Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from the Global South

Ghent University offers PhD scholarships to promising doctoral students from Global South countries through its Special Research Fund (BOF). The award supports a split programme: half of the PhD research takes place at Ghent University, the other half at a university in the Global South.

The funding covers the Belgian part of the doctorate. The candidate, a Ghent promoter and a local supervisor apply together, so the arrangement depends on a working partnership between the two institutions.

• Host: Ghent University, Belgium, with a partner university in the Global South
• Level: PhD
• Study destination: Belgium and a Global South country
• Deadline: 9 February 2027
• Course starts: 1 October 2027
• Awards: 15 PhD sandwich scholarships granted annually
• Covered: 24-month PhD scholarship at Ghent University and a bench fee of €310 per month of research in Ghent plus a travel budget

Ghent University in Belgium and a partner university or research center in a Global South country.

PhD Programmes at the University. No restrictions are imposed on the field of research, but preference will be given to topics that are relevant within the South-North context.

Ghent University grants annually 15 PhD sandwich scholarships.

Citizens of Global South countries.

• 48 months in total: 24 months funded by Ghent University plus 24 months funded by the partner institution in the Global South. Co-funding is mandatory.
• PhD scholarship at Ghent University (24 months).
• 24 months of PhD research will be executed at the partner university in the South, for which no funding is provided through this scholarship. This part of the research (24 months) must be funded (e.g. local PhD scholarship or salary) at the partner institution in the South.
• The Ghent University promoter receives a bench fee of €310 per month of research in Ghent plus a travel budget to cover (part of) the operational costs, as well as part of the travelling costs of the student and both the Ghent University and the local promoter.

Before applying for a PhD scholarship at Ghent university students Always need to find a professor from Ghent University who is willing to act as the supervisor (‘promoter’) of their doctoral research and who agrees to support their application. The best way to do this is by browsing the list of faculties and research topics available on our research directory. Without the support of a Ghent University professor the application is not eligible.

The proposals must be jointly submitted by a candidate, a promoter at Ghent University and a supervisor at the partner university.

No restrictions are imposed on the field of research, nevertheless preference will be given to topics that are relevant within the South-North context.

Candidates need to come from – and have the nationality of – a Global South country (see country list).

Only degree students (students who intend to obtain a (joint) PhD degree at Ghent University) can apply. Exchange students cannot apply for this scholarship.

This program is meant for students at the beginning of their PhD. To a limited extent, PhD students are allowed to have already completed preliminary research. At the time the fellowship will start (1/10/2027), a minimum of 36 months of doctoral research must still be required to complete the PhD.

There must be a guarantee that the candidate will be able to work fulltime on the PhD project for a period of 24 months at the partner university in a selected Global South country (South). This implies that the following conditions needs to be fulfilled:

1. there must be a local PhD supervisor at the partner university or research center in the South;
2. A written statement is requested stating that the candidate is either a funded fulltime PhD student or a staff member at this partner university;
3. and will be sufficiently exempted from teaching or other assignments as to be able to fully concentrate on the PhD research in the South (maximum 10% of their time on other tasks);
4. This statement should also mention that the candidate receives a local PhD scholarship or salary for a period of 24 months when working on the PhD at the partner university in the South.

• This cofunding is only intended for students who want to obtain a (joint) PhD degree at Ghent University.

Applications must be submitted (in English) electronically to [email protected] before 9 February 2027.

In addition to the application form, the Ghent University supervisor must also submit the following 2 documents before the deadline: an advice on the candidate, stating the supervisor's opinion on the capability of the candidate as a future researcher, and an advice on the ethical and biosafety context of the proposed research project.

If an exception on the funding and/or mobility scheme is requested, the exception form must be submitted at the latest on 15 January 2027.

From 12 May 2027 onwards, the result of the selection will be announced online. All non-selected candidates will automatically receive feedback on their application within 6 weeks after the results are published.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) to access the application forms and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.