VLIRUOS Scholarship 2027–2028 for Africans: Programmes, Deadlines, Eligibility and How to Apply

The VLIRUOS scholarship 2027–2028 round, officially called the ICP Connect call, is now open. It offers full scholarships to study one of 12 English-taught programmes at Flemish universities and university colleges in Belgium, starting in September 2027. Several programmes are already accepting applications, and the first deadline is 30 November 2026.

This guide explains who can apply, which programmes are on offer, the deadlines, and how the two-part application (admission plus scholarship) works. All facts come from the official VLIRUOS and university pages, checked on 4 November 2026.

What the VLIRUOS scholarship 2027–2028 is

VLIRUOS funds partnerships between Flemish higher education institutions and partners in the Global South. Through ICP Connect, it pays for students from selected countries to take programmes that focus on sustainable development, such as food systems, aquaculture, land management, road safety and development studies.

VLIRUOS sees its scholars as future “agents of change”. In simple terms, they want people who will take what they learn back to their country or region and use it to improve things there. Your motivation counts as much as your grades.

Who can apply: eligibility in plain English

You can apply if you meet all of these conditions:

• Nationality and residence: you hold the nationality of an eligible country and you live in an eligible country when you apply. They do not have to be the same country. For example, a Kenyan living in Tanzania qualifies.
• Age: for a bachelor’s or initial master’s, you must not be older than 35 on 1 January 2027. For an advanced master’s, the limit is 45. Bachelor’s applicants must be at least 19 on 1 January 2027.
• One application only: you can apply for only one ICP Connect scholarship per year. The University of Antwerp states that if you apply to more than one ICP programme in Flanders, all your applications are rejected.
• No double funding: you cannot hold another scholarship for this or any other programme at the same time.
• No earlier Belgian funding: you must not have received a Belgian government scholarship for a study programme before, and you must not have enrolled at a Belgian higher education institution before 1 January 2027.

Preference goes to people working in higher education, government or civil society, or planning a career there. Recent graduates and private-sector workers can still be selected if their motivation and profile are strong. Individual universities may add their own conditions.

Eligible African countries

According to the official VLIRUOS country list, these African countries are eligible: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The other eligible countries are Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Palestine. Nigeria and Ghana are not on the list, so Nigerian and Ghanaian nationals cannot get this scholarship, even if they live in an eligible country.

One note: the call page says Mali was “recently added”, but Mali was not on the official country list when we checked on 4 November 2026. If you are Malian, confirm with VLIRUOS before applying.

What the scholarship covers

VLIRUOS describes ICP Connect as a full scholarship. It covers:

• tuition fees
• travel costs
• insurance
• living expenses, described officially as “board and lodging”

The funding lasts only for the official length of the programme (12, 24 or 36 months). It is paid mainly as a monthly allowance. Depending on the university, you either pay your insurance, tuition and accommodation from that allowance, or the university pays them directly and deducts them. VLIRUOS does not list one allowance amount for all programmes, so ask your university for the exact figures.

VLIRUOS 2027–2028 programmes and deadlines

These are the 12 programmes listed for the 2027–2028 intake. Dates are written as shown on each official programme page. The deadline shown is the one for scholarship applicants; self-funded students often have later dates.

The three advanced master’s dates come from the University of Antwerp’s Institute of Development Policy (IOB), because the VLIRUOS pages had not yet filled them in. IOB says it awards 6 scholarships per advanced master’s. For Sustainable Land Management, you register at UGent for the Land and Groundwater Management track or at VUB for the Urban Land Engineering track.

Some programmes from earlier years, such as Nematology, Epidemiology, Human Settlements and Water Resources Engineering, are not offered with ICP Connect funding for 2027–2028.

How to apply, step by step

1. Check your eligibility. Confirm your nationality, country of residence and age against the rules above. If you fail one condition, your application will not be considered.
2. Choose one programme. Read the programme page on the VLIRUOS website and the university’s admission requirements. Pick the programme that best fits your degree and career, because you can only apply once.
3. Apply through the university, not VLIRUOS. Click “Apply Now” on the official programme page. It takes you to the university’s own application system, where you apply for admission and the scholarship together.
4. Tick the scholarship option. Clearly state in the university application that you are applying for the ICP Connect (VLIRUOS) scholarship.
5. Upload your documents before the deadline. Follow the university’s document list exactly (see below).
6. Wait for selection. The university checks admission and ranks scholarship candidates. VLIRUOS then screens the ranked list. Results are sent by email no later than mid-May 2027.

VLIRUOS is holding an information session on 26 November 2026, 14:30–16:30 CET (the same time in West Africa Time). Registration is through the link on the official call page.

Required documents

Each university sets its own document list, so always use the list on your chosen programme’s application page. Based on the official VLIRUOS and university information, be ready for:

• proof of nationality and of residence in an eligible country
• your degree certificate(s) and transcripts
• a motivation statement explaining your goals and how you will use the programme at home
• reference letters, which VLIRUOS says are part of the admission process
• proof of English, at the level your university requires (Dutch is not needed)
• legalised copies of your diplomas, if your university asks for them

Legalisation can take weeks in some countries. The University of Antwerp, for example, gives a separate later deadline for authenticated documents for admitted students who need a visa (30 May 2027), so start early.

Tips to strengthen your application

• Write like an agent of change. Name a real problem in your community or workplace and explain, step by step, how the programme will help you solve it after you return.
• Show your experience. Work in a ministry, university, NGO or research project carries weight. Describe what you did, not just your job title.
• Women are strongly encouraged. VLIRUOS aims for gender balance in its awards, so qualified women should not hold back.
• First-time scholars get preference. If you have never studied with a scholarship in a high-income country, say so.
• Be patient with the result. IOB explains that awards also consider gender and regional balance, so a good file may miss out one year and succeed the next.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying to two ICP Connect programmes in the same year. This can get all your applications rejected.
• Applying on the VLIRUOS site and expecting that to count. You must apply through the university.
• Assuming every programme closes on 1 February. TROPIMUNDO closes on 30 November 2026.
• Applying from Nigeria, Ghana or another country that is not on the list.
• Paying an “agent” to apply for you. VLIRUOS says ICP Connect programmes do not require an application fee.

Frequently asked questions

Is the VLIRUOS scholarship fully funded?
Yes. It covers tuition, travel, insurance and living expenses for the official programme duration.

Can I apply for a PhD?
Not through this call. ICP Connect 2027–2028 covers the 12 bachelor’s and master’s programmes listed above.

Do I need to speak Dutch?
No. All ICP Connect programmes are taught in English. Each university sets its own English requirement.

When will I know if I have won?
VLIRUOS says applicants are informed by email no later than mid-May 2027.

Can I apply if I already studied in Belgium?
Not if you enrolled at a Belgian higher education institution before 1 January 2027, or if you previously received a Belgian government scholarship for a study programme.

Related opportunities on OpportunityHanger

• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 for Africans
• Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship 2027–2028 for Africans
• IDOHNext Erasmus Mundus Master in Infectious Diseases and One Health 2027–2029
• DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarships 2027 for Africa
• Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Sciences Po 2027

Official sources

• VLIRUOS: ICP Connect 2027–2028 call
• VLIRUOS: Study scholarships and programme list
• VLIRUOS: ICP Connect eligible country list
• University of Antwerp IOB: Application deadlines 2027–2028

Disclaimer: OpportunityHanger is an independent information website. We are not VLIRUOS or any Belgian university, we do not select scholarship holders, and we never charge any fee. Rules and dates can change, so always confirm the details on the official pages above before you apply.