ARES International Training Scholarships in Belgium 2027-2028 | Fully Funded
ARES, Belgium’s academic cooperation body, opened its International Training Scholarships 2027-2028 call on August 3, 2026, with a deadline of September 18, 2026 at 12pm Belgian time. The scholarship funds one specialised Bachelor’s degree, eight specialised Master’s programmes, and one continuing training course, covering tuition, travel, subsistence, and insurance for candidates from 32 specific eligible countries. If you’re checking whether Nigeria qualifies: it doesn’t, and this guide is upfront about that from the start, along with exactly who does qualify and how the application process works.
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About ARES
ARES manages academic cooperation and scholarship funding on behalf of French-speaking higher education institutions in Belgium, and this particular call is built around working professionals, not fresh graduates. It’s structured to send experienced people from specific partner countries to Belgium for focused, applied training, then return them home to put what they’ve learned directly to use — which is why the eligibility criteria weight professional experience as heavily as academic qualifications.
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ARES International Training Scholarships Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | ARES International Training Scholarships 2027-2028 |
| Host Country ⇒ | Belgium |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate Scholarships | Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships | Training |
| Benefits ⇒ | Fully Funded (Bachelor’s/Master’s tracks) — tuition, international travel, a subsistence allowance, visa costs, and insurance |
| Funded By ⇒ | ARES (Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur), Belgium |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | 32 specific partner countries across Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Palestine — see full list below |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | September 18, 2026, 12pm Belgian time (UTC+1) |
Which Countries Actually Qualify
This is worth checking first, since eligibility here is restricted to a specific list, not open generally to Africa or any other region:
- Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe
- South America and the Caribbean: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, and Peru
- Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Vietnam
- Asia: Palestine — Palestinian nationals are eligible even if they don’t currently reside in one of these 32 countries, which is a specific exception to the general residency rule
Nigeria, Ghana, and most other West African countries are not on this list. If you’re outside these 32 countries, this specific scholarship isn’t available to you regardless of your qualifications.
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Who Qualifies for the ARES International Training Scholarships
Beyond the country requirement, you must:
- Be a permanent resident and currently work in one of the 32 eligible countries
- Hold a graduate degree that meets the specific programme’s admission requirements, earned no more than 20 years before the programme starts — this limit extends by one year for each childbirth or adoption
- Have at least two years of relevant professional experience, in one of the eligible countries, between completing your most recent graduate degree and the application deadline
- Apply, and complete your application, in the language the programme is taught in, with strong written and spoken command of that language
- Apply for only one programme — you can’t submit multiple applications across different offerings
Basic French isn’t a formal requirement, but ARES notes it makes daily life in Belgium easier during your stay.
What the Scholarship Actually Covers
- International travel expenses
- A subsistence allowance
- Insurance costs
- For Bachelor’s and Master’s tracks specifically: tuition fees, plus exceptional visa-related costs
- For continuing training specifically: indirect mission expenses
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How Long the Programme Runs
- Bachelor’s and specialised Master’s degrees: up to 12 months
- Continuing training courses: up to 6 months
How to Apply for the ARES International Training Scholarships
- Create or log into your GIRAF account. If you don’t already have one validated by ARES, complete the account creation request form first — you can’t access the application without it.
- Find the application form under “Competitive Calls,” then click “Application – International Training 2027–2028.” Click this button only once.
- Complete the form in multiple sessions if needed. Required fields marked with an asterisk must be filled before your first save, but you can use “Save as Draft” and return to finish later.
- Resume a saved application through “Competitive Calls” > “My Tasks,” selecting your form and clicking “Open,” as long as it’s still in draft status.
- Submit once complete. After submission, your application appears under “Competitive Calls” > “My Submitted Applications” — and once submitted, it cannot be modified, so review everything carefully before that final click.
Read the applicant’s guide before starting if you want detailed walk-through support, and reach out to Maryvonne Aubry at [email protected] for programme-specific questions.
Application Deadline
Applications opened August 3, 2026 and close September 18, 2026 at 12pm Belgian time. Since your application must be submitted in the programme’s teaching language and can’t be edited after submission, budget real time for drafting and review rather than assembling it in the final days — a strong two-year professional experience narrative and precise language use both take longer to get right than a typical scholarship form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this scholarship open to Nigerian applicants?
No. Eligibility is restricted to permanent residents working in one of 32 specific countries, and Nigeria isn’t on that list. Applicants from Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and several other African countries do qualify, provided they meet every other requirement.
Can I apply for more than one of the nine available programmes to improve my chances?
No. You’re required to apply for only one programme. Submitting for multiple programmes isn’t how this call is structured, and doing so isn’t a way to increase your odds.
Do I need to already speak French to apply?
Not necessarily — your application needs to be completed in the language the specific programme is taught in, not automatically French. Basic French is described as helpful for daily life in Belgium, but it isn’t listed as a formal eligibility requirement.
Can I edit my application after I submit it?
No. Once you click “Submit my application,” it cannot be modified. Review your complete application carefully before that final submission, since there’s no correction window afterward.
Does the two-year experience requirement need to come after my most recent degree, or can earlier work experience count?
It specifically needs to fall between the completion of your most recent graduate degree and the application deadline. Professional experience gained before that degree doesn’t count toward the two-year minimum.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official ARES website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with ARES (Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur).
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