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Study Scholarships | vliruos Skip to main content Top navigation About News Events Resources Statistics Contact Main navigation Get Funded Get Inspired Get Connected Search Breadcrumb Home Get Funded Study Scholarships Image Study Scholarships ICP Connect study programmes are accredited international study programmes. We award scholarships to applicants from 29 eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to attend one of the study programmes taught in English at one or more Flemish universities or universities of applied sciences and arts. The ICP Connect scholarship call for the 2026–2027 academic year is now closed. The call for the 2027–2028 academic year is expected to open in mid-November 2026. The list of available programmes and the application deadlines for each programme will be updated then. Can I apply? Candidates that meet the following criteria* may apply for an ICP Connect scholarship: Nationality and country of residence: Candidates must hold nationality from one of the 29 eligible countries and reside in any of these countries at the time of application (though not necessarily in their country of nationality). Age: Candidates for a bachelor or initial master programme cannot be older than 35 as of 1 January of the intake year, while candidates for an advanced master cannot be older than 45. Additionally, candidates for a bachelor programme must be at least 19 years old by 1 January of the intake year. Professional background and experience: Preference will be given to candidates employed in higher education, government, or civil society, or those targeting a career in one of these sectors. Newly graduated candidates or those employed in the private sector with no work experience may also be considered if they provide strong motivation and a compelling profile. Scholarship applications: Candidates may apply for only one ICP Connect scholarship per year. Candidates cannot receive any other scholarship or grant to participate in this study programme or another programme simultaneously. Applying for more than one ICP Connect scholarship or receiving an extra (different) scholarship will lead to exclusion Previously awarded scholarships: Candidates may not have previously received a scholarship from the Belgian government to attend a study programme, nor may they have enrolled in a study programme at a Belgian higher education institution before 1 January of the year of intake. *Please note that additional criteria may be imposed by individual institutions. These can be found under the drop-down menu 'more detailed information & application' on the specific page for each programme (see list below). What are the criteria? Within the ICP Connect framework, scholars are seen as potential agents of change that may contribute to societal change in their home country (or region) after completing their studies. Scholars are selected following an objective evaluation of their scholarship applications based on the following criteria: Motivation: Candidates' motivation and professional goals must reflect their competence in transferring knowledge/skills or setting up extension activities and highlighting themes relevant to sustainable development and pertinent to the study programme. Not only are academic results important, but so are - especially - the potential and commitment of the candidates to become an 'agent of change' after completing their studies. Professional experience: Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a greater chance of implementing and/or transferring newly gained knowledge/skills upon completion in a sustainable development context, such as in the higher education sector, government, civil society or the private sector, thereby contributing to positive societal change. Gender balance: A balance between male and female candidates awarded ICP Connect scholarships is targeted. VLIRUOS strongly encourages female candidates to apply. Read more about our gender policy here. Regiona…