Ghent University Master Mind Scholarships 2026
Ghent University’s window for the 2026–2027 Master Mind Scholarship closed on 1 April, which puts it among the earliest-closing scholarships covered in this series, a detail that matters more than it might seem, because the entire process here runs backwards from how most scholarship applications work. You don’t apply for this scholarship directly at all. You apply for academic admission to a Master’s programme first, and the scholarship only becomes possible if your programme coordinator decides, independently, to put your name forward.
That single structural detail trips up more applicants than any eligibility rule on the list, so this guide is built around getting that sequence right, alongside the full eligibility picture, what the €10,225 grant and reduced tuition actually add up to, the funding conflicts you need to know about before you apply anywhere else, and when to expect the next cycle to open.
Ghent University Master Mind Scholarships Summary
| Fellowship Name ⇒ | Master Mind |
| Host Country ⇒ | Belgium |
| Study Level ⇒ | Master’s |
| Benefits ⇒ | €10,225 per academic year, plus a reduced tuition fee of approximately €136.50 |
| Funded by ⇒ | Government of Flanders |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All Countries except Belgium |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 2026/2027 cycle closed 1 April 2026. The next cycle is expected to open around the same period in early 2027 |
Programme Structure and Experience
The Master Mind Scholarship is funded by the Government of Flanders, not by Ghent University itself, which is why it’s structured as a regional scheme spread across multiple Flemish institutions rather than a single university’s internal award.
Around 30 international students are funded across all participating Flemish higher education institutions each year, with roughly six of those places allocated to Ghent University specifically. Ghent, founded in 1817 and consistently ranked among the world’s top 100 universities, uses the scholarship to bring academically outstanding international students into its Master’s programmes across Flanders and Brussels.
What makes it distinct from most scholarship schemes is the nomination structure: rather than a central scholarship committee reviewing applications directly, individual programme coordinators identify their strongest admitted candidates and nominate them for consideration, meaning your case is being made internally by academic staff who already know your application, not by you writing a separate scholarship essay into a void.
Who can apply for this Scholarship?
- You must be an international student applying for a Master’s degree programme
- You must be academically admitted to a Flemish higher education institution; the scholarship cannot be granted without this admission already in place
- You need strong academic performance, generally benchmarked at a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 or its recognised equivalent
- You need good English language proficiency, evidenced through a recognised test
- You must be preselected and nominated by your Master’s programme coordinator. This is not something you can request or apply for directly, and coordinators can only put forward a limited number of candidates from their programme, which is where the real competition in this scholarship actually happens
One detail worth knowing if you’re weighing multiple funding options: Master Mind cannot be combined with several other major funding schemes, including Erasmus+ and Erasmus Mundus. If you’re applying broadly across European funding programmes, map out these conflicts early, since accepting funding elsewhere can rule you out of Master Mind consideration entirely.
What This Scholarship Pays For
- A grant of €10,225 per academic year, this figure has increased slightly from the previous cycle’s €10,000 and is adjusted periodically by the Flemish Government
- A significantly reduced tuition fee, set at the lowest rate available to any student receiving a study grant from the Flemish Government for the current cycle, this rate sits at roughly €136.50 for the full year, compared to the standard international tuition fee, which runs substantially higher
- Support toward accommodation costs, contributing to the practical cost of living in Ghent for the duration of your studies
The scholarship duration is tied directly to your programme length: one academic year of funding for a 60 ECTS Master’s programme, or two academic years for a 120 ECTS programme, provided you meet the university’s normal academic progression requirements to continue into the second year.
What Happens After Your Studies
Ghent University and Belgium more broadly offer international graduates the option to apply for an orientation year, extending their stay in Belgium by up to 12 months after graduation, specifically to look for work or start a business. This isn’t part of the scholarship itself, but it’s worth factoring into your planning if you’re choosing Ghent partly for its post-study career prospects. Belgium is generally considered to offer strong visa acceptance rates and a healthy job market for international graduates. Separately, international students in Belgium are permitted to work up to 20 hours a week during term time, which can meaningfully supplement the scholarship’s living cost coverage.
