor's supporting documents

The Ghent University supervisor must submit two additional documents:

  1. An assessment of the candidate's research potential and capability as a future researcher.
  2. An assessment of the ethical and biosafety context of the proposed research project.

Coordinate with the supervisor early enough to allow these documents to be completed before the deadline.

Step 8: Submit the application in English

The application forms must be submitted electronically in English through the official channel:

Email: BOFapplication@ugent.be

The candidate and supervisors should verify the final submission instructions in the current call documents, including how the forms and supporting documents should be packaged and submitted.

Step 9: Submit before the deadline

The main deadline is 9 February 2027.

If you require an exception to the funding or mobility scheme, the applicable exception request must be submitted by 15 January 2027.

Keep copies of the submitted documents and any email confirmation for your records.

Required Documents and Preparation Checklist

The official call identifies the application form and two supervisor assessments as key components. The precise document requirements should be confirmed in the current application package.

Use this checklist to coordinate the application:

  • Official 2027 candidate application form.
  • Research proposal and supporting information requested in the form.
  • Confirmation of an agreed Ghent University supervisor.
  • Confirmation of an agreed partner-country supervisor.
  • Written confirmation of the partner institution's 24-month funding arrangement.
  • Ghent University supervisor's assessment of the candidate.
  • Ghent University supervisor's ethics and biosafety assessment.
  • Exception request form and supporting documents, if applicable.

CareerLift recommendation: Keep a separate folder for the application forms, research proposal, supervisor correspondence, co-funding evidence and final submission confirmation. This helps both institutions check the application for completeness.

Do not assume that a CV, motivation letter, passport copy, language certificate or other commonly requested scholarship document is mandatory unless the current official application instructions require it.

How to Strengthen Your Application

A competitive doctoral application should demonstrate research readiness, a realistic work plan and a credible partnership between institutions.

Present a clear research problem

Explain the question your research will answer, why it matters and what existing knowledge or practical problem it addresses.

Avoid proposals that are too broad to complete within the planned doctoral period.

Demonstrate academic preparation

Describe your previous research experience, relevant academic work, technical skills and preparation for the proposed research.

Where applicable, explain how your existing work connects with the proposed PhD project.

Establish the value of the partnership

Explain why the research requires collaboration between Ghent University and the partner institution.

Show how the two supervisors and their institutions can contribute complementary expertise, resources or local research knowledge.

Make the funding plan realistic

Confirm the partner institution's ability to fund the required 24 months. Do not leave this issue until the final days before submission.

Address ethics and biosafety early

Discuss any ethical approval, participant protection, data protection, laboratory safety or biosafety considerations with the supervisors. The official application requires the Ghent University supervisor to provide an assessment of the project's ethical and biosafety context.

Important Dates for the 2027 Call

Stage

Date

Deadline for applicable exception requests

15 January 2027

Main scholarship application deadline

9 February 2027

First Ghent University research stay

Must begin between 1 October 2027 and 28 February 2028

Results announced online from

12 May 2027 onwards

The university states that unsuccessful candidates will automatically receive feedback within six weeks after the results are published.

Check the official scholarship page for any updates to the timetable or submission requirements.

Official Application Links

Use these official resources to verify your eligibility and prepare your application:

The university's scholarship page is the authoritative source for the application forms, eligibility conditions and deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are Ghent University PhD Scholarships 2027 fully funded?

The programme funds 24 months of doctoral research at Ghent University. The other 24 months must be funded by the partner institution in the Global South. Applicants should therefore secure the required co-funding rather than assume Ghent University covers all four years independently.

2. What is the deadline for Ghent University Scholarships 2027?

The main application deadline is 9 February 2027. Applicants requesting an applicable exception to the funding or mobility arrangements must submit their request by 15 January 2027.

3. Can Rwandan students apply?

Rwanda appears on the official 2027 Global South eligibility list. Rwandan applicants must also meet the doctoral, supervision, research and co-funding requirements.

4. Which academic disciplines are eligible?

The call does not restrict applications to particular disciplines. However, research topics relevant to the North–South context are preferred.

5. Do I need a supervisor before applying?

Yes. The application must be jointly submitted by the candidate, a Ghent University supervisor and a supervisor at a partner institution in the Global South. Without the support of a Ghent University professor, the application is not eligible.

6. Can I apply without funding from my home institution?

The partner institution must guarantee the required full-time funding or salary for the 24-month research period in the Global South. If you cannot secure this arrangement, contact the university to establish whether your circumstances fit any officially permitted exception before proceeding.

7. Where do I submit the application?

The official call directs applicants to submit the application forms electronically in English to BOFapplication@ugent.be. Review the official application package for the final instructions.

Final Advice for Applicants

The Ghent University BOF Doctoral Scholarships 2027 are worth investigating if you are an early-stage doctoral researcher from an eligible Global South country and can establish a strong research partnership between Belgium and your home institution.

The most important first steps are to verify your nationality eligibility, identify a suitable research topic, secure both supervisors and confirm the partner institution's co-funding commitment.

Remember the two critical dates: 15 January 2027 for applicable exception requests and 9 February 2027 for the main application.

Before submitting, verify all requirements directly with Ghent University. CareerLift Global is an independent opportunity-information platform and does not administer this scholarship or guarantee selection.