Vocatio Foundation - Vocatio Grants

Vocatio grant

You will receive 10,000 EUR to put your vocation into practice – tax-free in Belgium. The amount will be paid in two instalments: 5,000 EUR shortly after the award ceremony and 5,000 EUR once you have submitted an approved progress report. You have up to 30 months (2.5 years) to complete the project and submit a final report. Each winner is also assigned a personal mentor – an experienced mentor who helps with networking and provides individual support. The Belgian foundation Vocatio has been awarding these grants since 1963 and awards around 20 grants each year.

Who can apply

• Age: On 31 December of the year in which you submit your application, you must be at least 18 years old and no older than 30 years. No exceptions are permitted.
• Belgian or living in Belgium: You are Belgian (including Belgians living abroad) or have been living in Belgium for at least 5 years.
• Your country has no similar grant: If there is a similar programme in your country, please apply there. French nationals, for example, should apply to the Fondation Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet.
• Field: Your field of expertise falls into one of the following six categories: medicine, natural sciences and engineering, humanities and social sciences, performing arts, visual arts or crafts.
• A real vocation, not just an idea: You have already achieved some concrete initial results, and your project strives for excellence and aims to have a positive impact on society.
• Financial need: You don’t have the money to take your project forward.
• Not for a basic degree: The scholarship cannot be used to fund either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in Belgium or abroad. Further specialisation abroad is permitted. A PhD is considered merely an additional expense, not a primary source of funding. Commercial start-ups are not eligible for funding.
• You apply as a person: Not as an organisation or a company. You may apply a maximum of three times in total.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted between September and November via the online form on the Vocatio website. The application round for 2027 runs from September to November 2026. Six expert panels will shortlist candidates in January, and a final jury will make the final decision in February and March. They will assess a written summary, a short video pitch and your oral presentation of your application materials. The winners will be announced in June at a ceremony.

How realistic are your chances?

With only around 20 grants awarded each year, spread across a wide age range and six academic disciplines, competition is fierce. What narrows down the selection is the need to demonstrate a genuine vocation backed by concrete results already achieved – not just a plan. If you can demonstrate a serious, well-documented project, a genuine financial need and a clear benefit for Belgium, you stand a real chance with a compelling video pitch and a detailed budget.