ARES Belgium Training Scholarships 2027-2028 (Fully Funded) | Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur (ARES) | Brilliant Scholarship
Fully FundedOpen
ARES Belgium Training Scholarships 2027-2028 (Fully Funded)
Around 100 fully funded ARES scholarships in Belgium for experienced professionals from 32 eligible developing countries across 10 specialized programmes.
Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur (ARES)
Overview
Working professionals from developing countries who want to add specialized training to an already-established career have a substantial opportunity in the ARES International Training Scholarships 2027-28. Offered by the Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur, ARES scholarships support study in Belgium across 10 specialized programmes, with around 100 scholarships available for the 2027-28 academic year. What sets ARES apart from many conventional scholarships is its deliberate focus on candidates who already hold higher-education qualifications and meaningful professional experience, rather than fresh graduates with strong grades but limited work history. For applicants who can clearly connect their current career, a specific professional gap, and one of ARES's specialized programmes, this scholarship offers a genuinely practical route to advanced training with substantial financial support.
Scholarship Details
ARES provides a comprehensive scholarship package that, depending on the selected programme and applicable conditions, can cover tuition and registration costs, living and subsistence expenses, international travel, insurance, eligible visa-related expenses, and certain programme-related travel costs. The scholarship spans three formats: specialized Bachelor's programmes, specialized Master's programmes, and continuing-education options, giving applicants some flexibility in how they structure their training around existing career and family commitments. Because ARES funding conditions can shift between application cycles, applicants are specifically cautioned against relying on figures or benefits mentioned in older online articles about previous ARES calls; the only reliable source for exact 2027-28 benefits is the current official scholarship documentation. There is no application fee for the ARES scholarship, removing one potential barrier for candidates from lower-income backgrounds who might otherwise be deterred by upfront costs.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for ARES scholarships is built around both geography and professional background rather than academic merit alone. Applicants must be nationals or residents of one of ARES's 32 partner countries, a list that for the current call includes countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Vietnam in Asia; Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Morocco, Tunisia, and Senegal, along with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Cameroon, and Mozambique in Africa; and Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Haiti in Latin America and the Caribbean, among others; this is only a selection of the full eligible list, so applicants should check the complete and current country list before applying, since eligibility depends on living and working in an eligible country under the specific conditions of the current call, not simply on nationality alone. Beyond geography, ARES generally expects applicants to have at least two years of relevant professional experience acquired in an eligible partner country, gained after their most recent higher-education qualification; this professional-experience requirement is central to how ARES evaluates applications, meaning an applicant with several years of directly relevant work experience can present a stronger profile than a fresh graduate with excellent academic results but little or no professional background. Crucially, applicants can submit only one application, for one ARES programme, per cycle, which makes the choice of programme a decisive part of the application strategy; rather than applying to whichever programme sounds most appealing, candidates are expected to choose the programme with the clearest, most logical connection to their existing education, professional responsibilities, and career trajectory. A public-health professional applying to the specialized Public Health programme, for example, presents a far more coherent case than the same professional applying to an unrelated technical field.
Fields of Study & Programs
The 2027-28 ARES competition covers 10 specialized programmes spanning a genuinely broad set of professional fields: Digital Integrated Supply Chain, Human Rights, International and Development Economics, Microfinance, Public Health, Health Risk Management, Food Chain Safety, Preventive Conservation and Collections Management, Risk and Disaster Management, and Cybersecurity Operations and Risk Governance. Each of these programmes has its own specific eligibility requirements and academic expectations, meaning applicants should carefully review the requirements of their selected programme before applying rather than assuming that meeting the general ARES criteria is sufficient on its own. The diversity of fields reflects ARES's broader development-cooperation mission, spanning public health and food safety, economic development and microfinance, digital and cybersecurity capacity-building, disaster risk management, and cultural heritage preservation, giving professionals across many different sectors a genuine chance of finding a programme that matches their existing career path.
Participating Universities
ARES scholarships are delivered through Belgian higher-education institutions participating in the ARES-coordinated specialized programmes, rather than through a single named university. As the Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur, ARES functions as a coordinating body across French-speaking Belgian higher-education institutions, bringing together academic expertise from multiple universities and university colleges to deliver each of the 10 specialized programmes. This structure means the specific host institution and location within Belgium can vary depending on which of the 10 programmes an applicant is admitted to, and applicants should check the programme-specific information for details on exactly where their chosen specialized training will be delivered.
