Ghent University BOF Doctoral Scholarships 2027

The Ghent University BOF Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from the Global South 2027 are international PhD research scholarships offered through the university's Special Research Fund (BOF).

The programme supports promising researchers from eligible Global South countries who wish to pursue doctoral research through collaboration between Ghent University in Belgium and a partner university or research centre in their region.

Unlike a traditional PhD scholarship conducted entirely at one institution, this opportunity follows a sandwich PhD model.

Selected researchers divide their doctoral research between Ghent University and a partner institution in the Global South.

The four-year research programme consists of 24 months at Ghent University and 24 months at the partner institution.

Ghent University provides scholarship funding for the research periods spent in Belgium. The partner institution, or another approved funding source, must guarantee full-time funding for the remaining research period.

Research Opportunities

The scholarship welcomes proposals from all academic and scientific disciplines.

Particular emphasis is placed on projects that address challenges relevant to the Global South, strengthen international research partnerships and contribute to local institutional development.

Research may cover areas such as environmental sciences, sustainable development, engineering, health sciences, economics, social sciences, humanities and other fields.

The proposed research must be developed jointly with a Ghent University supervisor and a supervisor at the partner institution.

Programme Structure

The scholarship follows a compulsory mobility arrangement:

• The doctoral researcher begins with a research stay at Ghent University.
• The researcher completes at least 24 months of locally funded research at the partner institution in the Global South.
• The researcher returns to Ghent University to complete the final research stay.

The first and final Ghent-based research stays must each last between three and twelve months.

Limited exceptions may be considered under the conditions described in the official 2027 call.

The programme aims to strengthen research capacity, academic cooperation and the application of research findings in participating Global South countries.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Originate from and hold the nationality of a country included in Ghent University's official 2027 Global South country list.
• Intend to obtain a PhD degree from Ghent University, either independently or through an approved joint PhD arrangement.
• Have the support of an eligible Ghent University professor willing to supervise the doctoral research.
• Have a supervisor at an eligible partner university or research centre in the Global South.
• Obtain confirmed full-time funding for 24 months of research at the partner institution.
• Have an official partner-institution commitment allowing sufficient time for full-time doctoral research.
• Spend no more than 10% of the full-time appointment on teaching or other unrelated duties during the partner-institution research period.
• Be at the beginning of their doctoral research, with at least 36 months of research remaining as of 1 October 2027.
• Prepare a research proposal relevant to the programme's South–North cooperation objectives.
• Follow the required research mobility arrangements, unless an exception is officially approved.
• Submit the scholarship application in English.

Selected candidates receive the following support:

• Monthly Scholarship: Approximately €2,850 during the research periods funded by Ghent University.
• Ghent-Based Research Funding: Scholarship support for 24 months of doctoral research at Ghent University.
• Partner-Country Funding: An additional 24 months of full-time scholarship or salary funding, which must be secured from an approved non-Ghent funding source.
• Research Support: Access to academic supervision and relevant university research facilities during the Ghent-based periods.
• Research Operating Budget: €310 per month of funded research in Ghent, allocated to the Ghent University supervisor.
• Travel Budget: €8,000 allocated to the Ghent University supervisor to help cover eligible research-related travel expenses.
• International Collaboration: Joint research supervision and collaboration between participating institutions.
• Academic Development: Opportunities to develop advanced research skills and work towards a Ghent University PhD or joint doctoral degree.

Applicants must prepare the following:

• Official 2027 Application Form: Completed in English using the prescribed Ghent University form.
• Academic Transcripts: Records demonstrating university academic performance.
• Degree Documents: Relevant academic qualifications and degree information.
• Class Ranking or Percentile Evidence: Official academic ranking information, where available.
• Research Proposal: A detailed description of the proposed doctoral research, objectives, methodology and expected contribution.
• Research Timeline: A proposed 48-month work plan showing research periods in Belgium and the partner country.
• Partner-Institution Funding Confirmation: An official signed statement guaranteeing 24 months of full-time research funding.
• Supervisor Information: Details of the Ghent University and partner-country research supervisors.
• Research and Academic Achievements: Relevant previous research, academic activities and publications, where applicable.
• South–North Relevance Statement: An explanation of the proposed project's societal relevance, partnership value and contribution to local capacity development.

Documents Required from the Ghent University Supervisor

The Ghent University supervisor must separately submit:

• An assessment of the candidate's suitability and potential as a doctoral researcher.
• An assessment of ethical and biosafety considerations relating to the proposed research.

Application Formatting

The official 2027 call specifies:

• Research proposal: Maximum three pages, excluding the bibliography.
• Research timeline: Maximum half a page.
• Research abstract: Short descriptions in English and Dutch, with the prescribed word limits and keywords.
• Application form: Follow the official formatting and submission instructions.

Ghent University's Research Council evaluates applications based on:

• Academic qualifications and previous study results.
• Academic ranking or percentile performance.
• Research achievements and the candidate's potential as a doctoral researcher.
• Scientific or scholarly quality of the proposed research.
• Relevance of the proposal to the South–North context.
• Potential societal benefits of the research.
• Contribution to local research capacity and institutional development.
• Quality of the partnership between Ghent University and the partner institution.
• Research expertise and academic potential of the participating research groups.
• Consideration of local circumstances and long-term sustainability.

• International research experience: Complete doctoral research across two academic environments.
• Academic collaboration: Build research partnerships between Ghent University and institutions in the Global South.
• Research development: Strengthen independent research and scholarly communication skills.
• Global impact: Address research questions with relevance to society and sustainable development.
• Professional networking: Establish connections with international researchers and academic supervisors.
• Institutional capacity building: Contribute to developing research expertise at partner institutions.
• Long-term career development: Gain doctoral-level experience relevant to academic and research careers.