Borghgraef Master Scholarship in Bioethics at KU Leuven 2026-2027
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 14
If you’re an aspiring bioethicist seeking expansion in ethics, law, and health policy—without the full financial burden—the Borghgraef Scholarship at KU Leuven offers a distinguished grant designed to support excellent students in the Master of Bioethics programme. Named in honor of Prof. Roger Borghgraef, this scholarship rewards motivation and academic merit, helping you pursue advanced training in bioethics within one of Europe’s premier universities. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Host Institution: KU Leuven, Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law (CBMER)
Study Level: Master (Advanced / specialized Master in Bioethics)
Target Group: Students from any nationality applying to the KU Leuven Master of Bioethics
Focus: Bioethics (healthcare ethics, research ethics, public health, law & ethics, etc.)
Award Value: One-time grant of €3,500 (for the 2026-2027 cycle) to support living, study, and associated costs
Duration: One academic year (full length of the advanced Master’s programme)
Available Scholarships: One (only a single award per cycle)
Application Deadline: March 31, 2026 (for the 2026-2027 cycle)
🧭 Programme Overview (Master of Bioethics at KU Leuven)
The KU Leuven Master of Bioethics is a one-year advanced (specialized) master’s programme, coordinated by the Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law (CBMER). It is aimed at students who already hold a master’s degree (or equivalent), though exceptions may be considered depending on prior academic structure.
The curriculum emphasizes research-driven education in ethical, legal, and societal dimensions of biomedicine. Courses cover topics like clinical ethics, health policy, research ethics, genetics & ethics, law and governance, public health ethics, and related electives. A MOOC on Research Ethics is integrated into the training to strengthen theoretical grounding.
Because the programme draws a small, international and interdisciplinary cohort, students benefit from robust cross-cultural dialogues, mentorship, and close faculty interaction. Graduates often pursue doctoral work, roles on ethics committees, bioethics teaching, policy roles, or advisory positions in health institutions.
💲Scholarship Benefits
Financial support: The one-time grant of €3,500 helps alleviate living, study, and incidental costs (housing, transport, books, etc.) during the Master’s year.
Academic recognition: Because this scholarship is merit-based, being a Borghgraef scholar adds prestige and can bolster your profile for further funding or academic roles.
Focused support: The grant is specific to bioethics students, demonstrating KU Leuven’s commitment to nurturing ethical leadership in the biomedical field.
No overlap with other fellowships: To expand access, recipients cannot combine the Borghgraef Scholarship with other fellowships.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Borghgraef Scholarship, applicants must satisfy:
Admission to the Master of Bioethics programme at KU Leuven — meeting all academic and programme requirements.
Academic excellence — outstanding grades or prior academic record will be favored by the selection committee.
Strong motivation — you must submit a compelling letter of motivation explaining your interest in bioethics and why you deserve the scholarship.
Uniqueness of application — the scholarship cannot be held concurrently with other fellowships or grants.
All nationalities eligible — open to students worldwide, regardless of citizenship.
📝 Application Procedure
Here’s how to apply step by step:
Submit programme pre-registration / eligibility screening
Fill out the eligibility screening form specifically for the Master of Bioethics and the Borghgraef Scholarship.
This is done via the programme’s application portal.
Apply for the Master of Bioethics degree
Complete the full admission application to KU Leuven’s Bioethics master before the same deadline.
Submit necessary documents
Letter of motivation (during eligibility / pre-registration)
Official academic transcripts / diplomas, proving your prior degrees
Registration / application forms for both the scholarship and the Master programme
Any supplementary documents required by the Master’s application (e.g. reference letters, proof of English proficiency)
Meet the deadline
The application must be complete (scholarship + programme) by March 31, 2026 for the 2026-2027 cycle.
Selection & notification
The Selection Committee first ensures that applicants are admitted to the Master programme. Only admitted applicants are considered for the scholarship.
Applicants are assessed based on grades and the strength of the motivation letter.
Selected applicants will be notified by April–May 2026 via email.
Formal awarding of the scholarship occurs in October 2026.
💡 Additional Notes & Tips
Start early: Because you must coordinate both the Master’s application and the scholarship eligibility screening before March 31, begin preparing your documents well in advance.
Focus on motivation: The selection committee is looking not only at grades but also at how deeply you understand and are committed to bioethical issues. A well-crafted, personal motivation letter can make a difference.
Understand the curriculum: Show familiarity with the Master programme and how KU Leuven’s bioethics orientation aligns with your goals. Include references to their research, faculty, or CBMER.
Avoid overlap: Since you cannot hold concurrent fellowships, choose wisely what funding sources to pursue.
Check language / admission requirements: Usually, good command of English is needed (for non-native speakers). Also, ensure your prior degree aligns with the admission criteria.
Be conscious of costs beyond tuition: Though the grant helps, you’ll also need to budget for housing, health insurance, local transport, living expenses, visa, etc.
Look for additional funding: KU Leuven lists other possible funding sources for bioethics students (e.g. Master Mind programme, Fund Prof. Borghgraef programmes)
