Are you an experienced professional from a developing country looking to specialise in Belgium and bring that expertise home? The ARES International Training Scholarships (Bourses "Formations Internationales") 2027-2028 fund advanced master's and training programmes in French-speaking Belgium. Applications are open, with a deadline of 18 September 2026. Youth Works Hub has set out the programmes, funding, eligible countries and how to apply below.
About the Scholarships
The scholarships are funded by ARES (Académie de recherche et d'enseignement supérieur), the higher-education academy of Belgium's French-speaking community (Wallonia-Brussels Federation), through its development cooperation budget. The aim is to give experienced professionals from developing partner countries specialised training in Belgium, with the knowledge then transferred back to their home country. Teaching is mainly in French (a few master's programmes are in English), so a good level of French is required for the French-language programmes.
The Programmes (10 across Three Levels)
🎓 Advanced Bachelor (Bachelier de spécialisation, up to 12 months, 1 programme): Digital Integrated Supply Chain
🎓 Specialised Master's (Masters de spécialisation, up to 12 months, 8 programmes): Human Rights; Integrated Management of Health Risks; International and Development Economics (in English); Microfinance; Public Health Sciences; Food Chain Safety Management; Preventive Conservation and Collections Management; Risk and Disaster Management in the Anthropocene
📜 Continuing Education (Formation continue, up to 6 months, 1 programme): Certificate in Cybersecurity Operations and Risk Governance
What's Covered
💶 A monthly living allowance for the duration of the programme (the exact amount is set by the official regulations)
✈️ One economy return flight per academic year
🎓 Full tuition and registration fees (for bachelor/master programmes)
🛡️ Health and liability insurance, paid directly by ARES
🛂 Visa costs above €200 reimbursed (bachelor/master), and inter-institutional travel up to €250
For the continuing-education programme, a lump-sum living allowance plus a fixed €200 travel contribution and insurance are provided.
How Many Scholarships
🏆 There are 103 scholarships for 2027-2028: 10 for the advanced bachelor, 81 for the specialised master's, and 12 for continuing education.
Eligible Countries
🌍 The scholarships are open only to nationals of specific developing partner countries who reside and work in their country at the time of application. These include, across Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and the Middle East: South Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Uganda, DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Vietnam and the Palestinian Territories.
🎓 Interested in an EU-based master's opportunity? Take a look at the MARIHE Erasmus Mundus Master in 🇪🇺 Europe → https://youthworkshub.org/22013
Eligibility and Documents
🎓 A master's degree (or equivalent) for master's programmes, or a bachelor's for the advanced bachelor; your qualifying diploma must have been obtained within the last 20 years (with a one-year extension per birth/adoption)
💼 At least 2 years of relevant professional experience after your most recent diploma
📄 Required documents include two recommendation letters, certified copies of your diploma(s) and transcripts, proof of the last five years of employment, proof of nationality and residence, an employer's reintegration commitment, and, for some programmes, a pre-project
🌿 Prefer a development-focused scholarship in Germany? See the DAAD-EPOS scholarship in 🇩🇪 Germany for the MSc Environmental Governance → https://youthworkshub.org/21039
How to Apply
📝 Apply through the GIRAF platform: create or verify your GIRAF account (by 4 September 2026, 16:00 Belgium time), go to "Appels concurrentiels", start the "Candidature – Formation internationale 2027-2028", complete it across sessions, and submit (submission is final). The application deadline is 18 September 2026, 12:00 noon (Belgium time).
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Who can apply? Nationals of the specific developing partner countries listed, resident and working there.
❓ Do I need French? Yes, for the French-language programmes; a few master's are in English.
❓ How recent must my diploma be? Within the last 20 years, and you need at least 2 years of relevant experience.
❓ What are the two key dates? Create your GIRAF account by 4 September 2026 (16:00) and submit by 18 September 2026 (12:00 noon).
Deadline
⏳ 18 September 2026, 12:00 noon (Belgium time). Account creation closes earlier, on 4 September 2026, 16:00.
Links
🔗 Apply (GIRAF platform): https://form.ares-ac.be/formations_internationales_2027_2028
🔗 ARES scholarships (Development cooperation): https://www.ares-ac.be
More funded scholarships like this are gathered, in plain language, on Youth Works Hub.
⚠️ Important Notice
Youth Works Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the listed projects. This listing is shared for information only, based on details from the source. Deadlines, eligible countries, dates, and other details may change or be withdrawn at any time, and all funding, reimbursements, and allowances are set by the project coordinator or National Agency. Applications go directly to the coordinator or hosting organisation through the official link. Listings may include third-party links (ESC Portal, infopacks, forms) that Youth Works Hub does not control. Always verify the details on the official project page before applying.
