Scholarships &
financial support
for studying
Funding a degree abroad can look confusing when scholarship systems work so differently from one country to the next. Belgium's system is no exception, but once you know where to look, it becomes much easier to navigate.
This page explains the types of financial support available, what proving you can support yourself involves, and where to actually look for scholarships.
Overview
What is available to you depends heavily on your nationality, your field of study, and whether you are coming through an exchange programme or applying independently. Some funding routes are tied to specific countries or partnerships, so it is worth checking eligibility early rather than assuming a general scholarship will cover you.
Types of financial support
Financial support for international students in Belgium generally falls into a few categories:
- Scholarships, awarded by your institution, a government body, or an international organisation, based on merit, need, or your country of origin
- Grants tied to specific programmes or partnerships, such as exchange agreements between your home institution and a Belgian one
- Personal or family funding, backed by a sponsor declaration confirming someone else will cover your costs
Flemish study grants (studietoelagen) exist too, but most international students will not qualify unless they meet specific residency conditions, so do not assume this route applies to you without checking first.
Proving you can support yourself
Whether or not you have a scholarship, your student visa application will generally require proof of sufficient means - most commonly a bank statement, a scholarship award letter, or a signed sponsor declaration. The exact documents and amounts required are part of the visa process itself, so our Required documents page in the Formalities category covers this in full. This page focuses on where the funding itself comes from, rather than how to prove it on your application.
Where to look for scholarships
- Your institution's own scholarship or financial aid office is usually the fastest way to find out what you already qualify for
- VLIR-UOS funds scholarships for students from a defined list of partner countries, mainly for master's and PhD programmes
- Erasmus+ offers funding if you are coming through an exchange or joint programme with your home institution
- Funding bodies or ministries in your home country sometimes have agreements with Belgian institutions, so it is worth checking there as well
Budgeting for your first months
Even with a scholarship or sponsor covering your studies, it helps to budget separately for your first few months. Costs to plan for typically include a housing deposit and first rent, health insurance, food, transport, and study materials. Your first months are usually more expensive than the ones that follow, since deposits and furnishing costs come on top of your regular monthly expenses.
Good to know: scholarship deadlines often run months ahead of your programme's application deadline, not alongside it. Start looking for funding as soon as you start looking at programmes, rather than waiting until after you have been accepted.
Sources
- VLIR-UOS
- Erasmus+
- Education in Flanders
