Ghent University - Special Research Fund - Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from Developing Countries

Doctoral grants from the Global South (DOS) at Ghent University

You will receive about 2,850 EUR per month from Ghent University (Belgium) for 24 months of doctoral research in Ghent. This is a ‘sandwich’ scholarship: you will spend half of your PhD period (24 months) in Ghent and the other half (24 months) at a partner university in your home region in the Global South. Ghent will only pay you for the time you spend working in Ghent. The partner university must cover the full cost of the 24 months in the Global South. You will complete the Ghent part of the programme in at least two stays of between 3 and 12 months each, one at the start and one at the end. Your supervisor in Ghent will also receive a laboratory allowance (a budget for laboratory and material costs) of 310 EUR per month, as well as a travel budget of 8,000 EUR. Ghent awards 15 of these scholarships each year. The scholarship runs for a total of 48 months and cannot be extended.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a national of one of the listed countries of the Global South. The list includes the least developed countries, low-income countries and lower-middle-income countries, as well as a number of other countries such as Algeria, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, South Africa, Ukraine, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
• Degree aim: You wish to pursue a PhD at Ghent University, either as part of an independent PhD programme at Ghent University or as part of a joint PhD programme with your partner university. Exchange students are not eligible to apply.
• Start of your PhD: You are at the start of your PhD. As of 1 October 2027, you still need at least 36 months of research time to complete your PhD.
• Ghent supervisor: A professor at Ghent University must agree to supervise you and invite you to join the programme. You cannot apply without this consent.
• Home supervisor: A supervisor at your partner university in the Global South must also be involved.
• Co-funding: Your partner university must confirm in writing that it will pay you a full-time PhD scholarship or a salary for a period of 24 months whilst you are in the South. During this period, you may spend no more than 10% of your working hours on teaching or other duties.
• Field of study: Open to all fields. Topics relevant to the South-North context are preferred.
• Not eligible: You are already a scholarship holder on the PhD programme at Ghent University.

How to apply

You, your Ghent supervisor and your home-country supervisor submit one joint application by email to Ghent University's Special Research Fund by 9 February 2027, 23:59 Belgian time. If you need an exception to the fixed travel schedule, request it by 15 January 2027. Ghent's Research Council evaluates the proposals and publishes results online from May 2027.

How realistic are your chances?

Ghent awards 15 scholarships each year, with a success rate of around 20 to 25%.