Fully Funded ARES Scholarship 2026 in Belgium

Applications for the ARES Scholarship 2026-2027 are now available. It is a full free program for students from developing countries. It pays tuition fees, international travel, living money of €1,150 each month, arrival allowance, return fees of €700, and health insurance. You study master or training course for 1 year or 4 to 6 months at schools in Wallonia-Brussels in Belgium. You must be under 40 years old for master or 45 for training. You need relevant work experience and good French or English. Apply through your country’s office by early 2026 (next call opens January 8 2026). It helps about 50 students a year in subjects like human rights, environment, health, and more.

Details About ARES Scholarship

Host Country	Belgium
Host Institution	Wallonia-Brussels schools
Degree Level	Master / Training
Eligibility	Developing countries, under 40-45
Benefits	Fully Funded
Number of Awards	About 50 every year
Duration	1 year master or 4-6 months training
Application Fee	Free
Deadline	Around April-May 2026
Official Website	www.ares-ac.be

ARES Scholarship Overview 2026-2027

The ARES Scholarship comes from the Academy of Research and Higher Education in Belgium. It is for people from poor countries who want to study master or training in Wallonia-Brussels. You go to good schools like University of Liege or UCLouvain. Subjects are useful like development, human rights, water management, disaster risk, microfinance, public health, and transport. Belgium is small but nice with chocolate, waffles, and historic cities. The program wants to help students grow and take knowledge home to make their country better. You learn in French or English and live in safe place.

Also See: KU Leuven Scholarship 2026 Science@Leuven

Scholarship Benefits (What You Actually Get)

• Full tuition fees paid
• International flight ticket to and from Belgium
• Living money of €1,150 every month for food and needs
• Arrival allowance for first costs
• Return fees of €700 when you finish
• Health insurance during stay
• For master 1 year or training 4 to 6 months

You get help with room if needed.

Eligibility Criteria for 2026 Intake

You can apply if you meet these rules.

• You are from one of these countries: Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cuba, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Peru, Philippines, DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Vietnam. This keeps it for developing nations.
• You should be living and working in your own country when you apply.
• Your age must be:
  • Below 40 years for master’s or degree programs
  • Below 45 years for short training courses
• You need a university degree that matches the program. Some training courses may ask for different qualifications.
• You must have work experience:
  • At least 2 years after finishing your studies, or
  • 3 years if you studied in a developed country after graduation
• You should know English or French, depending on the course language. If the course is not in French, you must be ready to learn some French for daily life in Belgium.
• You can apply for only one course at a time.

ARES Scholarship 2026 Application Deadline

The next call opens January 8 2026. The last date is usually April or May 2026.

Also See: Oxford University Scholarships 2026

Required Documents

• Online GIRAF form
• Passport copy
• Degree and marks copies (translated)
• Work experience proof
• Motivation letter
• Two recommendation letters
• Health paper
• Language test score if needed

All papers in French or English.

How to Apply for ARES Scholarship

1. Create an account on the GIRAF website.
2. ARES will check your account. This can take a few hours or a few days.
3. After approval, you will get an email to set your password.
4. If you already made an account last year, you can use the same one again.
5. Log in and go to the Competitive Calls section.
6. Click once only on “International Training Application 2025–2026.”
7. You can fill the form slowly and save it using “Save and edit later.”
8. When everything is ready, click “Submit my application.” After this, you cannot change anything.

Tips to Increase Your Chances of Acceptance

• Start GIRAF account now to test it.
• Write motivation about how study helps your country.
• Get good recommendation from boss or teacher.
• Show your work experience clearly.
• Choose program that fits your job.
• Send before deadline to avoid rush.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Website

For full details and deadline, visit the official ARES Scholarship website.