BAEF grants for Study or Research in the US

Do you dream of studying or doing research in the United States?

The Belgian American Educational Foundation offers scholarships for study/research at top universities in the US. Moreover, a prestigious BAEF scholarship can make the difference in your future career.
The scholarships are open to candidates with excellent study results from all disciplines. The chances of getting a scholarship are quite high. For students, the main preliminary challenge is to launch a timely admissions application to several top universities in the US before you apply for a scholarship. You start that process several months before you submit your scholarship application. Be there on time!

UGent offers support to candidates.

BAEF offers and conditions

  • Scholarships for MBA (check the specific deadline and procedure!)
  • Alumni Award for researchers (annual rotation across different research areas) (call is expected early 2025)

General requirements

  • Possessing the Belgian nationality
  • Very good command of the English language (TOEFL iBT 100/120 or IELTS 7.5/9)
  • According to the scholarship you wish to apply for: a Belgian bachelor’s - or master’s - or doctorate degree to be obtained in the academic year of application or already obtained
  • Excellent study results (great distinction or multiple distinction) 

Application

The deadline for submission is 31 October.
Pre-application is available from mid-July.

Your application file should contain:

  • Your CV
  • Experience and possible achievements in research or other fields
  • An autobiographical essay (max. 1 page)
  • A concrete study or research plan at your selection of US top universities. Your application process to universities in the US should already be ongoing at the time of submitting your scholarship application.
  • You motivate your choices and the importance of your research or study plan.
  • Reference letters 

Applying to a foreign university can take several months. Language – and knowledge tests may also be required. So it is best not to postpone your information search and application for admission at the foreign university(s) and take the institutional deadlines (some expire quite early) into account!

Selection procedure

After an assessment of your application file, candidates are invited to the individual BAEF selection interview at the end of January (in English) in Brussels.

Ghent University support

Candidates who meet the conditions and are considering applying for this scholarship can count on support from Ghent University. Register to be kept informed about the support initiatives organised in the course of the academic year.

For study or research in the US in 2026. Information session on Welcome Abroad: register to be kept informed.

Contact 

Belgian American Educational Foundation

Egmontstraat 11

1000 Brussel

T +32 (0)2 513 59 55

F +32 (0)2 672 53 81

mail@baef.be

www.baef.be

UGent International Relations Office 

BuitenlandNaStudies@ugent.be