Study Programmes at Ghent University

Master Programmes and other international programmes
Ghent University offers a number of English master programmes and subsequent master programmes with a long tradition and international fame.
Ph.D. programmes
Ghent University's 5 Doctoral Schools and 11 faculties provide excellent training opportunities for young researchers working towards a PhD degree.

Ghent University Initiatives

Bilateral agreements are international cooperation agreements between two universities, concluded in order to start up joint initiatives or to intensify existing contacts. The main purpose is to create opportunities for student and staff mobility outside Europe.
Santander Group
Ghent University is partner in the Santander Group, a network that aims at establishing special academic, cultural and socio-economic ties.  
BOF Doctoral Scholarships
Ghent University's Special Research fund provides funding for full-time doctoral research at Ghent University for up to 4 years.
BOF Post-Doctoral and Tenure-track Fellowships
The Special Research Funds' post-doctoral fellowships and associate professor appointments give excellent researchers the opportunity to establish an academic career, with a minimum duration of 3 years
BOF Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowships
Researchers wishing to spend of 1-12 month at Ghent University can apply for mobility grants from the Special Research Fund.
BOF Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from Developing Countries
Special funding for up to 4 years is available for early-stage researchers from developing countries interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree.
BOF funding for joint doctorates
Outgoing as well as ingoing international mobility is supported for a period of 6-24 months, for students carrying out Ph.D. research at Ghent University and an international partner university
BOF co-funding for Chinese doctoral candidates holding a CSC-grant
Partial funding for Ph.D. research at Ghent University is available for particular groups of Chinese students, for up to 4 years.
Master grants for candidates from developing countries
Ten grants are available every year for students from developing countries wishing to enrol for a degree of Master at Ghent University.
IOF Post-Doctoral Technology Developers
These full-time permanent fellowship positions from Ghent University's Industrial Research Fund are open to candidates with a Ph.D. degree who will provide assistance in economic and industrial valorisation activities.
Technology Transfer
Ghent University encourages technology development and assists researchers in the commercialisation of their research results.
Membership in International Organisations
Ghent University is a member in various international organisations. Please click the above link to see an extensive list.
China Platform
The China Platform develops initiatives for better cooperation - educational as well as research-orientated - with Chinese institutions.  
India Platform UGent
Focus on collaboration between UGent - India.

Flemish Government Initiatives

FWO Doctoral Scholarships for EU citizens
Up to 4 years of full-time funding for fundamental doctoral research at a Flemish university can be obtained competitively from the Research Foundation  -Flanders (FWO)
FWO Post-Doctoral Level
Excellent researchers who have recently obtained their PhD degree may qualify for these postdoctoral fellowships (3-9 years) for fundamental research from the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO).
FWO Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowships
junior and senior postdoctoral fellows can apply for mobility grants from the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) to spend 3-12 months at a Flemish university
FWO Scientific Research Networks
International networks of research teams, recognised for a minimum period of 5 years by the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), may receive additional funding for their activities.
FWO Bilateral Agreements
Various types of exchanges are possible between Flanders and Argentina, Bulagria, Ecuador, Japan, Poland and the U.S. through these agreements.
IWT Doctoral Scholarships for EU citizens
Up to 4 years of full-time funding for doctoral research in exact, applied biomedical and veterinary sciences can be obtained from the IWT.
IWT Post-Doctoral Fellowships
The Institute for the Promotion Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT) provides fellowships to researchers with a PhD degree who wish to commercialise their research findings.
Bilateral Cultural Agreements: Exchange programmes for students and young researchers
The Flemish Government provides funds for the exchange of students/researchers to various countries with which Flanders has forged bilateral cultural agreements.
Cooperation programme with Central and Eastern Europe
The Flemish Government provides funds for cooperation with countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Cooperation programme with France: Tournesol
Special exchange programmes between France and Flanders exist in the fields of technology and medical research.
Royal Flemish Academy for Science and the Arts (VLAC)
The Royal Academy offers fellowships, including accommodation, to international top-academics as a means to encourage international collaboration with Flanders.

Belgian Federal Government Initiatives

Postdoc Fellowships to non-EU Researchers
Experienced researchers from particular countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasia, Central Asia, the Mediterranean region, Central Africa and South America can obtain 6-12-month research fellowships in Belgium.
Bilateral Agreements 
Various types of collaborative projects are established between Belgium and the following partner countries: Bulgaria, China, Poland, Russia, Vietnam and Argentina.
Interuniversity Attraction Poles (IAP)
These large international thematic research networks are funded for 5 years. They span research fields in life sciences, exact and applied sciences as well as the humanities and social sciences.

