The Flemish Ministry of Education awards scholarships to outstanding students for Master’s degree programs in Flanders and Brussels. The Government of Flanders Master Mind Scholarships 2025-2026 for International Students aims to promote Flanders and Brussels as top study destinations.
Applications will be accepted from all Flemish universities, Schools of Arts, and the Antwerp Maritime Academy. Applicants from all nationalities are welcome to apply for the Flanders Master Scholarships. Around 30 international students will benefit from the Master Mind Scholarships.
There are a number of scholarships reserved for students from certain countries: Japan (3), Mexico (3), Palestine (2) and USA (5). These countries are priority countries for the Flemish government. If a scholarship is not taken up, it will be awarded to the candidate ranked highest by the Flemish selection committee. If a student loses his/her scholarship, the student will have to pay the full tuition fee if he/she wants to continue the program without the scholarship.
Program Details
- Host Institutions: Flemish universities, Schools of Arts, and the Antwerp Maritime Academy in Belgium (The full list with deadlines is listed below).
- Eligible Program: available programs at host universities.
- Number of Awards: Not specified.
- Duration: Candidate’s program duration.
- Target Group: Open for all nationalities (except for Russians).
Government of Flanders Master Mind Scholarships Benefits
This government scholarship awards a maximum scholarship of € 10 000 + a tuition fee waiver per academic year (60 ECTS). Master Mind Scholarship holders only pay an administrative enrollment fee. The grant is paid in installments and covers accommodation costs, insurance, and a significant amount of their living expenses.
The host institution can ask the applicant for a tuition fee that equals the lowest rate of the yearly tuition fee for a student who receives a study grant from the Flemish government. The rate for the academic year 2025-2026 is € 131,50. This rate may increase slightly from year to year.
Government of Flanders Master Mind Scholarships Eligibility
To apply for the study in Flanders Scholarship, candidates must have the below profile:
- The applicant applies to take up a Master’s degree program at a higher education institution in Flanders (hereafter ‘Host institution’).
- should have a high standard of academic performance and/or potential (The student has a Grade Point Average of 3.5 out of 4.0). Please click here to see how to calculate your GPA. Please click here to see see how to calculate your American GPA;
- Have a good knowledge of the English language:
- an overall band score of minimum 7.0 on the IELTS test;
- a minimum total score of 94 on a TOEFL test;
- a C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference;
- or a similar result in another official language test (recognized by the Host institution).
- Online language tests of IELTS and TOEFL will also be accepted:
- IELTS Indicator (https://www.ieltsindicator.com/)
- TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition (https://www.ets.org/s/cv/toefl/at-home/)
- Students who apply for a Master’s program at a School of Arts have at least:
- an overall band score of minimum 6.5 on the IELTS test;
- a minimum total score of 90 on the TOEFL test;
- a B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference;
- or a similar result in another official English language test (recognized by the Host institution).
- Online language tests of IELTS and TOEFL will also be accepted:
- IELTS Indicator (https://www.ieltsindicator.com/)
- TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition (https://www.ets.org/s/cv/toefl/at-home/)
- The student has to be accepted by the Host institution to be able to receive the scholarship. Even if the Host Institution’s decision to accept the student is taken after the selection by the Master Mind Scholarships program, this criterion applies.
- All nationalities, except for Russian (see news item for more information). The previous degree obtained should be from a higher education institution located outside Flanders. International students who have been on credit mobility at a hosting Flemish higher education institution are still eligible for a Master Mind Scholarship.
- Students who are already enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution cannot apply. The only exception is made for international students who, at the time of their application in Spring 2025, are already enrolled in a specific preparatory program in order to start a master’s program in September 2025.
- Students who enroll in the following programs for the academic year 2025-2026 are not eligible for the Master Mind Scholarship:
- Preparatory programmes
- Bridging programmes
- Distance learning
The applicant can only be nominated by one Flemish higher education institution. If the applicant is preselected by more than one Flemish higher education institution, he/she has to choose one Flemish higher education institution to submit his/her application in the Mobility Online tool. Student mobility to partner institutions outside Flanders and Brussels during the master’s programme is allowed. However, at least half of the study credits of the master’s programme must be obtained at the Flemish host institution.
Similar opportunities
- Turkish Government Scholarship for International Students;
- Holland Scholarship for Non-EEA International Students;
- Government of Romania Scholarship.
How to Apply for the study in Flanders
Interested applicants who would like to apply for this scholarship to study in Europe must follow the steps below:
STEP 1 Check if you are eligible to apply and if the Flemish institution of your choice participates in the Master Mind Scholarships.
STEP 2 Submit your application to the host institution.
STEP 3 The host institution pre-selects eligible applications.
STEP 4 The host institution starts the application procedure for the Master Mind Scholarship by creating your application file in the Mobility-Online application tool.
STEP 5 You receive an email generated by the Mobility-Online tool notifying you of being preselected for a Master Mind Scholarship.
STEP 6 You register in the Mobility-Online tool and complete your application file in the Mobility-Online tool before the deadline (upload required documents).
STEP 7 The host institution validates and submits the completed application file in the Mobility-Online tool before the specified deadline. Validated applications submitted after midnight on the deadline will not be accepted.
Required Documents
- Passport photo
- International passport or national ID;
- A Curriculum Vitae (including your American GPA out of 4.0 and if applicable your publications, academic awards, previous scholarships, etc.). use the scholaro.com/gpa-calculator to calculate your GPA;
- Transcript of records; if written in a language other than Dutch, French, German or English, a certified translation must be enclosed;
- English language test results or letter of the exemption provided by the host university;
- Letter of motivation written in English;
- Two signed letters of recommendation from professors of your (previous) home university, university of applied sciences (and arts), or recent employer written in English;
- Copy of acquired diploma(s); if written in a language other than Dutch, French, German or English, a certified translation must be enclosed.
Deadline for application at Host institution:
Universities:
- KU Leuven / University of Leuven: January 15, 2025;
- University of Antwerp: 1st February 2025;
- Ghent University: April 1, 2025;
- Hasselt University: 14 March 2025;
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel: 10 March 2025.
University colleges, also known as Universities of Applied Sciences (and Arts):
- Antwerp Maritime Academy: Please contact the international office for more information on the deadline;
- AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts: March 1, 2025;
- Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts: March 31, 2025;
- HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts: March 20, 2025;
- KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts: March 30, 2025;
- LUCA School of Arts
- Deadline Campus Leuven: February 27, 2025;
- Deadline Campus Brussels: March 12, 2025;
- Deadline Campus Ghent: March 12, 2025;
- PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts: please contact the international office.
The Application deadline varies per institution. The furthest deadline is . For more information about the Government of Flanders Master Mind Scholarships, please visit the official page. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.