During its meeting of 23 May 2001, the Board of Directors decided that special measures would be taken to provide postgraduate scholarships to candidates from developing countries who wish to obtain a master's degree at Ghent University.
In view of the changes in the Flemish Higher Education System the information in the call for applications has been adjusted at the Executive Committee meeting of 9 November 2006. Each year, a maximum of 10 scholarships can be awarded.
Scholarship type and duration
The master scholarships are awarded for the duration of the studies, aiming at the delivery of a Ghent University diploma after max. 2 years of study. The scholarship is in principle paid for the total duration of the studies. In case of a 2-year study programme, the 2nd year will be paid upon successful completion of the first year (minimum 60 credits)
Eligibility criteria for Degree
Applicants for master's programmes should already have obtained a bachelor degree when they submit the application.
Nationality
1. If you are a new student applying for an ICP: Master Grants country list ICP (PDF)
2. If you are a new student applying for an ICP and your country is on the VLIR-UOS country list, please apply for the VLIR-UOS scholarship instead. You cannot apply for a Master Grant.
3. If you are a student applying for an ICP, but already in your first master: Master Grants country list (PDF) Priority, however, will be given to the categories on the country list with the lowest levels of development and income.
4. If you are an applicant for another programme than the ICP's, you must come from and should be nationals of one of the developing countries on the Master Grants country list (PDF). Priority, however, will be given to the categories on the country list with the lowest levels of development and income.
Language and proficiency
The application is to be made in English. The applicant should have a very good command of the English language. Click here to see the requirements.
Applicants who already received a Master Grant in the past, are not eligible.
Eligibility check
Application files that do not comply with all eligibility criteria or submission requirements, will not be considered for selection.
Selection Committee
The Council for Development Cooperation (COS or Commissie Ontwikkelingssamenwerking) makes a selection of the applications based in part on the recommendations obtained from a working group of this Council and proceeds to formulate well-founded recommendations to the Executive Committee of Ghent University.
Selection criteria
The recommendations are based on:
1. The qualifications of the applicant for the master grant (this also implies that the chances of overly qualified candidates might increase);
2. Students who successfully follow the first year of a Master Grant programme at Ghent University may have a higher chance of selection;
3. There is no strict age limit, altough applicants below 40 years are preferred;
4. The significance of the master's programme for the student's country;
5. Validation of the knowledge in the student's country;
6. The student's nationality (see nationality);
7. The motivation of the applicant.
IMPORTANT selection criterium: Proof of relation with UGent: Demonstrate that the university of your studies, your current or future employer has a relation with Ghent University (former or current). For example: staff exchange, research projects, publications, etc.
For Ghent University it's important that for the type of grants you are applying for, the students will return to their home country upon their study and add to the UGent international network in developing countries. Therefore as a prerequisite we ask that you can demonstrate that the university of your studies, your current or your future employer has already a former or current relation with UGent. It's an asset if this is in the field of your study, but if there's already collaboration in another field, that's also good.
In view of the extremely high number of Master Grant applications we normally receive, your application will not be eligible if there's no relation at all. It's up to the applicant to add documents or letters that support this institutional link.
Funding
The scholarship consists of an allowance of €1000 per month and the yearly tuition fee with a maximum of 80€. Once you get an intstallation fee of 500€. In case of increased tuition fee for the master's programme, Ghent University will only reimburse the refundable part. Airline ticket and visa costs are carried by the student.
Deadline
New students: 21st December 2012.
To apply now, www.ugent.be.
