Belgium Université catholique de Louvain Scholarships 2026 Open
Belgium has just opened a rare, fully funded doctoral opportunity for researchers passionate about public policy, reproductive justice, gender studies, and social history. Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) is now inviting applications for a four-year PhD scholarship under the nationally funded 3CoBe project, a major research initiative examining how contraceptive costs have been covered in Belgium since legalization. For early-career scholars whose interests sit at the intersection of history, sociology, political science, and health policy, this is one of the most targeted and high-impact PhD openings currently available in Europe.
This funded doctoral position is designed to remove financial barriers while placing researchers inside one of Belgium’s strongest interdisciplinary academic environments. Selected candidates will join UCLouvain’s Interdisciplinary Research Center on Families and Sexualities (Cirfase), where the focus is not only on producing rigorous scholarship but also on shaping real-world policy conversations around reproductive health and social justice.
The 3CoBe PhD scholarship provides a complete four-year funding structure, organized as two initial years followed by a two-year continuation after confirmation. The award includes a full-time doctoral position in Louvain-la-Neuve, a monthly scholarship aligned with UCLouvain’s official PhD scale, and additional commuting support through train subscription coverage where applicable. Beyond financial security, the program offers close academic supervision within an interdisciplinary research team, along with strong institutional support for publishing, conference participation, and public engagement activities in both French and English—giving scholars a platform that extends well beyond the dissertation itself.
UCLouvain is seeking candidates who combine academic excellence with real research maturity. This opportunity is ideal for early-career researchers holding a Master’s degree in history, sociology, political science, or related social-science fields, particularly those who have already demonstrated strength in qualitative research methods, archival work, and institutional analysis. Strong language capacity is essential: applicants should be comfortable working in French and at least one of Dutch or English, and capable of producing high-level academic writing in both French and English. Prior exposure to gender studies, reproductive health, or public policy research is not mandatory—but it is considered a stron.g advantage.
Applications are submitted entirely online through UCLouvain’s official recruitment platform, and candidates are expected to prepare a focused, research-driven file that aligns clearly with the objectives of the 3CoBe project, especially its historical research dimension. Required documents include a detailed academic CV, a motivation letter of no more than two pages, official Master’s diploma and transcripts, a copy of the Master’s thesis with a two-page summary, and contact details for two academic referees. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interviews scheduled for the week of 23 February 2026, marking the final stage of selection.
For serious doctoral candidates, timing is critical. The last date to apply for the 3CoBe PhD Scholarship at Université catholique de Louvain is 25 January 2026 at 22:59 (UTC). The selected researcher is expected to begin the PhD in April 2026, stepping into a fully funded academic journey that combines financial security, interdisciplinary depth, and real influence in the evolving fields of reproductive policy and social history.
