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The VLIR-UOS Scholarship, officially the ICP Connect Scholarship, is a fully funded award that sends students from 29 eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to study a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme in English at Flemish universities and universities of applied sciences in Belgium. After checking the official VLIR-UOS pages and the current Scholarship Framework document, we confirmed that the award pays EUR 1,400 per month, and that this single allowance is designed to cover tuition fees, living expenses, board and lodging, health insurance, installation costs and indirect travel costs. Scholars also receive a return economy flight to Belgium, with three-year Bachelor’s students receiving an additional round trip. Scholarships are awarded only for the full duration of a programme — 12, 24 or 36 months with no partial awards and no extensions.
Key Highlights
| Feature | Details |
| Scholarship Name | VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarship |
| Funding Body | VLIR-UOS — Flemish Interuniversity Council, University Development Cooperation |
| Host Country | Belgium — Flemish universities and universities of applied sciences and arts |
| Study Levels | Professional Bachelor’s (3 years) | Initial Master’s (2 years) | Advanced Master’s (1 year) |
| Number of Programmes | 20 English-taught programmes — 2 Bachelor’s, 13 Initial Master’s, 5 Advanced Master’s |
| Language of Instruction | English |
| Monthly Allowance | EUR 1,400 per month — covers living expenses, board and lodging, health insurance, installation costs, indirect travel costs and the tuition fee |
| Tuition Fees | Covered — standard tuition fee for full-time enrolment at the lowest applicable institutional rate |
| Flights | One economy return ticket. Three-year Bachelor’s students receive one additional round trip |
| Health Insurance | Covered within the monthly allowance — scholars must prove coverage |
| Scholarship Duration | Full programme duration only — 12, 24 or 36 months. No partial awards, no extensions |
| Eligible Countries | 29 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and South East Asia |
| Age Limit — Bachelor’s and Initial Master’s | Maximum 35 years old as of 1 January of the intake year |
| Age Limit — Advanced Master’s | Maximum 45 years old as of 1 January of the intake year |
| Minimum Age — Bachelor’s | At least 19 years old by 1 January of the intake year |
| Applications Per Year | One ICP Connect application only — applying to more than one leads to exclusion |
| Other Scholarships | Not permitted — you cannot hold another scholarship or grant at the same time |
| Where to Apply | Directly through the institution offering your chosen programme — not through VLIR-UOS |
| Application Deadlines | Set individually by each programme — published when the call opens |
| Results Announced | Selected candidates and waiting list contacted by email no later than mid-May |
| 2026–2027 Call | Closed |
| 2027–2028 Call | Expected to open mid-November 2026 |
| English Test Requirement | Not published centrally by VLIR-UOS — set by each institution |
| Official Website | vliruos.be |
Detail Description
VLIR-UOS is the university development cooperation arm of the Flemish Interuniversity Council in Belgium. It is the leading funding body for scholarships and for partnerships between academics in Flanders and partner institutions across Africa, Latin America and Asia, with everything it funds oriented around global sustainable development.
The ICP Connect scholarship programme exists to support that mission rather than simply to fill university places. VLIR-UOS describes its scholars as potential agents of change — people expected to return home and apply what they have learned to problems in their own country or region. That framing runs through the entire selection process, and it explains why motivation and professional intent weigh as heavily as academic results.
The programmes themselves are hosted at Flemish universities and universities of applied sciences and arts, taught fully in English, and accredited as international study programmes. Subject areas cluster around development-relevant fields: water, food, agriculture, health, marine science, statistics, governance and sustainable development.
Available Study Programmes
VLIR-UOS funds 20 English-taught programmes across three levels. The exact list available in any given cycle is confirmed when the call opens, so treat the list below as the current published set.
Professional Bachelor’s — 3 Years
- Bachelor of Hotel Management
- Bachelor of Applied Computer Science
Initial Master’s — 2 Years
- International Master of Science in Agro- and Environmental Nematology
- International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD)
- Master of Aquaculture (IMAQUA)
- Master of Epidemiology
- Master of Science in Food Technology
- Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management — also known as Oceans and Lakes
- Master of Statistics and Data Science
- Master in Sustainable Development
- Master of Transportation Sciences — Road Safety
- Master of Water Resources Engineering (WRE)
- Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems
- Master of Science in Sustainable Land Management
- Master of Science in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Advanced Master’s — 1 Year
- Master of Human Settlements
- Master of Development Evaluation and Management
- Master of Governance and Development
- Master of Globalisation and Development
- Master of Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies (CADES)
Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
| Monthly Allowance | EUR 1,400 per month for study scholarships. This single amount is defined by VLIR-UOS as covering living expenses, board and lodging, health insurance, installation costs, indirect travel costs and the tuition fee |
| Tuition Fees | Standard tuition fee for full-time enrolment, at the lowest applicable institutional rates |
| International Flights | One economy ticket to Belgium at the start and one to travel home at the end. Three-year Bachelor’s students receive one additional return ticket during their studies |
| Health Insurance | Covered within the allowance. Scholars must be able to prove they hold coverage |
| Board and Lodging | Covered within the monthly allowance |
| Installation Costs | Covered within the allowance, including general living expenses and educational supplies |
| Duration of Support | The full length of the programme — 12 months for an Advanced Master’s, 24 months for an Initial Master’s, 36 months for a Professional Bachelor’s |
| Research Scholarships | A separate research allowance of EUR 1,900 per month applies to research scholarships, with the same coverage. This is distinct from the ICP Connect study scholarship described here |
Eligible Countries
You must hold the nationality of one of the following 29 countries and be residing in one of them at the time of application. You do not have to be residing in your own country of nationality, but you must be in an eligible country.
