Special Research Fund - PhD scholarships for candidates from developing countries

Ghent University, Belgium

Updated: about 18 hours ago

With support from its “Special Research Fund” (BOF) Ghent University grants PhD “sandwich” scholarships to promising PhD students from Global South countries who wish to carry out half of their PhD research at Ghent University ('North') and half at a university in the Global South ('South'). Ghent University only finances the part of the research that will be carried out in Ghent (24 months). The candidate must have full-time funding for the other 24 months of research to be carried out in the South.


Who can apply for this scholarship
  • Candidates need to come from - and have the nationality of – one of the selected Global South countries (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 within the North-South context. South-North Context relevance relates to the extent to which the objectives of a proposal are consistent with beneficiaries’ requirements, synergy opportunities, global priorities and partners’ and donors’ policies;
  • Only degree students (students who intend to obtain a (joint) PhD degree at Ghent University) can apply. Exchange students cannot apply for this scholarship; 
  • This program is meant for students at the beginning of their PhD. To a limited extent, PhD students are allowed to have already completed preliminary research. At the time the fellowship starts (1/10/2026), a minimum of 36 months of doctoral research must still be required to complete the PhD;
  • 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 both of a different gender.

Co-funding

Co-funding is mandatory with this scholarship. Consult the call documents for more information on what co-funding is allowed.

In general, the following conditions must be guaranteed by the partner in the South:

  • There must be a local PhD supervisor at the partner university or research center in the South;
  • A written statement from the partner university is requested stating that the candidate will receive a fulltime local PhD scholarship or salary for a period of 24 months when working on the PhD at the partner university in the South AND
  • will be sufficiently exempted from teaching or other assignments as to be able to fully concentrate on the PhD research in the South. Applicants can dedicate maximum 10 % of their time (fulltime appointment) to other tasks (teaching and other tasks)

    • Mobility scheme of the scholarship

    The following mobility scheme is mandatory:

  • Students need to start and end with a research stay of 3 -12 months in at Ghent University.
  • The first research stay at Ghent University needs to be started between 1 October 2026 and 28 February 2027.
  • At least 24 months of locally funded research in the South must be scheduled in between the first and last research stay at Ghent University.

    • Exceptions to the mandatory mobility scheme
    • Applicants who can demonstrate that they are unable to start their 4 year PhD research with a research stay at Ghent University because the partner university/research center in the South requires a successful completion of a PhD study program in their university before commencing further research activities, can request an exception to the mobility scheme;
    • Applicants who can demonstrate that they are unable to start their 4 year PhD research with a research stay at Ghent University because they must first complete a period of field research in the South can apply for an exception to the mobility scheme;
    • Applicants who can demonstrate that they have successfully completed a full-time funded PhD study period (of up to 12 months) at the partner university/research center in the South can request to integrate this period in the required 24 months of locally funded research stay in the South;
    • Applicants who can demonstrate that they have successfully completed a full-time funded PhD study period (of up to 12 months) at Ghent University can request to integrate this period in the required 24 months of researach period at Ghent University.

    Applicants who want to make use of one of those exceptions have to request an approval from the research administration of Ghent University before 16 January, 2026. To do so, they complete the form "Request exception funding and mobility scheme " form and submit it along with the requested supporting documents via email to BOF@ugent.be .


    Funding
    • 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 + € 8.000 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.


    How to apply for this scholarship

    Application forms must be submitted (in English) electronically to BOFapplication@ugent.be . 


    Deadline scholarship applications
    Results scholarship selection 
    Contact

    Team Flemish, Federal & BOF Projects

    E BOF@UGent.be


    Call and application forms
    Prior to their scholarship application all applicants need the explicit commitment of a Ghent University professor who will act as their personal PhD supervisor. If you need to approach a Ghent University professor please browse the list of faculties and research topics available on our res earch directory .
    Scientific report

    Final report : within three months following upon the end of the grant a final scientific/scholarly report has to be sent electronically to BOFapplication@UGent.be . The promoter and co-promoter (if applicable) are included in this e-mail (either as sender, or in CC).


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