Attention future global change-makers! One of Europe’s most transformative scholarships is coming back—and it could be your ticket to a world-class education in Belgium. The ICP Connect Scholarship 2026, funded by VLIR-UOS, will reopen for applications at the end of October 2025, offering fully funded master’s studies for students from 30 developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Why This Scholarship Matters?
This isn’t just another study abroad grant—it’s a gateway to becoming an agent of change. The ICP Connect Scholarship is designed for students committed to sustainable development who will use their new skills and knowledge to drive progress back home.
Scholars are placed in English-taught international programmes at prestigious Flemish universities and universities of applied sciences and arts. The programmes blend academic excellence with a focus on solving real-world problems.
What You Get – The Full Funding Package
Selected students receive:
- Full tuition fee coverage
- Round-trip international airfare
- Comprehensive insurance
- Monthly living allowance for housing, meals, and personal expenses
- Funding for the entire programme duration (1, 2, or 3 years depending on the course)
No partial funding or extensions are offered—this is an all-in, full-duration scholarship.
Who Can Apply? Key Eligibility
Before you get excited, make sure you meet the core requirements:
- Nationality & Residence: Must be from—and currently living in—one of the 30 eligible countries in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.
- Age Limit:
- Under 35 for bachelor or initial master’s programmes
- Under 45 for advanced master’s programmes
- At least 19 for bachelor applicants (by Jan 1 of intake year)
- Professional Background: Preference for those working in higher education, government, or civil society—though exceptional fresh graduates may also apply.
- No Prior Belgian Study or Scholarship: You cannot have studied in Belgium or held a Belgian government scholarship before.
- One Application Rule: Only one ICP Connect scholarship application per year is allowed.
What Makes a Strong Candidate?
- Clear Motivation: Demonstrate how your studies will lead to positive change in your country.
- Relevant Experience: Show links between your academic/professional background and your chosen programme.
- Diversity & Inclusion: Female candidates and those from underrepresented regions are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Social Impact Focus: Preference for applicants from vulnerable backgrounds who can amplify the scholarship’s development goals.
Application Dates for Your Calendar
The ICP Connect Scholarship 2026 will officially open for applications at the end of October 2025.
