F.R.S.-FNRS - Special Doctoral Grant

Special Doctoral Grant (BSD) of the F.R.S.-FNRS

You will receive a full-time scholarship of one year, enabling you to take a one-year leave of absence from your teaching duties to complete your PhD. The amount of the scholarship is not fixed: it corresponds to your last net salary as a teacher. For civil servants in permanent posts, it is capped at one full-time salary. The scholarship is exempt from income tax, but you will remain covered by the social security scheme for employees. It will be paid monthly into your bank account and also includes holiday pay and insurance against accidents at work. With authorisation, you may undertake research stays abroad. The funding comes from the F.R.S.-FNRS, the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research in the French-speaking Community. During your scholarship year, you will take unpaid special leave from your school and are guaranteed that you can return to your job afterwards.

Who can apply

• Your job: You teach at a secondary school and have a permanent post, which allows you to take a year’s unpaid leave with a guarantee of reinstatement.
• Your degree: You hold a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification from the French-speaking Community of Belgium that entitles you to undertake doctoral studies.
• Where you study: You are undertaking a PhD at a university in the French-speaking Community of Belgium. Your supervisor must hold a permanent academic post there.
• How far along you are: Your research project is at such an advanced stage that it can be completed within one full-time year.
• Age: You are 45 years old or younger at the start of the grant.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Previous grants: You have never received a BSD and have applied no more than twice so far.

How to apply

First email the FNRS with your CV and your teaching appointment letter to get access to the online application form. Then submit the full application online. Your supervisor and your university rector must also confirm it. For the 2026 call, your own deadline was 17 February at 2 p.m. Brussels time. A thesis advisory committee reviews the applications, and the FNRS board decides on awards in June. Grants start on 1 October.

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