Belgium has long been recognized as an international hub for cutting-edge research and innovation in fields such as biotechnology, medicine, engineering, and more. Top students and academics from all over the world travel to Belgium’s prestigious universities in search of world-class facilities, mentors, and learning environments in which to develop high-impact solutions to global issues.
However, the often prohibitive costs of international study create obstacles. The MasterMind Scholarships seek to help talented non-EU students overcome these barriers by providing full funding and supportive community spaces for English-taught graduate degree programs at Belgian host universities. The next MasterMind Scholarship application cycle for the 2024 academic year will open in late 2023, so prospective international master’s and PhD students must understand eligibility and prepare compelling applications now.
An overview of the MasterMind Scholarship’s offerings for international degree seekers
The MasterMind Scholarships, launched in 2013 by the Belgian government under the leadership of former science and innovation secretary Philippe Busquin, support excellence and diversity at Belgian universities. The program’s objectives are as follows:
- Addressing financial barriers that prevent qualified non-EU candidates from pursuing prestigious Belgian graduate degrees.
- Enabling Belgian universities and leading companies to recruit and potentially retain global talent, knowledge transfer
- Facilitating multicultural exchange and cooperation to strengthen global innovation networks.
Every year, more than 100 fully-funded MasterMind Scholarships are awarded to cover two years of master’s studies or up to four years of doctoral studies, with hundreds of academic program options available in STEM and beyond. Scholarships provide living stipends, insurance, travel assistance, tuition fee waivers, leadership development, cohort networking events, and guaranteed internship or employment opportunities with program sponsors such as BASF, Proximus, and Solvay. Non-EU students interested in Belgian graduate degrees will benefit greatly from the MasterMind Scholarship.
Am I Eligible to Apply for a 2024 MasterMind Scholarship?
The MasterMind website’s eligibility requirements outline the parameters candidates must meet to qualify for application consideration.
Citizenship status: candidates must hold and provide documentation confirming non-EU country citizenship that allows them to study legally in Belgium.
Academic stage: applicants must either hold or currently be pursuing a degree that makes them eligible to apply directly to Belgian universities of their choice that participate in MasterMind.
Prior academics: minimum GPA equivalencies and subject background thresholds are required, including for English language abilities, but differ across individual degree programs.
Timeline: Candidates must be able to begin funded degree studies in Belgium in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Meeting all eligibility checkpoints allows an applicant’s MasterMind submission to be evaluated by selection committees at prospective academic institutions. Prospective applicants have the best chance of receiving this competitive award if they prepare confirmation of citizenship, transcripts and anticipated degree conferral, statement of purpose essays explaining motivations, and immigration feasibility checks as soon as possible.
Key dates and deadlines for 2024 MasterMind scholarship applications
Given that MasterMind scholarships applications require coordination between multiple Belgian university programs, government administrators, and corporate sponsors, submitting a complete dossier by the deadlines is critical. The first stage application directly to MasterMind opens in October 2023, with the degree program beginning in September 2024. Exact dates for 2023-2024 are still pending final confirmation, but the anticipated timeline is:
October 2023: The online MasterMind scholarship application portal opens
31 January 2024: Deadline for all prospective candidates to submit Stage 1 requirements of personal and academic profiles, statement of purpose essay, and documentation checklist to centralized review.
From February to May 2024: Eligible Stage 1 submissions are distributed to the Belgian universities that candidates have applied to for Stage 2 assessment.
End of June 2024: Final MasterMind award decisions are released to scholarship recipients, along with information about enrollment confirmation, visas, travel, housing challenges, and so on.
Failure to comply with deadlines, particularly the initial January 31st Stage 1 cutoff, results in disqualification. Due to interview scheduling and final decisions, neither MasterMind nor university selection committees will be able to review late submissions after this deadline. Meeting key preparation milestones ahead of time puts an applicant in the best possible position for award consideration.
