KU Leuven Global Minds Doctoral Scholarship 2027 in Belgium (Fully Funded)

The Global Minds Doctoral Scholarship at KU Leuven in Belgium supports talented researchers from developing countries to do a PhD with a strong development focus. It is a sandwich PhD: you split your research between KU Leuven and your home university, and you receive a KU Leuven doctoral degree.

How the sandwich PhD works

• The PhD lasts 4 years in total.
• The scholarship funds up to 24 months at KU Leuven, spread over several stays.
• Your home university employs you and funds the time you spend at home.
• You have a KU Leuven supervisor and a co-supervisor at your home university.

What the scholarship covers

• At least EUR 2,400 a month while you are in Belgium (the full net pay of a research assistant)
• Up to 6 months of preparation at EUR 1,900 a month, if needed
• Tuition fees waived
• Health, accident and liability insurance during your stays in Belgium
• 4 return economy flights

Eligible countries (from the last call)

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Vietnam

Latin America: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru

Check the official KU Leuven page for the 2027 country list, as it can change.

Who can apply

• You are a national and resident of an eligible country
• You are not an EU citizen or long-term EU resident
• You got your master's degree in February 2017 or later, with High Distinction or the equivalent (lower second-class results are not considered)
• Your home university agrees to employ and fund you for the home part of the PhD
• Your research is development-related, ideally linked to the Sustainable Development Goals
• You have not previously worked in an EEA country other than Belgium, and you are not already a KU Leuven-funded PhD student
• English: IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or paper-based (not ITP), Cambridge CAE or CPE

You can apply at most twice in total.

How to apply

1. Find a KU Leuven supervisor whose research matches yours, and agree on a research project together.
2. Find a co-supervisor at your home university and get your university's written commitment to employ you.
3. Apply for admission to a KU Leuven doctoral or predoctoral programme. Aim to be admitted by November or December 2026, because admission can take about 2.5 months.
4. Your KU Leuven supervisor submits the Global Minds scholarship application online before the deadline.
5. Results are sent by email in June 2027.

Deadline

4 February 2027, 5 p.m. GMT (scholarship application, submitted by your KU Leuven supervisor)

Tips

• Start contacting professors now. Your supervisor must submit the application, so you need them on board early.
• Make the development impact of your research clear. Explain the problem in your country and how your PhD will help solve it.
• Talk to your home university early. Their commitment to employ you is required.