Belgium Rolls Out Master Minds Fellowship 2026 at Vrije University
If you’ve been waiting for Europe to officially roll out high-value scholarships for top international graduates, this is one of those moments you should not ignore. Belgium, through the Flemish region, has now opened applications for the Master Minds Fellowship 2026 — a prestigious funding opportunity designed to attract outstanding global talent to its leading universities, including Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Backed by the Flemish Government, this fellowship is built for academically strong Bachelor’s graduates who are ready to pursue a Master’s degree in Europe with serious financial support behind them.
What makes the Master Minds Fellowship stand out is that it goes far beyond symbolic funding. Successful candidates receive a fixed grant of €10,020 per academic year, paired with a major tuition fee reduction that limits fees to the Flemish student rate — approximately €139.40 for the academic year. The funding is valid for the full duration of the Master’s programme, with continuation into the second year of two-year programmes subject to academic progress. While costs such as health insurance, flights, and language preparation are not included, the financial core of studying in Belgium is dramatically reduced — turning a top European Master’s degree into a genuinely accessible opportunity.
This fellowship is highly selective and aimed at students who have already demonstrated academic excellence. To be eligible, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 (calculated via Scholaro), be a citizen of any country except Russia, and must not be currently enrolled in or graduated from a Flemish higher education institution. A critical requirement is that candidates must already hold an official admission letter from Vrije Universiteit Brussel before applying for the fellowship. In addition, applicants must meet higher English-language standards, including TOEFL iBT 94, IELTS Academic Band 7.0, or Cambridge English C1 with a minimum score of 185 — underlining that this award is designed for students ready to thrive in a demanding international academic environment.
The application process follows a strict and structured pathway. Candidates must first apply to a Master’s programme at VUB and secure their official admission letter from the Education and Student Administration Office — without this, a fellowship application is not accepted.
Once admitted, students submit their Master Minds Fellowship application online, uploading a complete set of documents that typically includes academic transcripts, proof of GPA calculation, English-language test results, a motivation letter, CV, recommendation letters, and certified diploma copies. Only fully complete applications submitted before the deadline are considered, making preparation and timing absolutely critical.
For students aiming to secure one of Belgium’s most competitive international scholarships, the clock is already ticking. The last date to apply for the Master Minds Fellowship 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Brussel is 26 March 2026 at 23:59 (GMT+1). With strong financial backing, elite academic positioning, and a clear pathway into Europe’s research and professional ecosystem, the Master Minds Fellowship is not just another scholarship — it is a strategic launchpad for global careers, and one of the most powerful funding opportunities Belgium is offering to international Master’s students in 2026.
