Applications for the KU Leuven Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships Programme in Belgium for the 2023/24 academic session are currently open.
As one of its contributions to Global Development, every academic year KU Leuven selects exceptional scholars from institutions in the Global South. They are selected as scholarship candidates to obtain their PhD from the largest university in Belgium.
Candidates have to be assigned by the home institution and receive sufficient financial backing from that institution so as to pursue the research in an effective manner. This ensures that the candidate is embedded firmly in the home country and can, after obtaining the PhD, contribute to local capacity building.
Worth of Award
- The aim of the GM Scholarship is to give scholars the opportunity to conduct 4 years of PhD research in a ‘sandwich’ system.
- This means that a maximum of 50% of the research is financed by and takes place at KU Leuven, whereas at least 50% takes place and is financed by the home institution of the scholar, supported by a local co-promoter.
- Thus, as partners, both KU Leuven and the home institution co-finance the research. However, KU Leuven offers a supervision allowance to the local co-promotor at the home institution and to the promotor at KU Leuven.
Eligibility
To be considered eligible, candidates
- must be a citizen of one of the eligible countries.
- must not hold citizenship of the EU. The same applies to applicants with a long-term EU residence permit.
- latest Master’s degree must have been awarded no more than ten years prior to October 1, 2023 (including the ongoing calendar year).
- must have been awarded an academic grade equivalent to High Distinction or higher. Degrees obtained with a final score equivalent to second class second/lower division will not be taken into consideration.
- the research project must be of excellent academic quality, with a special focus on the development relevance of the proposal.
- project must have a clear time frame indicating how the research periods at KU Leuven and at the home institution will alternate (a maximum period of 12 months at the home institution should alternate with a maximum period of 12 months at KU Leuven).
How to Apply
- You need to provide official proof of English proficiency; these are the accepted certificates:
- IELTS: academic
- TOEFL: iBT, computer-based or paper-based. TOEFL ITP will not be accepted.
- Cambridge: CAE or CPE. FCE will not be accepted.
The following documents must be provided and uploaded: The
- candidate’s CV
- candidate’s bibliography
- local co-supervisor’s CV.
- candidate’s motivation letter, containing the original or electronic signatures of the candidate, the KU Leuven supervisor and the local co-supervisor.
- proof of financial support by the candidate’s home university via a fully funded full-time staff member position.
- evidence of the candidate’s affiliation to the home university, containing the original, hand-written signatures of the competent authorities which can demonstrate the affiliation.
- certified copy of the candidate’s contract with the home institution
- Two recommendation letters by external scholars (that is: not by the candidate’s supervisor or local co-supervisor).
Deadline: Applications for the KU Leuven Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships are ongoing.