VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarships 2027/2028 – Fully Funded Study in Belgium

Last reviewed: September 28, 2026, against the official scholarship sources listed below.

Current status: The ICP Connect call for 2026–2027 is closed. VLIR-UOS says the call for the 2027–2028 academic year is expected to open in mid-November 2026, when the list of available programmes and each programme’s deadline will be published. In the 2026–2027 call, deadlines ranged from late November 2025 to late February 2026, so it is worth preparing your documents now.

VLIR-UOS offers fully funded ICP Connect scholarships that enable talented students from selected countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to study selected bachelor’s, initial master’s and advanced master’s programmes at universities and university colleges in Flanders, Belgium.

These scholarships are specifically designed to support students who will use their education to contribute to the sustainable development of their home countries. The funding is comprehensive and removes the major financial barriers to studying in Europe.

What the VLIR-UOS Scholarship Covers

Tuition fees for the full duration of the programme
A monthly living allowance (published guidance for recent calls put this at around €1,400)
Round-trip economy airfare
Health insurance and installation costs

The scholarship is awarded for the standard length of the study programme, which is typically 12, 24 or 36 months depending on the level. Confirm current amounts on the VLIR-UOS website.

Eligibility Criteria

According to VLIR-UOS, candidates generally need to meet these conditions:

Hold the nationality of one of the 29 eligible countries and live in one of them when applying (nationality and residence do not have to be the same country)
Be no older than 35 on 1 January of the intake year for a bachelor’s or initial master’s programme, or no older than 45 for an advanced master’s. Bachelor’s candidates must also be at least 19
Have the academic background and English proficiency required by the programme
Show motivation to contribute to sustainable development in their home country

Preference is often given to candidates working in higher education, government or civil society. Guidance for recent calls also indicated that you may apply to only one ICP Connect programme per year and should not have previously received a Belgian government scholarship.

The eligible countries in the 2026–2027 call were Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Palestine, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The list for 2027–2028 will be confirmed when the new call opens.

How to Apply

Wait for the new call and check the list of eligible ICP Connect programmes on the official VLIR-UOS website.
Read the admission requirements of the programme and university you are interested in.
Apply through the university’s own application system. In most cases the scholarship application is part of the programme application, and you must clearly indicate that you want to be considered for the VLIR-UOS scholarship.
Provide all required documents, such as academic transcripts, a motivation letter, a CV, proof of English proficiency and recommendation letters.
Submit before the programme’s own deadline. Each programme sets its own calendar.

Questions about an application should be sent to the university that runs the programme.

Tips for a Strong Application

Clearly explain how the programme relates to development challenges in your home country.
Highlight any relevant professional or voluntary experience.
Write a focused and genuine motivation letter.
Make sure all documents are complete and submitted before the deadline.

Official website: https://www.vliruos.be/

Disclaimer: Always verify the current list of eligible countries, programmes, age limits and application deadlines on the official VLIR-UOS website, as these details can change from year to year.