Preparing a Compelling 2024 MasterMind Application
In addition to meeting eligibility requirements, prospective MasterMind Scholarship recipients should submit thoughtful and polished applications. The competition for this prestigious award is fierce, as it aims to attract top global talent to Belgium’s research universities and companies.
We evaluate applicants based not only on their previous academic achievements but also on their future academic and professional potential. The two-stage review process enables both the centralized MasterMind and individual degree program selection committees to conduct comprehensive assessments.
Standout applications commonly include:
- Significant descriptions of previous academic and professional projects demonstrating critical thinking, technical abilities, written communications, and more.
- Focused alignment of stated research goals and professional development ambitions with existing Belgian university institutes and MasterMind partner priorities
- Robust letters of recommendation corroborating abilities, along with additional certifications, academic writing samples, accomplishments, and other evidence provided by outside sources.
well-crafted statements of purpose explaining personal motivations for pursuing specific programs and research in Belgium rather than other locations
Preparing application drafts for feedback from university international admissions offices, current program students, or previous MasterMind recipients can help improve content. Tailoring resumes, transcripts, essays, and supplementary items to directly align with MasterMind evaluation criteria takes significant effort, but it maximizes candidacy opportunities.
Benefits of Obtaining a Fully Funded MasterMind Scholarship
The MasterMind Scholarship provides significant financial and personal support structures, allowing recipients to thrive during funded graduate studies and lay the groundwork for future success.
- Guaranteed living stipends, insurance coverage, discounted transportation, and other generous benefits help to alleviate daily cost-of-living challenges in Belgium.
- Tuition coverage at world-class Belgian universities enables access to pioneering research groups, technology resources, global partnerships, and networks that would otherwise be unavailable to many international students.
- Built-in career development opportunities, ranging from early internship guarantees to recruitment pipelines with innovative Belgian companies, provide financial security after graduation and catalyze future impact.
- Vibrant multicultural communities across both university cohorts and MasterMind-specific programming provide valuable friendships and peer support mechanisms for navigating enormous changes while studying abroad.
By investing significantly in the academic development and personal well-being of high-achieving non-EU graduate students during their time in Belgium, the MasterMind Scholarships enable recipients to fully leverage their experience for personal growth and global cooperative success long after graduation.
Confirming Enrollment and Preparing for Arrival after the 2024 Award Notice
After receiving official scholarship offer letters from prospective academic institutions in mid-2024, recipients will immediately begin preparing to leverage MasterMind funding across multiple domains, following a two-stage review process. This will allow them to enrol without delay.
- To confirm their funded place, newly awarded recipients must formally accept or decline the scholarship offer by the deadline. If you decline the offer or miss the confirmation date, you may lose your funding.
- Applying for necessary student visas and immigration paperwork early, using MasterMind award letters, can shorten processing timelines and ensure all approvals well before the academic term begins.
- Booking affordable travel arrangements through MasterMind guidance, contacting assigned university housing offices, and completing any required pre-enrollment exams or administrative tasks will ensure a smooth transition to campus by September 2024.
Remaining organized, proactive, and communicative in these areas, even during the summer, will allow MasterMind Scholarship recipients to take full advantage of their prestigious Belgian funding offers without difficulty.
Conclusion
The MasterMind Scholarships provide high-achieving international students with unparalleled opportunities for graduate education, pioneering research, and professional advancement at Belgian universities and partners. Preparing diligent and thoughtful funding applications now for the 2024 program start date will provide promising non-EU candidates with generous financial packages, elite networks, and guaranteed career advancement.
Submitting required documents and essays before the January 2024 deadlines, as well as thoughtfully aligning credentials with selective program priorities, provides applicants with the best chance of earning a coveted MasterMind Scholarship spot. This transformative award enables recipients to engage vibrant multicultural academic communities while developing skills and convictions for collaboratively advancing innovation to address today’s global challenges.
Website
To learn more about the Government of Flanders’ Master Mind Scholarships, please visit the official websites:
