research grant belgium

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Funding opportunities

An overview of the different funding possibilities for research at Ghent University.

Some funding agencies offer possibilities for pre- or postdoctoral researchers to apply for a scholarship or fellowship at Ghent University on an individual basis.

Before applying, candidates should always seek approval of a professor at Ghent University ( contact details of all research groups ).
Doctoral candidates with external funding are advised to have clear agreement with their supervisor on additional allowances for their research stay (cf. supervision allowance or bench fee).
Your own government may also offer scholarships for study and/or research abroad. Contact the appropriate authorities in your country.

By career stage

Phd candidates.

General information on applying for a PhD at Ghent University

Open positions
BOF - Doctoral scholarships for candidates from developing countries
BOF - Grants for Chinese candidates holding a CSC-grant
FWO - PhD Fellowship fundamental research
FWO - PhD Fellowship strategic basic research
FWO - Special PhD Fellowship
VLAIO - Baekeland mandates: A PhD in collaboration with the industry
BAEF - Fellowships for study or PhD research of US-citizens in Belgium
Fulbright Scholarship Programme

Postdoctoral opportunities

BOF - Postdoctoral Fellowships
FWO - Junior Postdoctoral Fellowship
FWO - Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship
FWO - Odysseus initiative
FWO - Senior Clinical investigator
FWO - Scientific stay in Flanders
VLAIO - Innovation mandates
EU - MSCA – Individual Fellowship
EU - ERC grant at Ghent University
BAEF: Fellowships for postdoc research of US-citizens in Belgium

Projects & Institutional cooperation

FWO - Medium-scale research infrastructure
FWO - Large-scale research infrastructure
FWO - SBO (Strategic Basic Research)
FWO - TBM (Applied Biomedical Research with a Primary Social finality)
FWO - Bilateral Agreements
FWO - Research networks
International Foundation for Science (IFS)
European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technological research (COST)
BOF - Interuniversity projects

By funding source

Special Research Fund (BOF)
Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)
Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO)
European and other international funding (eg. Horizon Europe)
Industrial Research Fund (IOF)
Mobility Fund to support incoming and outgoing mobility
Partnerschips with the Global South ( eg. VLIR-UOS)

More information

These are some external websites offering a helping hand during your scholarship search:

Study in Flanders
Scholarship Portal
Scholarship Positions

Grant available for all nationalities

The Fund for Scientific Research – FNRS (F.R.S.-FNRS)

Foreign researchers can submit an application for all "traditional" fellowships of the F.R.S.-FNRS. Certain additional administrative formalities are sometimes required, such as equivalence or accreditation of academic qualifications obtained abroad. These requirements should therefore be carefully checked.

The "project" instruments of the F.R.S.-FNRS or one of its associated funds enable postdoctoral-level researchers of non-Belgian nationality to be hosted under a short-term postdoctoral research fellowship. This fellowship takes the form of a postdoctoral grant (for up to three years).

Lastly, the Ulysse Incentive Grant for Mobility in Scientific Research is a postdoctoral research fellowship that involves leading a research team, and is intended for Belgian or foreign researchers who have been residing abroad for at least five years (two-year grant renewable for a further year). The project leader receives a budget of up to €200,000, which can be used to cover staff, operating and equipment costs. Calls for applications take place annually.

Research Department contact

FSR "Incoming postdoctoral fellowships”

This program is targeted at incoming researchers, aims at reinforcing the international dimension of the UCLouvain by supporting highly-qualified post-docs from abroad.

More details

Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI) – WBI "IN" doctoral and postdoctoral excellence grant

WBI has set up a programme of excellence grants to attract foreign graduates and researchers from outstanding institutions to Belgian universities (In.WBI). The main priority of this scheme is to support the development of the competitiveness clusters set out in the Marshall Plan 2.Green (transport and logistics, mechanical engineering, life sciences, agro-industry, aerospace, and environmental technologies), while not excluding other areas (fundamental or applied human sciences) that are not necessarily covered by these clusters. Candidates of any country who hold a doctorate awarded by a foreign institution are eligible.

The following types of grants are available: long-term grant for at least one year, renewable once at postdoctoral level; short-term grant for between one and three months. The grant covers subsistence costs, textbooks and travel expenses within the country (€2,120 per month for both long and short visits).

The European Union (EU) : Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Objective: to promote the training and mobility of researchers at every stage of their careers.

Scope: all fields of research and innovation, from fundamental research to market take-up, and researchers of all ages and levels of experience, regardless of nationality. It should be noted that mobility is a key requirement of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

The following may be of interest to applicants wishing to undertake a research visit to UCLouvain:

This information concerns the former H2020 programme. From 2021, the MSC actions will be financed by the new Horizon Europe programme. The actions funded under the MSC scheme remain the same but their names will change. Please contact the UCLouvain Research Department for more information, in particular as regards eligibility conditions and selection criteria.

Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) for researchers coming to Europe

Objective: enhance the creative and innovative potential of experienced researchers wishing to diversify their individual skills through advanced training and international or intersectoral mobility.

This scheme helps to develop or restart the careers of researchers who show great potential, considering their experience.

Staff Exchanges (SE)

Objective: to promote international and intersectoral collaboration (public/private) through research and staff exchanges.

Doctoral Networks (DN)

Objective: to raise excellence and structure research and doctoral training for early-stage researchers.

In addition to offering a traditional academic research training environment, DN must equip researchers with transferable skills that will enhance their career prospects both inside and outside academia.

Axa research Fund

Each year the AXA Research Fund awards postdoctoral fellowships for 24-month research projects. This funding scheme aims to support promising young researchers working in a priority field that is consistent with the interests of AXA and civil society. Calls generally take place one or twice a year and focus on a topic in the research fields Health, Data and New Technologies, Climate and the Environment, and Socio-Economics

The funding is intended for researchers who have no permanent academic post; have been awarded a doctorate before the start of the fellowship; have obtained their doctorate within the five years preceding the deadline for submitting their application; and who have not lived or carried out their main activity (work, study, etc.) in Belgium for more than 24 months in the three years prior to the fellowship start date.

To propose of this program is to fund, in collaboration with a Walloon company, the mandates of researchers in a situation of transnational mobility for 18 to 36 months. The grants cover 85% of eligible expenditure. The researcher’s stay will be shared in a balanced way (+/- 50% of the total duration of the mandate) with each of the 2 partners (academic and industrial). Projects relevant to areas covered by the 6 competitiveness clusters are encouraged ((transport and logistics, mechanical engineering, life sciences, agro-industry, aerospace, and environmental technologies). To be eligible, candidate must hold a PhD or having equivalent research experience (at least four years). On the closing date of the call for proposals, researchers must be experiencing an international mobility (have spent less than 12 months in Belgium within the past 36 months).