| Region | Eligible Countries |
| Sub-Saharan Africa (17) | Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe |
| Middle East and North Africa (2) | Morocco, Palestine |
| Latin America and Caribbean (6) | Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru |
| South East Asia (4) | Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam |
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality and Residence
- Nationality — you must hold the nationality of one of the 29 eligible countries listed above
- Residence — you must be residing in one of those 29 countries at the time of application, though not necessarily your own country of nationality
Age Limits
- Bachelor’s and Initial Master’s — you cannot be older than 35 as of 1 January of the intake year
- Advanced Master’s — you cannot be older than 45 as of 1 January of the intake year
- Bachelor’s minimum age — you must be at least 19 by 1 January of the intake year
Professional Background
- Preferred sectors — preference goes to candidates employed in higher education, government or civil society, or those targeting a career in one of those sectors
- Recent graduates and private sector — newly graduated candidates, and those in the private sector with no work experience, may still be considered if they provide strong motivation and a compelling profile
Restrictions — Read These Carefully
- One application only — you may apply for one ICP Connect scholarship per year. Applying for more than one leads to exclusion
- No parallel funding — you cannot receive any other scholarship or grant to take part in this or another programme at the same time. Receiving an additional scholarship leads to exclusion
- No previous Belgian government scholarship — you may not have previously received a scholarship from the Belgian government for a study programme
- No prior Belgian enrolment — you may not have enrolled in a study programme at a Belgian higher education institution before 1 January of the intake year
- Institutional criteria — individual institutions may impose additional requirements, published under “more detailed information and application” on each programme’s own page
Application Timeline
| Stage | Date | Status |
| 2026–2027 call | Already passed | Closed |
| 2027–2028 call opens | Expected mid-November 2026 | Expected — stated by VLIR-UOS |
| Programme list and deadlines published | When the call opens | Not yet published |
| Individual programme deadlines | Set separately by each programme | Not yet published |
| Selection by programme organisers | After each programme’s deadline | Date not specified |
| Results communicated | No later than mid-May | Confirmed |
Selection Criteria
VLIR-UOS selects scholars through an objective evaluation of each application, and the weighting is unusual: academic results matter, but the potential and commitment to become an agent of change after graduation matter more. These are the published criteria.
- Motivation — your motivation and professional goals must show you are capable of transferring knowledge and skills or setting up extension activities, on themes relevant to sustainable development and to the programme itself
- Professional experience — preference goes to candidates who can show a greater chance of applying what they learn in a sustainable development context, whether in higher education, government, civil society or the private sector
- Gender balance — VLIR-UOS targets a balance between male and female scholarship recipients and strongly encourages female candidates to apply
- Regional balance — a reasonable cross-section of scholars from different countries and regions is targeted where enough qualified candidates exist
- Leave No One Behind — where candidates are equally qualified, preference goes to candidates from vulnerable groups
- No prior study in a higher income country — preference goes to candidates who have not previously studied at Bachelor’s or Master’s level in a higher income country
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm You Meet Every Eligibility Requirement
Start with the two conditions that disqualify most applicants instantly: nationality and residence in one of the 29 eligible countries, and the age limit for your study level. Then work through the restrictions — one application per year, no parallel scholarship, no previous Belgian government scholarship, and no prior enrolment at a Belgian institution. There is no point preparing documents if any of these rule you out.
Step 2: Choose One Programme — and Only One
Review the 20 programmes and pick the single one that matches your background and your intended career. Visit the website of the institution offering it and read the programme’s own entry requirements, because institutions set additional criteria beyond the VLIR-UOS rules. This is where you will find any English language test requirement, since VLIR-UOS does not publish one centrally. Remember that applying to more than one ICP programme in a year leads to exclusion.
