Every year, KU Leuven actively contributes to global development by choosing outstanding scholars from institutions in the Global South as candidates for scholarships to pursue their Ph.D. at the university in Belgium. The KU Leuven Global Minds Programme is provided by the university’s Interfaculty Council for Global Development.
The aim is to enable students to conduct their PhD research using a ‘sandwich’ system, with 50% of the research conducted at KU Leuven and the remaining 50% at their home institution, under the guidance of a local co-promoter.
These scholarships are granted to outstanding research proposals addressing development-related topics, ideally connected to one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals. The PhD degree will be awarded by KU Leuven which will no doubt enhance your resume.
Program of Study
PhD Research Degree in development-relevant research topic offered at the Belgium school and your home institution.
Eligibility Criteria
Here are the eligibility criteria for the scholarship:
- Applicants must hold citizenship in one of the listed countries.
- Candidates with EU citizenship or long-term EU residence permits are not eligible.
- The candidate should have a strong, development-oriented motivation.
- The candidate must have a KU Leuven supervisor who supports their research project.
- The candidate should also have a local co-supervisor at their home university who supports their research.
- The candidate must provide excellent recommendations from at least two relevant referees.
- The candidate’s most recent Master’s degree should have been awarded no more than ten years before October 1, 2024, including the ongoing calendar year.
- Applicants must have received an academic grade equivalent to High Distinction or higher. Degrees with a final score equivalent to second class second/lower division will not be considered.
- The research project should demonstrate excellent academic quality, with a particular emphasis on the development relevance of the proposal.
Target Group
Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply for the scholarship:
- Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa
- Latin America: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru
- Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Palestinian Territories, Vietnam
Host Institution
KU Leuven and Home institution of the successful applicants
Scholarship Value
Half of the research is funded by and conducted at KU Leuven, while the remaining 50% is undertaken and funded by the scholar’s home institution, with the support of a local co-promoter.
Where and how to apply
The application process consists of two steps:
- First, candidates must secure admission to a doctoral or predoctoral program. It is essential to initiate the admission process well in advance (approximately 1.5 months before the deadline) to ensure timely evaluation.
- After obtaining admission, candidates can then apply for a Global Minds PhD scholarship. Detailed information on how to apply is on their website.
Deadline
The scholarship application deadline for the Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships Programme is March 9, 2023, at 5:00 PM GMT.
Scholarship Link
For more information about the Scholarship, please visit the Official Website.
