VLIR-UOS Scholarship 2027-2028: Fully Funded Master’s in Belgium (ICP Connect)

Quick Overview

Feature	Details
Full name	VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarships (International Master’s Programmes)
Funded by	Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD) via the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UOS)
Coverage	Fully funded — tuition fees, travel, insurance, and living expenses (board and lodging)
Level	English-taught International Master’s (1–2 years; 12/24/36 months)
Number of awards	Full scholarships across ~20 programmes each cycle
Deadline	Programme-specific — for the 2027-2028 intake, call opens ~end of October 2026, deadlines run late November 2026 to late February 2027
Who can apply	Nationals of ~30 eligible countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America

The VLIR-UOS ICP Connect programme is Belgium’s flagship development scholarship: fully funded, English-taught Master’s degrees at leading Flemish universities — including Ghent, KU Leuven, Antwerp, Hasselt, and Brussels — for students from around 30 eligible countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The 2027-2028 call opens at the end of October 2026, with programme deadlines spread from late November 2026 to late February 2027. If you’re from an eligible country and want a genuinely fully funded European Master’s, this is one of the best-kept secrets in the sector.

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What Does It Cover?

Benefit	Details
Tuition fees	Fully covered for the complete programme
Living expenses	Board and lodging covered for the full duration (12/24/36 months)
International travel	Round-trip flights between home country and Belgium
Insurance	Health/travel insurance during the programme
Full duration only	VLIR-UOS funds the entire programme — no partial awards or extensions

The package is genuinely comprehensive: VLIR-UOS explicitly states that scholarships cover tuition fees, travel, insurance, and living expenses for the whole programme. You will not need to top up tuition out of pocket.

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Eligibility

✅ You Must:

• Be a national (and usually resident) of one of the ~30 VLIR-UOS eligible countries in Africa, Asia, or Latin America — including (typical list, verify current): Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, DR Congo, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and others in Africa; Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Palestine, Philippines, Vietnam in Asia; Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru in Latin America

• Meet the academic requirements of the specific Master’s programme (bachelor’s degree, often in a related field)

• Meet the English proficiency requirement of the programme

• Apply within the programme-specific window — each of the ~20 programmes sets its own deadline

❌ Not Eligible If:

• You are from a country not on the official eligible-country list (check vliruos.be)

• Your degree background does not match the programme’s entry requirements

• You apply after your programme’s own deadline — there is no single universal closing date

• You already hold a scholarship that covers the same costs (dual funding is not permitted)

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How to Apply: Step by Step

Step 1: Choose Your Programme

Browse the ICP Connect portfolio and pick the Master’s that fits your background. Funded programmes include (2026-2027 cohort, similar expected for 2027-2028):

• Master of Epidemiology

• Master of Statistics and Data Science

• Master of Water Resources Engineering (WRE)

• Master of Science in Food Technology

• Master of Science in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management

• Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems

• Master of Science in Sustainable Land Management

• Master of Science in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems

• International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD)

• International Master of Science in Agro- & Environmental Nematology

• Master of Aquaculture (IMAQUA)

• Master of Transportation Sciences – Road Safety

• Master of Sustainable Development

• …plus other programmes in the ~20-programme portfolio

Step 2: Note YOUR Programme’s Deadline

VLIR-UOS does not use one deadline. For the 2027-2028 cycle, the call launches end of October 2026 and programme windows run from late November 2026 to late February 2027. Check the specific dates on the VLIR-UOS website for each programme.

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

Transcripts, degree certificates, CV, motivation letter, English test (IELTS/TOEFL where required), and references. Some programmes require a research proposal or work-experience statement.

Step 4: Apply Through the Programme Portal

Applications go through each programme’s own admission/scholarship portal — the same application covers both admission and the VLIR-UOS scholarship.

Step 5: Selection and Notification

Programme organisers rank candidates; VLIR-UOS contacts selected candidates and waitlisted applicants by email no later than mid-May. The programme starts in September following selection.

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Insider Tips

1. The Deadline Is Per-Programme — Build a Tracker

A few programmes close in late November 2026; most close in mid-to-late February 2027. Decide on your programme in October, then work backwards from its specific deadline. Don’t assume a February date applies everywhere.

2. Match Your Degree to the Programme

ICP Connect programmes are disciplinary — a nutrition Master’s wants a nutrition/food-science background, not an unrelated degree. Read the entry requirements before investing time.

3. This Is a Development Scholarship — Show Development Commitment

VLIR-UOS is funded by Belgian Development Cooperation. Frame your motivation letter around how you’ll use the training to solve problems in your home country — that’s the selection committee’s core question.

4. Combine Belgium With Other European Routes

Belgium pairs well with fully funded Dutch university scholarships and Erasmus Mundus joint Master’s — both have overlapping windows. Applying to several European funders in one cycle is standard practice; just remember you can only accept one full award.

5. Verify the Eligible-Country List Annually

The ~30-country list is reviewed each cycle. Even if your country was eligible last year, confirm on vliruos.be — and if you’re not on the list, target DAAD in Germany instead, which covers far more countries.

6. Start Your English Test Now

If your programme requires IELTS/TOEFL, book the test before the portal opens in October — test slots fill up and the fee is non-refundable.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the VLIR-UOS scholarship fully funded?

Yes. ICP Connect scholarships cover tuition fees, international travel, insurance, and living expenses (board and lodging) for the full duration of the programme (12, 24, or 36 months). Partial awards are not offered.

When is the VLIR-UOS 2027-2028 deadline?

The call opens end of October 2026. Each of the ~20 programmes sets its own deadline, with most falling between late November 2026 and late February 2027. There is no single closing date.

Who can apply for ICP Connect scholarships?

Nationals of roughly 30 eligible countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America — the exact list is published by VLIR-UOS and reviewed annually. Students must also meet each programme’s academic and English requirements.

Can I apply for a partial scholarship?

No — VLIR-UOS only funds the full duration of the programme and does not offer partial awards or extensions.

Which universities host the programmes?

The Master’s are hosted at Flemish universities and universities of applied sciences — including Ghent, KU Leuven, Antwerp, Hasselt, and Brussels institutions, often in consortium.

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Timeline Table

Date	Milestone
End of October 2026	2027-2028 ICP Connect call opens; funded programme list published
Late November 2026	Earliest programme-specific deadlines (health-related programmes)
Mid-February 2027	Most programme deadlines
Late February 2027	Final programme deadlines
By mid-May 2027	Selection results announced by email
September 2027	Programme start in Belgium

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Your Action Plan

1. This month: Review the ICP Connect programme list and shortlist 2–3 that match your degree.

2. September 2026: Book your English test; contact programme coordinators with questions.

3. End of October 2026: Check the official call and confirm your programme’s exact deadline.

4. November 2026 – February 2027: Submit your application — early, not on the last day.

5. Meanwhile: Also apply to Dutch university scholarships and Erasmus Mundus to diversify.

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Belgium funds your entire Master’s — tuition, travel, insurance, and living costs — if you’re from an eligible country. Share this with someone in Africa, Asia, or Latin America planning a European Master’s.