Application Deadline: 17 February 2026
LOCATION: Belgium
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.
ELIGIBILITY:
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 a maximum of 2 candidates per call on the condition they are both of a different gender.
The following mobility scheme is mandatory:
Students need to start and end with a research stay of 3-12 months 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 stays at Ghent University.
Application forms must be submitted (in English) electronically to BOFapplication@ugent.be.
In addition to the application form, the Ghent University supervisor must also submit the following 2 documents:
Advice on the candidate, stating the supervisor’s opinion on the capability of the candidate as a future researcher.
Advice on the ethical and biosafety context of the proposed research project
BENEFIT:
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 and an € 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.
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