Overview
Host Country: Belgium
Scholarship: ARES International Training Scholarships
Description
Host Country: Belgium
Scholarship: ARES International Training Scholarships
Academic Year: 2027–2028
Scholarships: Around 100
Programmes: 10
Study Levels: Specialized Bachelor’s, Specialized Master’s and continuing education
Eligible Countries: 32 partner countries
Professional Experience: Generally at least 2 years
Tuition: Covered according to programme conditions
Living Support: Provided
International Travel: Covered under programme conditions
Insurance: Included
Application Fee: None
Application Platform: GIRAF
GIRAF Account Deadline: September 4, 2026, at 16:00 Belgian time
Final Application Deadline: September 18, 2026, at 12:00 noon Belgian time
Eligibility
One of the most important rules is that applicants can submit an application for only one ARES programme.
This makes programme selection extremely important.
Instead of applying randomly to the programme that sounds most attractive, choose the one that best matches your:
Academic background
Professional experience
Current responsibilities
Career objectives
Development goals
Your application should make it easy for the selection committee to understand why that particular programme is the logical next step in your career.
Additional Information
Ares Belgium Scholarships 2027 28 Quick Facts
Host Country: Belgium
Scholarship: ARES International Training Scholarships
Academic Year: 2027–2028
Scholarships: Around 100
Programmes: 10
Study Levels: Specialized Bachelor’s, Specialized Master’s and continuing education
Eligible Countries: 32 partner countries
Professional Experience: Generally at least 2 years
Tuition: Covered according to programme conditions
Living Support: Provided
International Travel: Covered under programme conditions
Insurance: Included
Application Fee: None
Application Platform: GIRAF
GIRAF Account Deadline: September 4, 2026, at 16:00 Belgian time
Final Application Deadline: September 18, 2026, at 12:00 noon Belgian time
What Is The Ares Belgium Scholarship
The ARES International Training Scholarship is designed for professionals from eligible developing countries who want to gain specialized knowledge and skills through a programme in Belgium.
The scholarship is different from many conventional university scholarships because professional experience is an important part of the selection profile.
ARES looks for applicants who can demonstrate a clear connection between:
Previous education → Professional experience → Selected Belgian programme → Future professional impact
This means applicants should not simply explain that they want to study in Belgium. They should explain why the selected training is relevant to their current career and how they will use the knowledge after completing the programme.
Is Ares Suitable For Fresh Graduates
Generally, ARES is not primarily designed for applicants who have just completed their degree and have no professional experience.
Applicants normally need at least two years of relevant professional experience after obtaining their latest higher-education qualification, with experience acquired in an eligible partner country.
Therefore, an applicant with several years of relevant professional experience may have a stronger profile than a fresh graduate with excellent academic results but little or no professional background.
The important thing is not simply the number of years you have worked. Your experience should be relevant to the programme you choose.
For example, if you work in public health and apply for a specialized public-health programme, your professional background can provide a much stronger connection than applying for a programme unrelated to your career.
Degree Level
Specialized Bachelor’s, Specialized Master’s and continuing education
Available Subjects
The 2027–28 ARES competition includes 10 specialized programmes.
The available fields include areas such as:
Digital Integrated Supply Chain
Human Rights
International and Development Economics
Microfinance
Public Health
Health Risk Management
Food Chain Safety
Preventive Conservation and Collections Management
Risk and Disaster Management
Cybersecurity Operations and Risk Governance
The exact programme eligibility requirements can differ, so applicants should carefully review the requirements of their selected programme before applying.
Benefits
ARES provides substantial financial support to selected candidates. Depending on the programme and applicable conditions, the scholarship can cover or provide support for:
Tuition and registration costs
Living/subsistence expenses
International travel
Insurance
Eligible visa-related expenses
Certain programme-related travel costs
Applicants should be careful when reading older ARES scholarship articles online. Funding amounts and conditions can change between application cycles, so applicants should rely on the current 2027–28 scholarship documentation rather than automatically assuming that an amount mentioned in an older article still applies.
Eligible Nationalities
ARES scholarships are available to applicants who meet the nationality and residence requirements established for the programme's 32 partner countries.
Countries represented in the current call include:
Bangladesh
Cambodia
Indonesia
Nepal
Philippines
Vietnam
Ethiopia
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Tanzania
Morocco
Tunisia
Senegal
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Burundi
Cameroon
Mozambique
Peru
Bolivia
Ecuador
Haiti
This is only a selection of the eligible countries. Applicants should check the complete current country list and residence requirements before preparing their application.
Importantly, eligibility is not necessarily determined by nationality alone. Applicants generally need to live and work in an eligible country, subject to the specific conditions of the current call.
Eligibility Criteria
One of the most important rules is that applicants can submit an application for only one ARES programme.
This makes programme selection extremely important.
Instead of applying randomly to the programme that sounds most attractive, choose the one that best matches your:
Academic background
Professional experience
Current responsibilities
Career objectives
Development goals
Your application should make it easy for the selection committee to understand why that particular programme is the logical next step in your career.
Application Procedure
The application process is completed through the GIRAF application system. Applicants should start early because creating or validating a GIRAF account can take time.
Step 1 Check Your Eligibility
Before beginning your application, confirm that you meet the basic ARES requirements.