University Development Cooperation Programme 

Belgian Secretary of State for Development Cooperation: Development Cooperation Prize
Every year, prizes are awarded to young researchers for oustanding dissertations or publications contributing to development cooperation.
VLIR-UOS: International Course Programmes (IPC)
This programme funds master-level courses at Flemish universities, focussing on specific problems of developing countries.
VLIR-UOS: ICP-Ph.D. Scholarships
This programme, based on capacity building in the South, makes sandwich scholarships available for doctoral research in the home institution in the South and a Flemish university.
VLIR-UOS: Own Initiatives
Own Initiatives are 5-year cooperation programmes between a Flemish university and a university from the South.
VLIR-UOS: Short Training Initiatives (STI)
Short Training Initiatives address issues of development through short study programmes for interested actors from developing countries.
VLIR-UOS: International Training Programmes
The International Training Programmes are directed towards professionals from the South, and organised at a Flemish University.
VLIR-UOS: Scholarships for Ph.D. students from a Flemish University 
This scholarship programme provides Flemish students researching issues of development cooperation with full-time funding for their Ph.D. research.
VLIR-UOS: International Conferences
Conferences on issues of development cooperation can be supported with VLIR-UOS funds.
BTC: Belgian Technical Cooperation
The BTC is the administrator for these DGDC scholarships, providing funding for Ph.D. students from developing countries spending part of their time in Belgium.

Participation in International Cooperation Programmes initiated by the European Commission and Other Organisations

Target group: Europe

Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP)
The LLP supports learning opportunities from childhood to old age in every single life situation. With a budget of over € 7000 million it is the largest EC-funded cooperation programme.
Tempus IV
Emphasis on cooperation + modernisation of higher education (institutions) between Europe and the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.
FP7 ( 2007 – 2013 ): Introduction
The Seventh Framework programme in a nutshell: useful information for everyone interested in getting involved in FP7.
FP7 ( 2007 – 2013 ): Cooperation
Private companies, public organisations as well as individual researchers (EU and non-EU) can apply for funding in particular research areas. Teams are expected to collaborate internationally.
FP7 ( 2007 – 2013 ): Ideas: ERC grants
Post-doctoral mobile researchers can become Principal Investigators with their own research team and funding. Annual calls for ERC grants are issued.
FP7 ( 2007 – 2013 ): People
Through a range of Marie Curie Programmes, the 7th Framework Programme provides international and intersectoral mobility scholarships as well as funding for training networks.
ESF : EUROCORES
The ESF Collaborative Research Programme issues call afther a particular theme has been agreed by ESF. The funding project is designed to be complementary to the FP7 programme.

Target group: North and South America

EU/US Programme Atlantis
Atlantis provides funding for transatlantic cooperation in the field of higher education and vocational training.
EU/Canada Programme
This programme provides funding for transatlantic cooperation in the field of higher education and vocational training.
Alfa Programme
Funding for cooperation between EU - Latin America; focus on institutional and academic management and scientific and technical training.
Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF)
MA & PhD students, and postdoc researchers at an American or Belgian university can apply for a 6-12-month fellowship to carry out research at a Belgian/American University respectively.
U.S. Department of State: Fulbright programme
MA or PhD students as well as postdocs/lecturers can apply for funding towards an exchange period at a Belgian / American university.

Target group: Middle East, Asia, Oceania and Africa/ Caribbean/ Pacific

Tempus IV
Emphasis on cooperation + modernisation of higher education (institutions) between Europe and the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.
Edulink 
EDULINK is open to all countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the 15 EU Member States that are signatories to the 9th European Development Fund (EDF).
Anna Lindh Foundation
The Anna Lindh Foundation is a network that provides funds for cooperation within the Euromed group of countries.
Japan: JSPS and Canon Foundation
EU-Australia Programme
This programme provides funds for cooperation between EU - Australia in the field of higher education and vocational training.
EU-New Zealand Programme
This programme provides funds for cooperation between EU - New Zealand in the field of higher education and vocational training.

Worldwide Target Group

Erasmus Mundus Programme
Focus is on the promotion of EU higher education in the rest of the world by organising interuniversity master programmes with elaborate mobility schemes between EU - rest of the world.
Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window
This mobility scheme addresses student and academic exchanges, designed to foster co-operation in the field of higher education between the European Union and Third-countries.
Unesco and the Flemish Government: Trust Fund
Research in Hydrology and Oceanology take priority in this collaborative fund, aimed at disseminating Flemish expertise and implementing it in multilateral organisations.
NATO: Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme
Various types of grants are available to scientists in NATO-countries, Partner and Mediterranean Dialogue countries in a number of priority areas.
International Foundation for Science (IFS)
This ngo helps young researchers to establish an academic career by means of "research back pack" funding.
European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technological Research (COST)
Researchers from COST-member states can propose new actions, which - once accepted - can be joined by other individuals or interested countries.