ICP Connect Scholarships Academic Year 2026–2027

The ICP Connect Scholarships are prestigious, fully-funded alternatives provided by VLIRUOS in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD).

Designed to empower excellent college students from Africa, Asia, and Latin America by offering entry to specialised Master’s programmes at KU Leuven, this scholarship is greater than monetary help, it’s a pathway for changemakers to achieve superior information, contribute to sustainable growth, and return to their home nations as brokers of optimistic transformation.

   Scholarship Overview

• Type: Fully-funded Master’s scholarship
• Coverage: Tuition charges, journey, insurance coverage, and dwelling bills
• Allowance: €1,400 monthly (covers lodging, meals, transport, web, and private bills)
• Travel: Round-trip economic system ticket to Belgium at first of the programme and return ticket on the finish
• Duration: Full size of the Master’s programme
• Available Scholarships: 50 (10 per eligible programme)

 Eligible Master’s Programmes

Applicants can apply to one of many following 5 programmes:

• Master of Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies
• Master of Human Settlements
• Master of Food Technology
• ICP Master in Sustainable Development
• Master of Water Resources Engineering

   Eligible Nationalities

The scholarships are open to nationals and residents of chosen nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, D.R. Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa

Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Palestinian Territories, Vietnam

Latin America: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru

  Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, candidates should meet strict necessities:

• Nationality & Residence: Must be a nationwide of one of many 28 eligible nations and reside in one in every of them on the time of application.
• Age Limit:
  • Maximum 35 years for first Master’s programme
  • Maximum 45 years for superior Master’s programme
• Professional Background: Preference for candidates working in increased training, authorities, or civil society. Private sector staff and up to date graduates may apply in the event that they exhibit sturdy motivation.
• Scholarship History: Applicants should not have beforehand acquired a Belgian authorities scholarship or enrolled in a Belgian establishment earlier than 1 January of the entry yr.
• Application Limit: Only one ICP Connect Scholarship application per yr.

   Application Process

• Deadline: 1 February 2026, 23:59
• Procedure:
  • Apply on to one of many eligible Master’s programmes.
  • Submit required paperwork (together with motivation letter and advice letters).
  • No application payment required, add the offered PDF underneath “Proof of payment of application fee.”

Required Documents:

• Standard programme application paperwork
• Two letters of advice (should observe official format and be despatched from recommender’s institutional electronic mail)
• Motivation letter (particular necessities range by programme)
• Digital portfolio (for candidates to Master of Human Settlements with structure background)
• Proof of English proficiency (until exempt underneath programme guidelines)

  Motivation Letter Guidelines

Each programme has distinctive necessities:

• Water Resources Engineering: Explain how acquired expertise will help future profession plans (max. 500 phrases).
• Sustainable Development: Justify alternative of monitor  Ecology or Space & Society ( max. 500 phrases).
• Cultural Anthropology & Development Studies: Two-page assertion of goal outlining motivation and analysis pursuits.
• Food Technology: 500–1,000 phrases on private motivation and views.
• Human Settlements: 500–1,000 phrases on private motivation and views.

  Language Proficiency

Applicants should exhibit sturdy English expertise:

• Accepted assessments: IELTS, TOEFL, or equal (minimal scores range by programme).
• Exemptions: Only Cultural Anthropology programme accepts proof of prior English-medium research (minimal 4 years).
• Deadline for take a look at outcomes: 1 March 2026.

   Selection Procedure

The course of unfolds in two phases:

• Phase 1: Programme Committee evaluations functions and decides admission.
• Phase 2: Admitted candidates are ranked for scholarship choice. Each programme nominates 20 candidates, with 10 chosen and 10 positioned on a ready checklist.

Selection Criteria:

• Motivation {and professional} objectives aligned with sustainable growth.
• Potential to behave as brokers of change in home nations.
• Academic achievements mixed with dedication to societal affect.
• Gender steadiness (sturdy encouragement for feminine candidates).
• Regional steadiness throughout eligible nations.
• Preference for candidates from weak teams (Leave No One Behind precept).
• Strong institutional suggestions.

   Timeline

• Spring 2026: Selection Committees nominate candidates.
• Last week of May 2026: VLIRUOS informs chosen candidates and people on the ready checklist.

   Why Apply?

The ICP Connect Scholarship is greater than monetary assist, it’s an funding in future leaders. By becoming a member of, students achieve:

• Access to world-class training at KU Leuven.
• Exposure to numerous worldwide networks.
• Skills to drive sustainable growth of their home nations.
• A lifelong function as changemakers and advocates for optimistic societal transformation.

 

Applicants are inspired to arrange fastidiously, meet all eligibility necessities, and craft compelling motivation letters that spotlight each tutorial potential and dedication to societal change. With solely 50 scholarships out there, competitors is powerful, however the rewards are life-changing. Futher data Here.

For formidable changemakers able to make a long-lasting affect, the ICP Connect Scholarship is a gateway to development, management, and significant contribution to their communities and past. Follow the instructions and Apply.

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