Check:
Your nationality
Country of residence
Academic qualification
Professional experience
Eligibility for your selected programme
Any additional programme-specific conditions
Do this before spending significant time preparing the application.
Step 2 Select One Programme
You can apply for only one programme.
Choose the programme that has the strongest connection with your education and professional experience.
A convincing application should answer a simple question:
Why is this particular programme the right training for your current career?
Step 3 Create Or Request Your Giraf Account
GIRAF is the online platform used for the ARES application.
If you do not already have a validated GIRAF account, do not wait until the final scholarship deadline.
For the 2027–28 call, new GIRAF account requests must be made by:
September 4, 2026, at 16:00 Belgian time.
This is earlier than the final application deadline.
Step 4 Access The Competitive Call
After obtaining access to GIRAF, locate the Competitive Calls section and select the ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–28 application.
Applicants should activate the application according to the current instructions and continue working on the same application file.
Step 5 Complete Your Academic And Professional Profile
Provide accurate information about your:
Educational qualifications
Employment history
Professional responsibilities
Skills
Career development
Relevant experience
This section should tell a consistent story.
For example:
Your current professional problem → Skills you currently lack → ARES programme that provides those skills → How you will apply them afterward
That connection can make your application much more convincing.
Step 6 Prepare And Upload Your Documents
Applicants should prepare the documents required by ARES and their selected programme.
These may include:
Degree certificates
Academic transcripts
CV
Passport or nationality documentation
Proof of professional experience
Employment certificates
Recommendation letters
Programme-specific documents
Other supporting materials requested by the selected programme
Some programmes may require additional documents, such as a pre-project or technical documentation.
Always check the requirements of your specific programme before submitting.
Step 7 Review Your Application Carefully
Before submission, check every section of the application.
Pay particular attention to:
Dates
Employment history
Academic information
Professional experience
Uploaded documents
Recommendation letters
Programme-specific requirements
Motivation and career objectives
Do not leave important work until the final few hours.
Step 8 Submit Before The Deadline
The final deadline for the ARES 2027–28 scholarship application is:
September 18, 2026, at 12:00 noon Belgian time.
Applicants should aim to submit well before the deadline rather than treating the final day as their target.
What Makes An Ares Application Strong
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not automatically mean you will receive the scholarship.
ARES applications can be strengthened by demonstrating a clear relationship between your professional background and your proposed studies.
A strong application should explain:
1 What You Currently Do
Clearly describe your current profession and responsibilities.
2 What Problem Or Gap You Have Identified
Explain what knowledge or skills you need to improve in your current work.
3 Why This Programme Is The Right Solution
Show how the selected ARES programme will provide those specific skills.
4 What You Will Do After The Programme
Explain how you intend to use your new knowledge in your profession or community.
In simple terms:
What you already do → What you need to learn → What you will accomplish afterward
This is much stronger than writing a generic statement about wanting to study abroad.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Applicants should avoid several common problems:
Applying without the required professional experience
Selecting a programme unrelated to their career
Applying to more than one programme
Providing vague career goals
Writing a generic motivation statement
Failing to document professional experience
Uploading incomplete documents
Waiting too long to request a GIRAF account
Relying on outdated information about eligible programmes
Assuming old scholarship funding amounts still apply
Submitting the application at the last minute
Is The Ares Scholarship Fully Funded
ARES provides a substantial scholarship package that can cover major study-related expenses, including tuition-related costs, living support, international travel and insurance, subject to the conditions of the programme and current call.
Therefore, it can significantly reduce the financial burden of studying in Belgium.
However, applicants should always check the current official documentation for the exact benefits applicable to their programme instead of relying on figures from previous ARES calls.
Who Should Apply For Ares 2027 28
The scholarship may be particularly suitable for:
Professionals from eligible developing countries
Applicants with relevant higher-education qualifications
Candidates with at least two years of relevant professional experience
Professionals seeking specialized training
Applicants whose career goals closely match one of the 10 available programmes
Candidates who can demonstrate how their training could create professional or development impact
It may be less suitable for a fresh graduate with no relevant professional experience.
Final Thoughts
The ARES Belgium Scholarships 2027–28 provide a valuable opportunity for experienced professionals from eligible developing countries to gain specialized education and training in Belgium.
The most important thing to understand is that this is not simply a scholarship for getting another degree. ARES places significant emphasis on the applicant's professional background, the relevance of the chosen programme and the impact the training can have after the applicant returns to their professional environment.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, start by selecting one programme, checking your professional experience and preparing your documents. If you need a new GIRAF account, make sure to request it before September 4, 2026.
The final application deadline is September 18, 2026, at 12:00 noon Belgian time.
Frequently Asked Questions Faqs
Who is eligible for the ARES Belgium Scholarship 2027–28? The scholarship is generally open to applicants from 32 eligible partner countries who have the required academic qualifications and usually at least two years of relevant professional experience after their latest higher-education qualification.
What does the ARES Scholarship cover? ARES provides substantial financial support, which can include tuition and registration costs, living support, international travel, insurance, eligible visa expenses, and certain programme-related travel costs, depending on the programme conditions.
What is the deadline for the ARES Belgium Scholarship 2027–28? The final application deadline is September 18, 2026, at 12:00 noon Belgian time. Applicants who need a new GIRAF account must request it by September 4, 2026, at 16:00 Belgian time.
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