Master Mind Scholarship for Master’s in Belgium 2026 | Fully Funded

Scholarships for International

The Flemish Ministry of Education and Training offers the Master Mind Scholarship for outstanding international students wishing to pursue a Master’s degree at universities in Flanders or Brussels.
The scholarship includes a full tuition fee waiver and an annual grant of €10,000. It is one of the most competitive scholarships in Europe, as applicants compete with highly accomplished international students.

Scholarship Details

Academic year: 2026–2027
Value: Full tuition fee waiver + €10,000 per academic year
Host institution: KU Leuven University, Belgium
Place of study: All listed programs are offered at the main campus in Leuven, with some also available in Brussels and Ghent, depending on the program.
Duration:
- 1 academic year for Master’s programs worth 60 ECTS credits
- 2 academic years for Master’s programs worth 120 ECTS credits

Tuition Waiver

Recipients are fully exempt from tuition fees and are only required to pay an annual administrative fee of €136.50.

Number of Scholarships

The Flemish Government offers 30 Master Mind Scholarships for outstanding Master’s students in Flanders, and KU Leuven may nominate up to 20 students.

Country Priorities

A number of scholarships are reserved for applicants from specific countries:

Japan (3 scholarships)
Mexico (3 scholarships)
Palestine (2 scholarships)
USA (5 scholarships)

Eligibility

Level of study: Master’s programs only.
Eligible nationalities: All nationalities except Russian citizens.

Academic requirements:

Applicants must have an excellent academic record (high GPA).
Applicants must hold previous degrees from higher education institutions outside Flanders.
International students who previously participated in a Credit Mobility exchange at a Flemish university are still eligible.

Language proficiency:

Applicants whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency through one of the following:

TOEFL iBT: minimum score of 94
IELTS: overall score of at least 7
Cambridge CPE: level C2 minimum
Language tests must be taken before 15 January 2026, and results may be submitted afterward.

Exemption from language requirement:

Applicants who have completed studies in English-taught programs in Australia, Canada (English-speaking part), Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, or the USA are exempt.

Exclusion Criteria

Students currently enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution are not eligible, except those entering a preparatory program for Master’s studies in September 2026.
The Master Mind Scholarship cannot be combined with other Flemish Government or Erasmus Mundus scholarships.

Eligible Fields of Study

The scholarship supports Master’s programs in three main fields:
Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, Engineering and Technology, and Biomedical Sciences, as detailed below.

1. Humanities and Social Sciences

Programs offered in Leuven, Antwerp, and Brussels include:

Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion
Master of Philosophy
Research Master of Philosophy
Master of Laws (LLM)
Master of Business Administration (Antwerp or Brussels)
Master of Economics
Master of Business Economics
Master of Business Engineering
Master of Business and Information Systems Engineering
Master of Information Management
Master of Actuarial and Financial Engineering
Master of Advanced Studies in Economics
Master of Management Engineering (Brussels)
Master of International Politics
Master of Advanced Studies in European Policies and Public Administration
Master of Social and Cultural Anthropology
Master of Communication Sciences: Digital Media and Society
Master of Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies
Master of Sociology
Master of Western Literature
Master of Cultural Studies
Master en Estudios Ibéricos e Iberoamericanos
Master en langue et littérature françaises
Master of English Linguistics and Literature
Master of History
Master of European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives
Master of Digital Humanities
Master of Multilingual Communication: Cross-Cultural Communication Management (Brussels)
Master of Psychology: Theory and Research
Master of Educational Studies

2. Science, Engineering and Technology

Programs offered in Leuven, Brussels, and Ghent include:

Master of Architecture (Brussels and Ghent)
Master of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Master of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Master of Biology
Master of Chemistry
Master of Geology
Master of Geography
Master of Mathematics
Master of Physics
Master of Statistics and Data Science
Master of Sustainable Development
Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling
Master of Biomedical Engineering
Master of Civil Engineering
Master of Cybersecurity
Master of Chemical Engineering
Master of Engineering: Computer Science
Master of Electrical Engineering
Master of Engineering: Energy
Master of Materials Engineering
Master of Mobility and Supply Chain Engineering
Master of Mechanical Engineering
Master of Mathematical Engineering
Master of Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering
Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Master of Artificial Intelligence
Master of Conservation of Monuments and Sites
Master of Human Settlements
Master of Nuclear Engineering
Master of Safety Engineering
Master of Urbanism, Landscape and Planning
Master of Bioinformatics
Master of Food Technology
Master of Water Resources Engineerinh
Master of Bioscience Engineering: Cellular and Genetic Engineering

3. Biomedical Sciences

Master of Bioethics
Master of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master of Arts in Sports Ethics and Integrity

Note: Preparatory, bridging, or distance learning programs are not eligible.

Scholarships Considered Under the Same Application

When applying for the Master Mind Scholarship, applicants will automatically be considered for additional KU Leuven scholarships:

Inspiring the Outstanding Scholarship
KU Leuven ASEAN Scholarship (for eligible Southeast Asian countries)
KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa (for eligible African countries)
KU Leuven Scholarship for Central and South America (for eligible Latin American countries)

Note: Applicants cannot apply for these separately.

Application Steps

Application opens: 15 October 2025
Deadline: 15 January 2026 (23:59 CET)

Step 1: Submit a complete application for an eligible Master’s program before 15 January 2026, including the KU Leuven Scholarships & Master Mind Candidacy Form as an annex under document type “Annexe”.

Step 2: Register your scholarship candidacy via the online registration tool before the same deadline.

After nomination: Preselected candidates will be notified by 10 March 2026 and will be asked to submit a 1-minute motivational video by 18 March 2026.

Selection Process

Nomination

After 15 January, each Master’s program at KU Leuven nominates eligible applicants who expressed interest in the scholarship.
All nominated students are informed by 10 March 2026 and must submit a motivational video.

Preselection

The KU Leuven central selection committee preselects up to 20 students to be submitted to the Flemish Government level.
Preselected applicants are informed by 15 April 2026 and must then complete the Flemish Government’s online application form.

Final selection

The Flemish Government’s selection committee makes the final decision, and results are announced in late May or early June 2026.

Selection Criteria

Academic performance and excellence
Previous academic awards
Motivation and leadership potential
Relevant experience
Commitment and engagement
Overall distinction of the candidate

Results Announcement

The end of the nomination process will be announced on the official scholarship website.
If no personal notification is received, it means the applicant was not selected.
Due to the high number of applications, individual feedback cannot be provided.