ARES International Training Scholarships 2025-2026 in Belgium

Omran Aburayya
Aug 22
3 min read

If you are a young professional or student seeking to deepen your expertise in development-related fields, the ARES International Training Scholarships 2025-2026 in Belgium are now open for applications. These prestigious scholarships, offered by the Academy for Research and Higher Education Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (ARES), provide an excellent opportunity to pursue an advanced bachelor’s, master’s, or short-term continuing education program in Belgium.

Applications open on 4 August 2025 and close on 19 September 2025 (12 pm Belgian time, UTC+1) via the official GIRAF platform. Successful candidates will gain world-class academic knowledge, strengthen their professional networks, and return home as change-makers contributing to sustainable development.

🎓Scholarship Summary

Location: Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels Federation Higher Education Institutions)
Host Institution: Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (ARES)
Level: Advanced Bachelor’s, Specialized Master’s, Continuing Training Programs
Target Group: Students and young professionals from ARES partner countries
Fields of Study: Development-related disciplines (see detailed list below)
Value & Coverage: International travel, living allowance, visa-related costs, tuition fees (for advanced bachelor’s/master’s), insurance, and indirect mission expenses (for training programs)
Duration:
- Advanced Bachelor’s & Master’s: up to 12 months
- Continuing Training: 2 to 6 months
Application Deadline: 19 September 2025
Start Date: Academic year 2025-2026
Eligible to: Permanent residents of 31 ARES partner countries (see below)

💡 Scholarship Overview

The ARES International Training Scholarships aim to:

Increase academic and professional qualifications of participants.
Strengthen institutions in partner countries through knowledge transfer.
Build international and intercultural networks.
Empower graduates to become development actors in their home countries.

Scholars can pursue one specialized bachelor’s degree, ten specialized master’s programs, or six short-term continuing training courses. The structure of the programs combines academic rigor, practical applications, and networking opportunities, preparing participants to address global development challenges.

🎁 Benefits

Fully funded international round-trip travel.
Monthly subsistence allowance.
Coverage of tuition fees (for bachelor’s and master’s).
Visa application costs (for bachelor’s and master’s).
Health insurance throughout the stay.
Indirect mission expenses for continuing education programs.
Exceptional training in Belgium’s leading universities and research institutions.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

Be permanent residents and working in one of the 31 eligible partner countries (Palestinian nationals may apply regardless of residency).
Hold a degree equivalent to:
- Bachelor’s specialization: A first-cycle diploma (180 ECTS).
- Master’s specialization/continuing training: A second-cycle diploma (300 ECTS).
Have at least two years of relevant professional experience in an ARES partner country.
Apply online via the GIRAF platform (applications by email will not be considered).

🌍 Eligible Countries

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
South America & Caribbean: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru.
Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam.
Asia: Palestinian territories.

📚 Eligible Study Courses

1. Specialized Bachelor’s Degree

Business Data Analysis

2. Specialized Master’s Degrees (10 Programs)

Human Rights
Risk and Disaster Management in the Anthropocene
Integrated Health Risk Management
International and Development Economics
Microfinance
Public Health Methodology
Public Health Sciences – Analysis and Evaluation of International Health Systems & Programs
Transport and Logistics
Social Innovation Design
Nexus: Water-Energy-Food

3. Continuing Training Courses (6 Programs)

Data Science for Global Health
Digital University Pedagogy
Transitional Justice (Interdisciplinary Certificate)
Human Dimensions of Change in Sustainable Development Projects
Quality Assurance and Control of Medicines and Health Products
Open-Source Geographic Information Systems

📝 Application Procedure

Create or log into your GIRAF platform account.
Access the application form via: Applications for International Training 2025-2026 > My Tasks > Competitive Calls.
Complete the application form (it can be filled in multiple sessions).
Submit your application by the deadline (19 September 2025). After submission, your file will be viewable but not editable.
Consult the official applicant’s guide on the ARES website for detailed instructions.

Important Note: Applications sent via email, or requests for personal documents outside GIRAF are likely phishing attempts. Only use the official ARES platform.