The ARES Scholarship is a fully funded award for study in Belgium. It funds a bachelor’s degree, a special master’s degree, or a short course. It targets working people from developing countries. Many applicants also compare it with other fully funded routes. For example, some look at the VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarship, another major option in Belgium.
Overview
- Host country, Belgium
- Host region, Wallonia-Brussels Federation
- Level of study, Bachelor’s, special Master’s, or short course
- Field of study, Development fields, such as health, farming, and human rights
- Nationality, Open to citizens of 32 eligible developing countries
- Funded by, ARES, the Academy of Research and Higher Education
Benefits of the ARES Scholarship
First, scholars get full tuition, for eligible bachelor’s and master’s courses. Also, they get a monthly living amount. Plus, they get travel and insurance costs. In short, the award covers this.
- Full tuition fees, for eligible bachelor’s and master’s programmes
- A monthly living allowance of about 1,150 Euro
- Travel costs, both ways
- An arrival grant, plus visa cost help where needed
- Medical insurance for the study period
- Funding for up to 12 months for degree courses, or up to 6 months for short courses
Who Should Apply
This award suits working people with real field experience. It does not suit fresh graduates. Meanwhile, students without much work history yet may prefer the Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarship. That program needs no prior work experience.
Eligibility Requirements
Overall, applicants must meet these points.
- Live and work in one of the 32 eligible countries
- Hold a degree, earned within the last 20 years
- Show at least two years of work after that degree
- Meet the language rules for the chosen course, French skill helps
- Apply for only one ARES programme per cycle
One Fixed Deadline
Notably, this cycle has one fixed date, not a range. This clear single deadline is close to the setup used for the Singapore International Graduate Award, where a set date also drives each intake.
Required Documents
- Completed form through the ARES GIRAF platform
- Proof of your degree
- Proof of work experience
- Proof of language skill, where required
- Any extra documents listed on the ARES site
How to Apply
First, set up or confirm your GIRAF account early. Next, choose one eligible programme. Fill in your form with care. Then, check everything closely, since a sent form cannot change later. This care step is close to the one used for the VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarship, where care also matters before you submit.
Application Deadline
The deadline is September 18, 2026, at noon Belgian time. This window closes very soon. So, act now if you plan to apply, since very little time is left.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this award gives strong, full funding for working people in Belgium. However, if this deadline is too close for you, check other options too. For instance, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Scholarship funds study in Germany with a later deadline.
