Ghent University BOF Doctoral Scholarships 2027 for Global South Candidates in Belgium

What Is the BOF Doctoral Scholarship?

It's a "sandwich" PhD, meaning your doctorate is shared between two universities:

• Ghent University in Belgium (the "North")
• A university or research centre in your home country (the "South")

You start and finish your PhD with research stays in Ghent, and spend the middle part doing research at home. At the end you earn a PhD (or joint PhD) from Ghent University.

Research in any field is welcome, but topics relevant to South–North cooperation are preferred.

Important Dates

• Exception requests (only if needed): 15 January 2027
• Application deadline: 9 February 2027
• Results announced: From 12 May 2027
• Scholarship start: 1 October 2027
• First Ghent stay must start by: 28 February 2028

Who Can Apply?

• Citizens of one of the eligible Global South countries on Ghent University's 2027 country list
• PhD candidates at the start of their doctorate (at least 36 months of research must remain on 1 October 2027)
• You must aim to get a PhD or joint PhD from Ghent University (exchange students are not eligible)
• You need the support of a Ghent University professor as your supervisor
• You need a supervisor at a partner university in your home country who will co-fund your PhD

Each Ghent supervisor can support up to two candidates per call, and they must be of different genders.

How the Funding Works

The PhD lasts 48 months:

• 24 months funded by Ghent University for your research stays in Belgium
• 24 months funded by your home institution, through a full-time local scholarship or salary

Ghent also provides:

• A bench fee of €310 per month of research in Ghent, for research costs
• A €8,000 travel budget to help cover travel for you and your supervisors

How the time is split:

• You start in Ghent for 3 to 12 months
• Then you spend at least 24 months researching at home
• You finish with another 3 to 12 months in Ghent

The webpage doesn't state the monthly living allowance while you're in Ghent, so check the official call document for details.

How to Apply

1. Find a Ghent University supervisor. Use Ghent's Research Explorer to find professors working in your field and contact them with your research idea.
2. Find a supervisor at a university in your home country who agrees to co-supervise.
3. Get a funding statement from your home institution confirming 24 months of full-time funding and release from teaching duties.
4. Fill in the application form in English, together with both supervisors.
5. Email your application to BOFapplication@ugent.be before 9 February 2027. Your Ghent supervisor also sends two short documents: an advice on you as a candidate and an ethics and biosafety advice.

Simple Tips

• Contact Ghent professors now. Finding a supervisor takes time, and you can't apply without one.
• Secure home funding early. The 24-month co-funding statement is mandatory and can take a while to arrange.
• Check the country list first to make sure your nationality is eligible.
• Show why your research matters at home. Projects relevant to South–North cooperation have an edge.
• Read the official call document carefully. It has the full rules, including exceptions for students who have already started some PhD work.

Apply Here

📌 Official programme page: https://www.ugent.be/en/research/funding/bof/dos

📌 Eligible countries list: https://www.ugent.be/nl/onderzoek/financiering/bof/dos/countrylist.pdf

📌 Find a Ghent supervisor: https://research.ugent.be/web/home/en

📌 Questions: BOF@ugent.be

Disclaimer: World Opportunities Hub is an independent information platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Ghent University. Always confirm details on the official Ghent University website before applying.

| Organization | Ghent University (BOF) | | Region | Ghent, Belgium + home country | | Deadline | 9 February 2027 | | Level | PhD | | Funding | 24 months funded by Ghent + €8,000 travel budget |