KU Leuven Germaine Cox Scholarship 2026

If you are an outstanding law graduate aiming to join KU Leuven’s Advanced LL.M. programme in 2026, the Germaine Cox Scholarship might be just what you need. Each year, KU Leuven’s Faculty of Law & Criminology offers partial tuition fee waivers to talented students who demonstrate financial need. These scholarships honor Germaine Cox, the first woman to enroll and graduate from the Law Faculty at KU Leuven — a trailblazer who paved the way for generations of students to pursue law fearlessly.

Below is your full guide to the Germaine Cox Scholarship 2026 — from award details to eligibility, application process, selection and tips.

🎓 Scholarship Summary

• Location: Leuven, Belgium

• Faculty: KU Leuven, Faculty of Law & Criminology

• Level: Advanced Master / LL.M. (postgraduate)

• Target group: Exceptional law graduates (from eligible countries) who can also demonstrate financial need

• Field(s) of study: Law / Legal studies (LL.M. advanced)

• Coverage: Partial tuition fee waiver

• Tuition after waiver: Approximately €5,613.10 for the 2026-2027 year (for successful recipients)

• Full tuition without waiver: €9,493.90

• Duration: 1 academic year

• Maximum number of awards: Up to 15 recipients

• Application deadline: 15 May 2026, 23:55 (local time)

• Recommended early deadline: Apply by 1 April 2026 (for Round 1 consideration)

• Start date of programme: Likely Fall 2026 (as per KU Leuven’s LL.M. timeline)

  
  

🧭 What is the Germaine Cox Scholarship?

This scholarship is a partial tuition fee waiver provided by the Faculty of Law & Criminology at KU Leuven. Its purpose is to support academically excellent students from underrepresented or financially constrained backgrounds, allowing them to pursue the LL.M. programme with reduced financial burden.

In recent years, KU Leuven has awarded up to 15 of these waivers each year.

Recipients see their tuition reduced from approximately €9,493.90 down to €5,613.10 for the academic year 2026–2027. (This value is based on the official 2026 figure given by KU Leuven.)

The waiver is valid only for the year for which it is awarded — it cannot be transferred or extended to another year or programme.

While the scholarship itself is financial in nature, it is integrated with the Advanced LL.M. programme at KU Leuven. The programme is research-oriented, specialized, and tailored to high achievers in the field of law. Applicants must first apply (and be admitted) to the LL.M. programme, and then apply for the Germaine Cox waiver as a supplementary step.

The LL.M. generally involves advanced courses, seminars, research projects or theses, and in some cases participation in workshops, legal clinics, moot courts, or international network events (depending on specialization). While the scholarship doesn’t impose additional curriculum obligations, recipients must maintain strong academic performance.

The selection of recipients is rolling, in two rounds:

• Round 1: for submissions between 8 October 2025 and 1 April 2026 — decisions notified between April and mid-May.

• Round 2: for submissions between 1 April and 15 May 2026 — decisions notified between June and 1 July.

If a Round 1 recipient declines, the spot may be awarded to highest ranked candidate from Round 2.

All recipients must formally accept by deadlines (1 June for Round 1, 3 working days after notification for Round 2) or risk losing the award.

🎁 Benefits

• Tuition fee waiver: Reduces the tuition from €9,493.90 to approximately €5,613.10 for the 2026–2027 academic year (i.e. waiver of ~€3,880.80)

• No coverage for living expenses, travel, insurance, or other costs: The scholarship is strictly for tuition reduction

• One-year only: The waiver is valid only for the year for which it is awarded, and cannot be transferred or renewed for subsequent years or other programmes

• Inclusive policy: The waiver is open to qualified applicants from many countries, enabling greater diversity in the LL.M. cohort

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Germaine Cox Scholarship, applicants must satisfy both academic / programme eligibility and financial need criteria.

1). Academic / Programme Eligibility

1. Admission application

   • Applicants must first apply for the Advanced LL.M. (Master of Laws) programme at KU Leuven (Leuven).

   • Only offer-holders (i.e. admitted students) are eligible to receive the waiver.

2. Law degree qualification

   • Applicants must hold a law degree that qualifies them to practice law in their jurisdiction (i.e. a degree that allows taking the bar exam or equivalent).

