Ghent University Special Research Fund - Doctoral Scholarship for Developing Countries 2023

These grants take the form of a so-called “sandwich” scholarship: the candidate obtains a scholarship for maximum 24 months to work within 48 months on an alternating basis on the PhD at Ghent University (‘North’) and at the university or research centre in a developing country (‘South’). Only for the periods the scholarship holder works at Ghent University the scholarship holder will receive a monthly income. The rest of the PhD research is done in the partner university, for which no funding is provided through this scholarship. For this part of the PhD research students must prove that they will be financed at their home university (e.g. full-time PhD scholarship or salary).

• Table of Content
• About Ghent University
• Special Research Fund - Doctoral Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Special Research Fund - Doctoral Scholarship
• Requirements for Special Research Fund - Doctoral Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Ghent University

Ghent University is a top 100 university and one of the major universities in Belgium. Our 11 faculties offer more than 200 courses and conduct in-depth research within a wide range of scientific domains. Ghent University Global Campus is also the first European university in Songdo, South Korea.

Special Research Fund - Doctoral Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Special Research Fund - Doctoral Scholarship

• PhD scholarship at Ghent University  (in total 24 months).

• The Ghent University promoter receives a bench fee of € 310/per month of research in Ghent + € 8000 travel budget to cover (part of) the operational costs, as well as part of the travelling costs of the student and both the Ghent University and the local promoter.

Requirements for Special Research Fund - Doctoral Scholarship Qualification

• Candidates need to come from – and have the nationality of – a developing country (see country list)
• The proposals must be jointly submitted by a candidate, a supervisor (promoter) at Ghent University and a supervisor at the partner university (South)
• No restrictions are imposed on the field of research, nevertheless  preference will be given to topics that are relevant for development
• Only degree students (students who intend to obtain a (joint ) PhD degree at Ghent University) are welcome to apply. Exchange students cannot apply for this scholarship
• Ghent university wants to encourage more female researchers to apply for this scholarship. That is why a Ghent University supervisor can support maximum 2 candidates per call on condition they are of a different gender.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Application forms must be submitted (in English) electronically via e-mail to [email protected]. 
• Alongside the application form, the Ghent University supervisor must also submit the following 2 documents:
  1. An advice on the candidate, stating the supervisors opinion on the capability of the candidate as a future researcher.
  2. An advice on the ethical and biosafety context of the proposed research project

For more details, visit Ghent University website.