VLIR Sholarships

Scholarships:

There are different possibilities for obtaining a study grant:

Admission requirements for a VL.I.R. scholarship

Geographic distribution: Only residents from developing countries, listed in the "List of Developing Countries" from the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) from the Organisation for Economic co-operation and Development (OECD), are eligible for a grant or scholarship. The candidate may not reside in Belgium on the moment of the application.

The candidate may not have studied (or study) in an industrialised country as listed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation (OECD). Exceptions on this rule can be considered if there are guarantees the candidate will return to his/her country (or another developing country) after completion of the studies.

  • Age: The applicant may not be older than 35 years for an ICP and not older than 40 years for an ITP at the moment of application. Exceptions can be granted.
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  • Education: The candidate must comply to the admission requirements for an International Course or Training. Candidates without Third Cycle Diploma will be given priority.
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  • Professional experience: Priority will be given to candidates with at least 2 years of work experience. Priority will be given to candidates working in the sectors of Higher Education, Public Administration, Research Institutes, Social Economy, Small/Medium Scale Enterprise, Non Governmental Organisations.
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  • Candidates working for a multinational company or a multilateral organisation are not eligible to a VL.I.R.-scholarship.
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  • Financial means: The candidate has no other resources which would enable him/her to undertake a training abroad.
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  • Languages: The candidate must be proficient in the language used during the course or training. Candidates originating from countries where English is not the official language, must – if possible – have obtained a score of 550 on a TOEFL test, or must prove part of his/her education was performed in English.
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  • Motivation: The motivation of the candidate (professionally, personally, …) is an important criterion.
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  • Previous scholarships: Priority will be given to candidates who didn’t benefit yet from a scholarship, and/or didn’t attend training or education in an industrialised country.
  • Gender: An equal participation of men and women will be pursued.
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  • Workplan: The study subjects chosen by the candidate and his/her study and activity planning will be taken into consideration. This requirement applies only for candidates for the International Training Programme.
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  • Relevance of the course/training and reintegration possibilities: The relevance of the chosen ICP / ITP for the career of the applicant and for his/her organisation and/or country will be assessed. The way the candidate will be able to effectively use and apply the acquired knowledge after his/her return to his/her country, will be taken into consideration. Priority will be given to the candidates who - after completion of the course/training - will be employed by a development programme related to the course/training, in the partner countries. This means the activities of the candidate upon his/her return will be taken into consideration. The possibilities of knowledge transfer after the return of the candidate to his/her country is an important criterion. Preference will be given to the candidate having a certificate from an employer, declaring the candidate will have a professional activity in his/her country of origin or an other development country, after the completion of the studies.

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    Instructions for applicants

    The application procedure for a VL.I.R.-scholarship supposes the application for an International Course or Training, but the application for an International Course or Training does not necessarily include an application for a VL.I.R. scholarship. The applicant must indicate on the VL.I.R. application form if he/she wishes to apply for a VL.I.R. scholarship.

    Financial aspects

    The scholarship consists of two parts:
    (a) payments made directly to the scholar, and
    (b) other costs covered directly by the VL.I.R. or the host university.

    Payments to the scholar

    The scholar will be paid by his/her host university in monthly instalments:

    These allowances shall last no longer than 14 months for a one-year programme or 26 months for a two-year programme. For each full month the (above mentioned) amounts will be paid. Any other month started will be paid pro rata the number of days in Belgium, plus one day. The allowance for married scholars and/or scholars with children is limited to a monthly allowance of BEF 2,000 for the spouse and per child. Travel expenses incurred by the scholar's family will not be covered by the host university.

    Per academic year the scholar will be paid by his/her host university a fee for teaching materials (including the printing of the dissertation) of a maximum of BEF 10,000 upon presentation of statements of expenses.

    The scholar will be paid by his/her host university once upon presentation of statements of expenses:

     

    Payments covered directly by the VL.I.R. or by the host university

    International travel

    The scholarship includes one economy class return airline ticket per academic year. Arrangements for international travel to Belgium will be handled by the VL.I.R.

    Insurance

    The host university will provide medical, third-party liability and accident insurance for the scholar.

    Annual registration fee

    The host university will cover the annual registration fee for the VL.I.R. scholarships.

     

    Remarks

    Scholars from the Democratic Republic of China

    Under a bilateral agreement between China and Belgium, travel expenses incurred by Chinese scholars will be borne by the Chinese counterpart. Scholars are advised to contact the appropriate Chinese authorities on this matter. No travel costs will be refunded to Chinese scholars by Flemish universities or by the VL.I.R. Chinese scholars must also make their own travel arrangements.

    Family

    As stated above, the scholar will receive a monthly allowance for his/her spouse and per child, even if they stay in their home country. We recommend that scholars' families stay in their home country, since experience has shown that they often find it hard to live in Belgium, away from their other relatives and with no specific activities in which to get involved. Moreover, those scholars on a two-year course who pass their first-year exams will receive an airline ticket allowing them to take home leave for holidays and to undertake fieldwork/data collection during the summer recess for their second-year dissertation.

    If the scholar wishes to bring his/her spouse and/or children along, we strongly recommended that he/she first comes alone and brings his/her family to Belgium after he/she has found suitable accommodation, since finding accommodation for married couples can sometimes prove difficult. More importantly, it will be almost impossible for his/her family to obtain a visa for Belgium if the scholar cannot prove that he/she has arranged suitable accommodation for a family in Belgium prior to departure from the home country.

    Duration of scholarship

    As stated above, scholarships have a maximum duration of 14 months for one-year programmes or 26 months for two-year programmes. Extensions are granted only in special cases (e.g. medical reasons). Scholars who fail their exams will not be entitled to extend the duration of their scholarship.

    Instructions for applicants

    The application procedure for a VL.I.R. scholarship automatically means that the candidate has applied for an International Training Programme (ITP). However, the application for an International Training Programme does not necessarily include an application for a VL.I.R. scholarship. The applicant must indicate on the VL.I.R. application form if he/she wishes to apply for a VL.I.R. scholarship.

    Documents to be submitted by the candidate

    Candidates must submit the completed VL.I.R. application form, together with the following documents:

    Submission of the application file

    Application files should be submitted directly to the VL.I.R. or to the training programme or course supervisor by 10 April 1999 at latest. Belgian Embassies and local development co-operation offices can assist in the transfer of the file. 

    VL.I.R. contacts applicants
    All applicants will be informed of the result of their application for a VL.I.R. scholarship.

    Procedure for selected applicants
    Selected applicants must confirm their participation in the ICP/ITP and their acceptance of the scholarship (if applicable). They must return an acceptance form  by 15 July 1999. They must also initiate the procedure for applying for a visa and a residence permit to travel to and study in Belgium. The VL.I.R. or the organising university will provide the selected students with detailed instructions and information.

    Deadlines and important dates
    10 April 1999
    Deadline for submission by the candidate of applications for participation in an International Training Programme or Course Programme, together with the application for a VL.I.R. scholarship (if applicable).
    End of May 1999
    Scientific Admission Committee informs the candidate of its decision regarding the admission to the training programme or course.
    End of June 1999
    VL.I.R. informs the candidate of its decision regarding the granting of a VL.I.R. scholarship.
    End of July 1999
    Candidate informs the VL.I.R. regarding his/her participation in the training programme or course and his/her acceptance of the VL.I.R. scholarship.
    Early September 1999
    Travel to Belgium (depending on ICP or ITP).

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