Prepare These Documents Before You Apply
- A completed application for academic admission to your chosen Master’s programme
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of English language proficiency
- A motivation statement, where your specific programme requires one as part of admission
- Any additional documents your specific programme or faculty requests beyond the standard admission set
Since the scholarship nomination flows directly from your academic admission file, treat every one of these documents as part of your scholarship case, not just your university admission case. A stronger, more specific academic application gives your coordinator a stronger file to nominate, since they’re making the case for you internally based on exactly what you’ve submitted.
What the Application Process Requires
- Visit Ghent University’s official website and browse the full list of Master’s degree programmes available for the relevant academic year
- Confirm you meet the specific admission requirements for your chosen programme, as these vary by faculty and subject
- Apply for full-time academic admission to that Master’s programme through Ghent University’s online admissions portal, making sure you select the correct intake year
- Submit your complete academic admission application before the admission deadline for Master Mind consideration. Specifically, this needs to happen by 1 April for the cycle in question, not the university’s general admission deadline if that date falls later
- Have all required documents, transcripts, diplomas, and language certificates legalised and uploaded accurately before the deadline, since incomplete files cannot be considered for coordinator nomination
- Wait for your academic admission decision. You cannot be nominated for the scholarship until you’ve actually been admitted
- If your programme coordinator selects you as one of their strongest admitted candidates, they will nominate you directly to the Flemish Government for final scholarship consideration
- Follow any verification link Ghent University provides to ensure your results and documentation reach the university correctly. This step is separate from your original application and shouldn’t be skipped
You cannot apply for the Master Mind Scholarship directly, at any stage, without first going through academic admission and nomination. There’s no standalone scholarship form to fill out independently of this sequence.
What to Do Before the Next Cycle Opens
- Start researching Master’s programmes at Ghent University well before the admission deadline, since a strong, well-matched programme choice increases both your admission chances and your visibility to a coordinator making nomination decisions
- Take your English proficiency test early if you haven’t already, so results are ready in time for your admission application rather than a late addition
- Get transcripts and diplomas started through the legalisation process as early as possible, since this step often takes longer than applicants expect and is a common source of last-minute delay
- If you’re also considering Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus funding, decide on your funding strategy early rather than applying to conflicting schemes simultaneously and sorting it out after receiving offers
- Once admitted, engage genuinely and visibly with your programme and department, since programme coordinators are making a personal case for the students they nominate
Application Timeline
- Application deadline: Academic admission applications need to be submitted by 1 April 2026 to be considered for Master Mind nomination for the 2026/2027 academic year. This cycle is now closed
- Selection process: After admission decisions are made, programme coordinators identify their strongest candidates from among admitted international students and submit nominations to the Flemish Government, which makes the final funding decision
- Next expected cycle: Based on this year’s timing, expect the 2027/2028 cycle’s academic admission and nomination deadline to fall around the same period in early 2027, likely close to 1 April 2027. Confirm the exact date on Ghent University’s official Master Mind page as the period approaches, since Flemish Government funding cycles are set annually and dates can shift slightly
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ghent University Master Mind Scholarship still open for 2026/2027?
No. The deadline was 1 April 2026. Based on the pattern of this year’s cycle, the next round is expected to open around the same period in early 2027.
Can I apply for the Master Mind Scholarship directly, without applying for a Master’s programme first?
No. You must first gain academic admission to a Master’s programme at a participating Flemish institution. Only admitted students, preselected by their programme coordinator, are nominated for the scholarship.
Can I combine this scholarship with Erasmus+ or Erasmus Mundus funding?
No. Master Mind cannot be combined with several major funding schemes, including Erasmus+ and Erasmus Mundus. Check for funding conflicts before applying broadly across multiple programmes.
How much tuition will I actually pay if I receive the scholarship?
Scholarship holders pay the lowest tuition rate available to Flemish Government study-grant recipients, currently around €136.50 for the academic year, rather than the standard international tuition fee.
Do I need a bank statement to get a Belgian student visa if I receive this scholarship?
No. Confirmed scholarship recipients are not required to provide a bank statement as part of their visa application, since the scholarship itself demonstrates sufficient financial means.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, figures, and deadlines in this post were verified from official Ghent University and Study in Flanders sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on Ghent University’s official Master Mind Scholarship page before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Ghent University or the Government of Flanders.
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