Deadline for Submissions: 17 February 2026
Announcement: 2026 Special Research Fund – Doctoral Scholarships Targeted at Candidates from the Global South
About the Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates Originating from the Global South
Through its “Special Research Fund” (BOF), Ghent University offers competitive PhD “sandwich” scholarships to talented doctoral candidates from countries in the Global South. This funding opportunity is designed to facilitate research projects where the PhD work is divided equally between Ghent University in the ‘North’ and a partner institution in the Global South. Specifically, Ghent University will provide financial support exclusively for the research period conducted on its campus, lasting 24 months. Applicants must secure full-time funding for the remaining 24 months of their doctoral research to be undertaken at their home institution in the Global South.
Eligibility Criteria for Scholarship Applicants
- Applicants must hold citizenship from one of the designated Global South countries as detailed in the country list.
- Applications need to be submitted collaboratively by the doctoral candidate, a supervisor (promoter) from Ghent University, and a supervisor from the partnering university in the Global South.
- There are no restrictions concerning the field of research. Nonetheless, preference will be granted to proposals addressing themes that hold significance within the North-South research context. This means the project objectives should align closely with the needs of beneficiaries, foster synergies, address global priorities, and correspond with the policies of involved partners and funding bodies.
- Only degree-seeking PhD students aiming to attain a (joint) doctoral degree from Ghent University are eligible. Exchange students are excluded from applying.
- This scholarship is primarily intended for early-stage PhD candidates. While some initial research work may have been completed, at the official start date of the fellowship (1 October 2026), applicants must still have a minimum of 36 months of PhD research remaining.
- In an effort to promote gender balance, Ghent University encourages female candidates to apply and stipulates that a Ghent University supervisor can support a maximum of two applicants per call, provided these candidates are of different genders.
Co-Funding Requirements
Co-funding is a mandatory component of this scholarship program. Applicants should carefully refer to the call documents for detailed guidance on acceptable co-funding sources and conditions. Generally, the partner university or research center in the Global South must guarantee:
- Appointment of a local PhD supervisor who will oversee the candidate’s research at the partner institution.
- A formal written commitment from the partner university confirming that the candidate will receive a full-time local PhD scholarship or salary for the 24 months spent conducting research locally.
- Assurance that the candidate will be sufficiently relieved from teaching or other academic duties, dedicating nearly full-time effort to doctoral research while in the South. Applicants may allocate no more than 10% of their full-time appointment to additional responsibilities such as teaching.
Mandatory Mobility Structure of the Scholarship
The scholarship incorporates a fixed mobility framework consisting of the following elements:
- The doctoral candidate must both commence and conclude their research with a stay at Ghent University lasting between 3 to 12 months.
- The initial research stay at Ghent University must begin between 1 October 2026 and 28 February 2027.
- A period of no less than 24 months of locally funded research at the partner institution in the Global South must be scheduled between these two Ghent stays.
Exceptions to the Prescribed Mobility Scheme
Applicants who face particular constraints may request an exemption from the mandatory mobility pattern if they can provide supporting evidence for one of the following scenarios:
- If the partner university or research center in the South requires completion of a PhD study program before the candidate may begin research activities, thus preventing the start of the 4-year PhD with a Ghent research stay.
- If the candidate must first fulfill a period of field research in the South prior to joining Ghent University.
- If the applicant has already completed a fully funded full-time PhD study period of up to 12 months at the partner institution in the Global South, they may seek approval to count this period towards the required 24 months of local research.
- If the applicant has already completed a fully funded full-time PhD study period of up to 12 months at Ghent University, they may request to include this time within the 24-month research duration at Ghent.
Applicants intending to utilize any of the above exceptions must submit a request for approval by 16 January 2026. This request should be sent to Ghent University’s research administration and must include the completed equest exception funding and mobility scheme form, along with all relevant supporting documents, via email to research@ugent.be.
Financial Support Details
The scholarship provides funding covering a total of 24 months of doctoral research at Ghent University. Additionally, the Ghent University supervisor receives a bench fee of €310 per month corresponding to the months of research conducted at Ghent, plus a lump sum travel budget of €8,000. This budget assists with operational expenses and partially covers travel costs for the student, the Ghent promoter, and the local supervisor.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates must submit their applications electronically in English to research@ugent.be. Alongside the application form, the Ghent University supervisor is required to provide two supplementary documents:
- An advice on the candidate, which contains the supervisor's evaluation of the applicant’s potential as a future researcher.
- An advice on the ethical and biosafety context that details the ethical considerations related to the proposed doctoral research project.
For more information and to submit your application, please visit the official webpage: Click Here To Apply.
