As part of its commitment to fostering global development, KU Leuven, Belgium’s largest university, offers scholarships annually to outstanding PhD candidates from developing countries through its Global Minds Programme.
This initiative is overseen by the university’s Interfaculty Council for Development Cooperation (IRO).
The programme provides scholars with the opportunity to pursue doctoral research in a “sandwich” model. Under this arrangement, scholars conduct 50% of their research at KU Leuven and the other 50% at their home institution, where they are guided by a local co-promoter. The PhD degree is conferred by KU Leuven.
Host Institutions:
KU Leuven and the scholar’s home institution.
Fields of Study:
PhD research related to development-focused topics.
Number of Scholarships:
Not specified.
Target Group:
Citizens of eligible countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, including:
- Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa.
- Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Palestinian Territories, Vietnam.
- Latin America: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru.
Scholarship Benefits:
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The scholarship includes coverage for tuition fees, a monthly allowance, insurance, travel expenses, research funding, and more. For a detailed breakdown, refer to the official website.
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Be a citizen of one of the eligible countries (listed above).
- Not hold EU citizenship or a long-term EU residence permit.
- Have obtained their most recent master’s degree within the last ten years (not earlier than 2015).
- Hold an academic grade equivalent to High Distinction or higher. Applicants with lower second-class or equivalent degrees will not be considered.
- Submit a research proposal of exceptional academic quality, with a clear focus on development-related impact.
Application Process:
The application process consists of two main steps:
- Admission to a Doctoral Program: Applicants must first secure admission to a doctoral or predoctoral program at KU Leuven. It is recommended to start this process at least 2.5 months before the scholarship deadline to ensure timely evaluation.
- Scholarship Application: Only after receiving admission can candidates apply for the Global Minds PhD scholarship.
The application deadline for the scholarship is 28 February 2025 at 5:00 PM GMT.
For detailed instructions on the application process and eligibility requirements, visit the official scholarship website.
