Wallonie-Bruxelles International - Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI.World) Excellence Scholarship- Long term

WBI.World Excellence Scholarship (long-term)

You will receive a tax-free 2,120 EUR per month to carry out doctoral or postdoctoral research at a university abroad. A PhD scholarship lasts for at least 1 years and can be extended up to three times. A postdoctoral scholarship lasts for at least 1 years and can be extended once. In addition to the monthly payment, Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI) will cover your return flights in economy class, up to 835 EUR towards enrolment or tuition fees (upon application), and travel assistance insurance to cover medical costs and repatriation. For stays in North America, Canada or Switzerland, additional health insurance is also provided. The funding is a mobility grant, not a salary. WBI is the international relations office of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium.

Who can apply

• Your degree: To be eligible for a PhD scholarship, you must hold a Master’s degree worth 120 ECTS. To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, you must already have a PhD.
• Your university: You hold a degree from a higher education institution run or funded by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. If you studied abroad, you may still apply provided you currently have an active connection with such an institution.
• Where you go: You are carrying out research at a university abroad, wherever in the world that may be. You must not be in Belgium.
• Field of study: These fields are preferred: transport and logistics, mechanical engineering, life sciences, agri-industry, aeronautics and space, environmental technologies. Other fields are also considered, but then you must explain how your project benefits Wallonia.
• Timing (postdoctoral only): No more than 5 years may have elapsed between the date of your PhD and the date of your application. This time limit is extended for parents: 15 months per birth for the mother, and 12 months for fathers and adoptive or foster parents.
• Attempts: You may apply a maximum of three times.

How to apply

Please email your complete application as a single PDF file to the WBI Scholarships Department. The application deadline is 1 February (UTC/GMT +1) of the year before you wish to go abroad, and you must depart by 1 October at the latest. A panel comprising experts in research funding and regional specialists will assess the applications, and the WBI will announce the results in early June.

You can find more scholarships in our guide Scholarships in Belgium.