How to Apply
The application process runs entirely through GIRAF, ARES's online application platform, and applicants should start well in advance given the time it can take to create or validate a GIRAF account. The first step is confirming basic eligibility, including nationality, country of residence, academic qualification, professional experience, and eligibility for the specific programme of interest, before investing significant time in preparing a full application. Because only one programme application is permitted, the second step, selecting a single programme, is arguably the most consequential decision in the entire process; a convincing application should be able to answer a simple question clearly: why is this particular programme the right training for the applicant's current career. If the applicant does not already have a validated GIRAF account, the third step is requesting one without delay, since for the 2027-28 call, new GIRAF account requests must be submitted by September 4, 2026 at 16:00 Belgian time, well ahead of the final application deadline. Once GIRAF access is confirmed, applicants locate the Competitive Calls section and select the ARES International Training Scholarships 2027-28 application, continuing to work within the same application file throughout the process. The academic and professional profile section should tell a consistent, connected story: what professional problem the applicant currently faces, what skills they currently lack, how the specific ARES programme provides those skills, and how they intend to apply that training afterward. Supporting documents typically include degree certificates, academic transcripts, a CV, passport or nationality documentation, proof of professional experience such as employment certificates, recommendation letters, and any programme-specific materials such as a pre-project outline or technical documentation that a particular programme may require. Before submission, applicants should carefully review every section of the application, paying close attention to dates, employment history, academic information, uploaded documents, recommendation letters, and their stated motivation and career objectives, since incomplete or inconsistent information can undermine an otherwise strong candidacy. The final deadline for the ARES 2027-28 scholarship application is September 18, 2026 at 12:00 noon Belgian time, and applicants are strongly encouraged to submit well ahead of this deadline rather than treating the final day as their target.
Deadlines & Important Dates
The ARES 2027-28 cycle involves two distinct and sequential deadlines. New applicants who need to create a GIRAF account must request it by September 4, 2026 at 16:00 Belgian time, a step that precedes and enables the main application process. The final scholarship application deadline itself is September 18, 2026 at 12:00 noon Belgian time. Because GIRAF account creation and validation can take time, applicants without an existing account should treat the September 4 deadline as their real starting point for preparation rather than working backward from the September 18 final deadline alone.
Life as a Scholar
ARES scholars typically arrive in Belgium as established professionals rather than recent graduates, joining specialized cohorts built specifically around applied, career-relevant training in fields such as public health, cybersecurity, human rights, or disaster management. Because the programmes are explicitly designed for professionals with existing work experience, the learning environment tends to draw heavily on participants' real-world backgrounds, with peer cohorts made up of experienced professionals from across ARES's 32 partner countries, creating a genuinely international and professionally diverse classroom. Belgium's central location within Europe, combined with its role as a hub for European Union institutions and international organisations, offers ARES scholars broader exposure to European and international policy and professional networks connected to their field of study, beyond the specific coursework of their chosen programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to more than one ARES programme? No. Applicants can submit an application for only one ARES programme per cycle, so programme selection is critical.
Do I need professional experience to apply? Yes. Applicants generally need at least two years of relevant professional experience after their latest higher-education qualification, acquired in an eligible partner country.
Is ARES suitable for fresh graduates? Generally not. ARES is designed primarily for professionals with relevant work experience rather than applicants who have just completed their degree with no professional background.
What does the scholarship cover? Depending on the programme and conditions, it can cover tuition/registration, living expenses, international travel, insurance, and eligible visa-related and programme-related travel costs; exact benefits should be confirmed against current official documentation.
What are the two key deadlines for 2027-28? New GIRAF account requests are due September 4, 2026 at 16:00 Belgian time; the final application deadline is September 18, 2026 at 12:00 noon Belgian time.
Is there an application fee? No, there is no application fee for the ARES scholarship.
Final Thoughts
The ARES Belgium Scholarships 2027-28 offer a genuinely valuable opportunity for experienced professionals from eligible developing countries to pursue specialized training in Belgium with substantial financial support. Because only one programme application is allowed and professional relevance carries so much weight in selection, the most important step for prospective applicants is choosing the single ARES programme that most clearly builds on their existing career, and then preparing their GIRAF account and full application well ahead of the September 4 and September 18, 2026 deadlines.
