Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships in Belgium – Sandwich Scholarships 2024

Promising PhD candidates from a limited number of Southern nations are awarded 24-month Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships, with the goal of completing half of their study at the university in the “North” and the other half in the “South.”

Host Country	Belgium
Host Institute	Ghent University
Level	PhD
Eligible Nationality	Developing countries
Fellowship Type	Fully Funded
Benefits	Monthly stipend, Tuition Fee Waiver
Duration	24 months (at Ghent University)
Closing Date	20 February 2024 at 23:59 (Belgian time).

Ghent University offers PhD “sandwich” scholarships, funded in part by its “Special Research Fund” (BOF), to deserving PhD candidates from developing nations who would like to complete half of their studies at Ghent University (the “North”) and the other half at a university in a developing nation (the “South”).

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Scholarship, duration & type of funding

These funds come in the form of so-called “sandwich” scholarships, whereby the candidate receives a 24-month scholarship from Ghent University to work toward a PhD there over the course of 48 months. The 24-month fellowship must be taken up by the candidate at Ghent University during a minimum of two consecutive visits: one at the beginning and one at the conclusion of the PhD. The scholarship bearer will only get a monthly payment from Ghent University during the times they are employed there. The remaining twenty-four months of the PhD study will be completed at the Southern partner university; this research will not be funded by this grant.

Benefits of Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships

• For the portion of the PhD completed at Ghent University, the Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships will pay about € 2,470 per month.
• The supervisor at Ghent University is paid a bench fee of € 310 per month in addition to a travel budget of € 8000, which helps to partially offset the student’s, the supervisor at Ghent University’s, and the local supervisor’s operating expenses.

Eligible Countries

The following countries are eligible to apply for the Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships:

Criteria for Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships

To apply for the Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships, candidates have to fulfill the following criteria:

• The candidate must be a citizen of one of the designated developing nations (see list of nations);
• A candidate, a supervisor (promoter) at Ghent University, and a supervisor at the partner university (South) must submit the proposals together;
• Although there are no limitations on the study field, topics that are important for development will be prioritized;
• Only degree students—those enrolled in Ghent University with the goal of earning a (joint) PhD—may apply. Exchange students are not eligible to apply for this grant.
• Students just starting their PhD are the target audience for this program. PhD candidates are permitted to have finished preparatory research to a limited level. The PhD must still require a minimum of 36 months of research at the time the fellowship begins on January 10, 2024;
• Students must begin and conclude with a three to twelve-month research stay at the University of Gent.
• It is necessary for the first research stay at Ghent University to begin between October 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025.
• The time between the first and last research stay at Ghent University must be allocated for a minimum of 24 months of locally sponsored research in the South.
• More female researchers are encouraged to apply for this scholarship by Ghent University. Because of this, a supervisor from Ghent University may endorse up to two candidates every call, provided that they are of different genders.

Documents/Material Required to Apply

The following documents are required to apply for Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships:

• Application Form: This is often given by the university and asks for academic and personal data.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Contains information about your training, professional history, honors, publications, presentations, and other achievements.
• Research Proposal: Describe your planned study, including its significance, goals, methods, etc.
• Diplomas and Transcripts: Records of your prior academic awards.
• Results of Language Proficiency Tests: If you are not a natural English speaker, take the IELTS, TOEFL, or an equivalent test.
• Two or three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources who can attest to your skills and potential are typically required.
• Your motivation letter or personal statement should include an explanation of your goals, why you are interested in the program, and how the scholarship will help you get there.

Deadline for Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships

Candidates from underdeveloped nations must apply for doctorate funds by February 20, 2024, at 23:59 (Belgian time). Applications that are incomplete or sent after the deadline will be dismissed without further consideration.

Application Procedure

To apply for Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships electronic application forms must be sent to BOFapplication@ugent.be (in English).

The Ghent University supervisor is required to submit the following two documents in addition to the application form:

• A recommendation for the candidate that includes the supervisor’s assessment of the applicant’s potential as a future researcher.
• An opinion on the proposed research project’s ethical and biosafety framework.

For more information and to apply for Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships, visit the official website.

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