Overview of the ICP Connect Scholarship The ICP Connect Scholarship, funded by VLIRUOS and the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD), provides fully funded opportunities for exceptional students from eligible countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The scholarship supports outstanding applicants pursuing one of five specialised Master’s programmes at KU Leuven during the 2026–2027 academic year. These awards aim to empower future leaders who can drive sustainable development and contribute to positive societal change in their home regions. Eligible Master’s Programmes The scholarship applies to the following KU Leuven Master’s degrees: 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 A total of 50 scholarships are available, with 10 awarded per programme. Scholarship Coverage and Duration ICP Connect Scholarship recipients receive comprehensive financial support for the full duration of the programme, including: Full tuition fee waiver Monthly allowance: €1,400 for living costs, local transport, meals, personal expenses, and accommodation Health insurance coverage Installation and indirect travel costs Travel expenses: Round-trip economy airfare to Belgium, including required internal flights Duration: The full standard length of the selected Master’s programme All benefits are funded through the recipient’s general grant under the ICP Connect package. Eligible Nationalities Applicants must hold nationality from and reside in one of the following eligible countries: Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, D.R. Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South AfricaAsia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Palestinian Territories, VietnamLatin America: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru Eligibility Requirements Applicants must meet the Programme’s academic and professional criteria: Nationality and residence: Must be a national and resident of one of the eligible countries Age limit: Maximum 35 years for first-time Master’s applicants Maximum 45 years for advanced Master’s applicants Educational qualifications: Must meet KU Leuven’s admission requirements for the chosen programme Professional background: Priority for candidates working or aspiring to work in higher education, government, or civil society Private-sector professionals and recent graduates may be considered with strong motivation Scholarship history: Must not have previously received a Belgian government scholarship Must not have been enrolled in a Belgian higher education institution before 1 January of the entry year Application limit: Only one ICP Connect Scholarship application is permitted per year Full eligibility details are available on the VLIRUOS website. Application Process Application deadline: 1 February 2026 (23:59) Candidates applying for an eligible Master’s programme are automatically considered for the ICP Connect Scholarship. Key steps include: Apply through KU Leuven’s official application system before the deadline Upload all required documents Skip the application fee by uploading the designated PDF under “Proof of payment of application fee” Required documentation includes: Standard programme-specific application documents Two recommendation letters submitted by referees through official institutional email addresses The ICP Connect scholarship form Digital portfolio for Master of Human Settlements (only for candidates with an architecture background) English language proficiency is required for all programmes. Test results must be submitted no later than 1 March 2026. Selection Procedure Selection occurs in two phases: Phase 1 – Programme Admission: The Programme Committee evaluates academic eligibility and admits qualified applicants. Phase 2 – Scholarship Nomination: Each programme nominates and ranks 20 candidates. The top 10 are selected, while others are placed on a waiting list. VLIRUOS notifies selected and waitlisted candidates directly. Selection Criteria Candidates are evaluated on: Motivation and professional goals, particularly their potential to act as agents of change Alignment with sustainable development priorities Academic performance Professional experience and application relevance English proficiency Gender balance considerations Regional representation Commitment to knowledge transfer Strength of recommendation letters Preference for applicants without prior scholarships in high-income countries Final results are announced by spring 2026, with official notifications issued by late May 2026. Further Information Applicants can consult the VLIRUOS website for complete scholarship guidelines and KU Leuven’s Programme Guide for details on eligible Master’s programmes. For application-related questions, candidates should contact KU Leuven Admissions; scholarship-specific questions should be directed to VLIRUOS. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the scholarship organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.