Award Amount
Full or substantial coverage of tuition/registration, living expenses, international travel and insurance, subject to programme conditions; specific amounts not stated in source content
Payment: Total Program
Deadline
2026-09-18
New applicants needing a GIRAF account must request it by September 4, 2026 at 16:00 Belgian time. Final application deadline is September 18, 2026 at 12:00 noon Belgian time.
Duration
Specialized Bachelor's, Specialized Master's, and continuing education programmes; duration follows the specific programme chosen among the 10 available.
Renewable
No
About This Scholarship
The ARES International Training Scholarships 2027-28 offer around 100 fully funded scholarships across 10 specialized programmes in Belgium for professionals from 32 eligible developing partner countries. Unlike scholarships aimed primarily at fresh graduates, ARES focuses on applicants who already hold a relevant higher-education qualification and generally at least two years of relevant professional experience acquired in an eligible partner country, with a strong link expected between prior education, current work, the chosen programme, and future professional impact. Available programmes span Digital Integrated Supply Chain, Human Rights, International and Development Economics, Microfinance, Public Health, Health Risk Management, Food Chain Safety, Preventive Conservation and Collections Management, Risk and Disaster Management, and Cybersecurity Operations and Risk Governance, offered as specialized Bachelor's, specialized Master's, or continuing education. Depending on the programme, the scholarship can cover or support tuition and registration costs, living and subsistence expenses, international travel, insurance, eligible visa-related expenses, and certain programme-related travel costs; applicants are cautioned that funding amounts and conditions can change between cycles, so current 2027-28 documentation should be relied on rather than older articles. Applicants may submit only one ARES application per cycle, making programme selection critical. The application is completed through the GIRAF online platform, with new GIRAF account requests due by September 4, 2026 at 16:00 Belgian time and the final application deadline set for September 18, 2026 at 12:00 noon Belgian time. There is no application fee.
Eligible Study Levels
UndergraduateMaster
Fields of Study
Digital Integrated Supply ChainHuman RightsInternational and Development EconomicsMicrofinancePublic HealthHealth Risk ManagementFood Chain SafetyPreventive Conservation and Collections ManagementRisk and Disaster ManagementCybersecurity Operations and Risk Governance
Available Countries
Belgium
Eligibility Requirements
National or resident of one of ARES's 32 eligible partner countries (examples include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Cameroon, Mozambique, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Haiti)
Generally at least two years of relevant professional experience after the latest higher-education qualification, acquired in an eligible partner country
Holds a relevant higher-education qualification
Can apply for only one ARES programme per application cycle
Clear connection required between previous education, professional experience, selected programme and future professional impact
Academic Requirements
Application Process
1Check eligibility: nationality/residence in an eligible partner country, academic qualification, professional experience, and eligibility for the selected programme
2Select one ARES programme with the strongest connection to education and professional experience (only one programme application allowed)
3Create or request a GIRAF account by September 4, 2026 at 16:00 Belgian time if not already validated
4Access the Competitive Calls section in GIRAF and select the ARES International Training Scholarships 2027-28 application
5Complete academic and professional profile, telling a consistent story from current work to skills needed to intended impact after the programme
6Prepare and upload required documents: degree certificates, transcripts, CV, passport/nationality documentation, proof of professional experience, employment certificates, recommendation letters and programme-specific documents
7Review the application carefully, checking dates, employment history, academic information, documents and motivation
8Submit before September 18, 2026 at 12:00 noon Belgian time
Required Documents
Degree Certificates and Academic Transcripts*Required
Evidence of higher-education qualifications
CV*Required
Curriculum vitae covering education and professional experience
Passport or Nationality Documentation*Required
Proof of identity, nationality and residence
Additional Benefits
Living/subsistence expenses
International travel
Insurance
Eligible visa-related expenses
Certain programme-related travel costs
About the AuthorActive ApplicantUniversity Graduate
I'm a university graduate currently navigating the world of scholarship applications. I run this blog as an active, personal database of opportunities I'm researching — every listing here is one I've evaluated myself. My goal is to help fellow students cut through the noise and find funding that actually fits their profile.
📚 Researched & curated by a current applicant · Updated regularly
ProviderAcadémie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur (ARES)
AmountFull or substantial coverage of tuition/registration, living expenses, international travel and insurance, subject to programme conditions; specific amounts not stated in source content
Deadline2026-09-18
Durationnull years
Fully FundedYes
RenewableNo
Who Is This Scholarship For?
Ideal Candidate:
Ready to Apply?
Use our AI-powered assistant to create winning application documents for this scholarship.