3. Academic excellence

   • Strong academic record, high GPA, achievements in undergraduate or prior studies

   • University reputation and quality may also be considered (e.g. indicators like QS / THE when assessing the institution)

4. English language proficiency

   • Minimum IELTS 7

   • Or TOEFL minimum 100

   • Or CAE / C1 level in English

5. Letters and motivation

   • A letter of motivation explaining why the applicant wants to join the LL.M. at KU Leuven, and how they plan to use it in their legal career

   • Three letters of reference, preferably at least two from law professors or persons who can speak to legal academic ability

2). Financial Need Criteria

• Applicants must demonstrate documented evidence of their (and if applicable, parent(s), caretaker(s), or spouse’s) income / financial situation

  • Documents may include bank statements, salary slips, income declarations, etc.

  • These documents should ideally be translated into English, Dutch, or French (though official translation is not strictly required, but will be verified)

• The selection emphasizes candidates with real financial need — even among academically excellent applicants

3). Nationality / Geographic Eligibility

The Germaine Cox Scholarship is open to applicants from a broad list of countries, largely aligned with the OECD-DAC list of ODA recipients. Some eligible regions include:

• Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, etc.

• Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

• Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, etc.

• South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, etc.

• Oceania: Some small island states (Fiji, Samoa, etc.)

• Europe: Some non-EU / non-wealthy European countries such as Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine

If your country is not explicitly on that list, it is wise to check KU Leuven’s official scholarship / LL.M. pages or contact the admissions office directly.

📝 Application Procedure

1. Apply for the Advanced LL.M. programme (Master of Laws) at KU Leuven

   • Submit your full master’s application by KU Leuven’s deadline for LL.M. programmes

   • Ensure you provide all academic transcripts, language test results, etc.

2. Apply for the Germaine Cox Scholarship (tuition waiver)

   • Complete the Germaine Cox Scholarship registration form (separate from the LL.M. application)

   • Submit it by the scholarship deadline (15 May 2026, 23:55)

   • It is highly recommended to apply by 1 April 2026 (for Round 1 consideration)

3. Wait for the decision

   • Round 1 decisions: April – 15 May 2026

   • Round 2 decisions: June – 1 July 2026

   • Successful candidates must accept the offer by stipulated deadlines (1 June for Round 1; 3 working days after notification for Round 2)

🗂️ Documents to Submit

• All standard LL.M. admission documents (academic transcripts, diploma(s), language test proof, CV, statement of purpose, etc.)

• Germaine Cox Scholarship registration form (financial / income questions)

• Official documents of financial status (for yourself, and if relevant, for parents, caretakers or spouse)

  • Bank statements, pay slips, income tax forms, or equivalent

  • Documents should ideally be translated into English, Dutch or French (though not strictly required)

• Motivation letter (for scholarship) specifically explaining the need for financial assistance in addition to academic motives

• Three letters of recommendation, at least two preferably from law professors or those who can assess legal / academic potential

Make sure both applications (LL.M. + scholarship) are fully submitted by 15 May 2026 to be valid.

🔍 Selection Criteria & Process

Evaluation Criteria

• Academic excellence: Strong grades, institutional reputation, consistency, scholarly awards

• Quality of the motivation letter: Clarity of purpose, relevance to the programme, legal career vision

• Letters of reference: Insightful, strong endorsements, relevance to legal academia

• Financial need: Clear, documented, credible demonstration of limited financial resources

• Nationality / diversity: Underrepresented regions may receive special consideration

Selection Procedure

• The LL.M. Admissions Committee reviews scholarship applications among admitted students

• Applicants are ranked, and up to 15 waivers are awarded annually

• Selection is done in two rounds (see earlier)

• Recipients are notified in rolling fashion: Round 1 results by mid-May; Round 2 by early July

• If a Round 1 award is declined, it may be reallocated to the next best candidate from Round 2

💡 Tips & Additional Notes

• Apply early (by 1 April) to maximize your chance in Round 1

• Prepare thorough financial documents even well ahead — translation and verifications sometimes take time

• Enlist strong referees — ensure they know your legal/curricular ambitions and can highlight both academic and personal strengths

• Write a compelling motivation letter that not only shows your excellence but also your need and how the LL.M. fits your future

• Follow up with the LL.M. admissions office for any clarifications about eligibility or documentation

• Keep track of KU Leuven’s official LL.M. / scholarship pages, as minor changes may occur

🔗 Official Scholarship Webpage

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