Step 3: Prepare a Motivation That Answers the Actual Question
The selection criteria are explicit that VLIR-UOS is looking for future agents of change, not simply strong students. Your motivation should say what specific problem in your country or region you intend to work on, how this particular programme equips you for it, and what you will realistically do on return. Vague ambition reads poorly against these criteria. Concrete plans tied to your existing professional context read well.
Step 4: Wait for the Call to Open in Mid-November 2026
Nothing can be submitted before the 2027–2028 call opens. When it does, VLIR-UOS will publish the confirmed list of available programmes and each programme’s application deadline. Check vliruos.be from mid-November and note your programme’s specific deadline immediately, as deadlines vary between programmes.
Step 5: Apply Through the Institution — Not Through VLIR-UOS
This is the step applicants most often get wrong. You do not apply to VLIR-UOS. You apply through the website of the institution offering your chosen programme, and you apply for both the programme and the scholarship in that application. When submitting your programme application, make sure you clearly indicate that you are also applying for a scholarship. Missing that indication means you are considered for admission but not for funding.
Step 6: Wait for the Result by Mid-May
Programme organisers run the selection and send results to VLIR-UOS, which then contacts selected candidates and those on the waiting list by email as soon as possible, and no later than mid-May. If you have questions about your application or the selection process at any point, contact the institution directly rather than VLIR-UOS.
Also Check
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- 📌 Australia Awards Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded for Developing Countries
- 📌 Chinese Government Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded CSC Scholarship in China
- 📌 Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility 2027 | Study in Europe with Monthly Stipend
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the VLIR-UOS Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. The VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarship pays EUR 1,400 per month, and VLIR-UOS defines that allowance as covering tuition fees, living expenses, board and lodging, health insurance, installation costs and indirect travel costs. On top of that, scholars receive an economy return flight to Belgium, with three-year Bachelor’s students getting one extra round trip. Scholarships are granted only for the full duration of the programme, so there are no partial awards and no extensions.
2. Is the VLIR-UOS Scholarship open right now?
No. The official VLIR-UOS website states that the call for the 2026–2027 academic year is closed, and that the call for the 2027–2028 academic year is expected to open in mid-November 2026. The list of programmes and each programme’s deadline will be published when the call opens. Be careful with third-party websites still advertising VLIR-UOS as open — check the official page before believing any deadline.
3. Can Pakistani or Indian students apply for the VLIR-UOS Scholarship?
No. Neither Pakistan nor India is among the 29 eligible countries. The list covers 17 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Morocco and Palestine, six in Latin America and the Caribbean, and four in South East Asia — Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. You must both hold the nationality of an eligible country and be residing in one of them when you apply, so residence alone is not enough if your nationality is not on the list.
4. Is IELTS required for the VLIR-UOS Scholarship?
VLIR-UOS does not publish a central English language requirement. All programmes are taught in English, and the official page states that individual institutions may impose additional criteria beyond the VLIR-UOS rules. In practice this means the English requirement is set by the university offering your chosen programme, and you should check that programme’s own admission page. Because no requirement is published centrally, this article does not state a specific score.
5. How do I apply for the VLIR-UOS Scholarship 2027?
You do not apply to VLIR-UOS directly. Once the call opens in mid-November 2026, you apply through the website of the institution offering your chosen programme, and you apply for both the programme and the scholarship in the same application — indicating clearly that you want to be considered for a scholarship. Each programme sets its own deadline. Results are communicated by email no later than mid-May.
6. How many VLIR-UOS programmes can I apply to?
Only one per year. This is a firm rule: applying for more than one ICP Connect scholarship in the same year leads to exclusion from the selection process. You also cannot hold or receive any other scholarship or grant to take part in this or any other programme at the same time, and doing so is likewise grounds for exclusion. Choose your single programme carefully.
7. What are the age limits for the VLIR-UOS Scholarship?
For a Professional Bachelor’s or an Initial Master’s, you cannot be older than 35 as of 1 January of the intake year. For an Advanced Master’s, the limit rises to 45. Bachelor’s applicants must also be at least 19 by 1 January of the intake year. These are calculated against 1 January of the year you would start, not the date you apply.
Final Thoughts
The VLIR-UOS Scholarship is one of the most realistic fully funded routes to Europe for students from its 29 eligible countries, and the reason is arithmetic rather than generosity. A global scholarship draws applicants from everywhere; this one draws from a defined list and then deliberately spreads awards across regions.
What it asks in return is a clear sense of purpose. The selection criteria reward candidates who can explain what they will do with the degree once they are home, in a specific sector and on a specific problem. Applicants who treat the motivation letter as the main piece of work, rather than an afterthought behind their transcript, tend to do well against these criteria. With the call expected in mid-November 2026, you have roughly seven weeks to choose your single programme, read its institutional requirements and draft that motivation properly. Check vliruos.be when the call opens.
