TheFlemish Ministry of Education and Trainingoffers theMaster Mind Scholarshipfor outstanding international students wishing to pursue aMaster’s degreeat universities inFlanders or Brussels.
The scholarship includes afull tuition fee waiverand anannual 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 themain campus in Leuven, with some also available inBrusselsandGhent, 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
- 1 academic year for Master’s programs worth 60 ECTS credits
Tuition Waiver
Recipients are fully exempt from tuition fees and are only required to pay anannual administrative fee of €136.50.
Number of Scholarships
The Flemish Government offers30 Master Mind Scholarshipsfor outstanding Master’s students in Flanders, andKU 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 anexcellent academic record(high GPA).
- Applicants must hold previous degrees fromhigher education institutions outside Flanders.
- International students who previously participated in aCredit Mobility exchangeat 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 before15 January 2026, and results may be submitted afterward.
Exemption from language requirement:
Applicants who have completed studies inEnglish-taught programsinAustralia, Canada (English-speaking part), Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, or the USAare exempt.
Exclusion Criteria
- Studentscurrently enrolledin a Flemish higher education institution arenot eligible, except those entering apreparatory programfor Master’s studies inSeptember 2026.
- TheMaster Mind Scholarshipcannot be combinedwith otherFlemish GovernmentorErasmus Mundusscholarships.
Eligible Fields of Study
The scholarship supportsMaster’s programsinthree main fields:
Humanities and Social Sciences,Science, Engineering and Technology, andBiomedical Sciences, as detailed below.
1. Humanities and Social Sciences
Programs offered inLeuven,Antwerp, andBrusselsinclude:
- 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 inLeuven,Brussels, andGhentinclude:
- 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 arenot 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: Applicantscannot apply for these separately.
Application Steps
- Application opens:15 October 2025
- Deadline:15 January 2026 (23:59 CET)
Step 1:Submit acomplete applicationfor an eligible Master’s program before 15 January 2026, including theKU Leuven Scholarships & Master Mind Candidacy Formas an annex under document type “Annexe”.
Step 2:Register your scholarship candidacy via theonline registration toolbefore the same deadline.
After nomination:Preselected candidates will be notified by10 March 2026and will be asked to submit a1-minute motivational videoby18 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 by10 March 2026and must submit a motivational video.
Preselection
TheKU Leuven central selection committeepreselects up to20 studentsto be submitted to the Flemish Government level.
Preselected applicants are informed by15 April 2026and must then complete the Flemish Government’s online application form.
Final selection
TheFlemish Government’s selection committeemakes the final decision, and results are announced inlate 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 wasnot selected.
- Due to the high number of applications,individual feedback cannot be provided.