Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships for Global South Candidates 2027 – 15 PhD Scholarships in Belgium

Overview

Ghent University offers fifteen Special Research Fund doctoral scholarships to promising researchers from eligible Global South countries. The programme utilizes a sandwich model spanning forty-eight months, allowing recipients to divide their time between Ghent University in Belgium and a partner institution in the home region of the candidate. This initiative aims to strengthen international research collaboration, support emerging researchers, and foster knowledge exchange across regions. All academic disciplines are welcome, though preference is given to proposals relevant to South-North collaboration.

Who can apply

Applicants must originate from and hold the nationality of a country included on the official Global South country list for the 2027 call. The programme is intended for candidates at the beginning of their doctoral studies who intend to obtain a PhD degree either solely from Ghent University or through a joint arrangement, while exchange students are ineligible. By the start date of 1 October 2027, applicants must still require at least thirty-six months to complete their research. Female researchers are particularly encouraged to apply, and a Ghent University supervisor may support a maximum of two candidates in the same call provided they are of different genders.

What you get

The scholarship provides funding for the twenty-four months of research conducted at Ghent University. In addition, Ghent University supplies the Ghent-based supervisor with a monthly bench fee of €310 for each month of research conducted in Belgium, along with an €8,000 travel budget to help cover eligible operational expenses and part of the travel costs for the candidate and supervisors. The remaining twenty-four months of the four-year doctoral programme must be fully funded through a scholarship or salary provided by the partner institution in the Global South.

Requirements

Each proposal must be jointly submitted by the candidate, a Ghent University supervisor, and a supervisor at a partner university or research centre in the Global South. The partner institution must provide written confirmation of full-time financial support for twenty-four months and ensure the candidate is sufficiently exempted from teaching and other duties so that additional responsibilities account for no more than ten percent of a full-time appointment. Successful candidates must begin and end their programme with research stays of three to twelve months at Ghent University, with the first stay starting between 1 October 2027 and 28 February 2028, and at least twenty-four months of locally funded research occurring between the Belgian research stays.

How to apply

Applicants must first identify and secure the support of an eligible Ghent University professor willing to supervise the research, and also obtain the backing of a PhD supervisor at a partner institution in an eligible Global South country. Candidates must confirm that the partner institution can guarantee the required co-funding arrangement. The official application form must be completed in English and submitted electronically, accompanied by the Ghent University supervisor's assessment of the candidate's research potential and evaluations concerning the ethical and biosafety context of the project.

Key dates

The deadline for submitting exception requests regarding funding or mobility arrangements is 15 January 2027. The final application deadline is 9 February 2027. Ghent University expects to announce selection results online from 12 May 2027 onwards, and unsuccessful applicants will automatically receive feedback within six weeks following the publication of the results.