Ranked consistently among the world’s top 100 research institutions, Ghent University (Universiteit Gent – UGent) in Belgium has officially opened the application cycle for its Special Research Fund (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds – BOF) Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from the Global South (DOS) for the 2027 intake.
This flagship European doctoral fellowship operates under a collaborative 4-year “sandwich” research model. Rather than detaching scholars entirely from their home institutions, the grant funds 24 months of full-time doctoral research at Ghent University in Belgium, while the candidate spends the remaining 24 months conducting field research, data analysis, and teaching at an eligible partner university or research center in the Global South.
Doctoral fellows receive comprehensive institutional support during their stays in Ghent: a tax-exempt monthly living stipend (approximately €2,550/month), an €8,000 operational and travel budget covering international flights for the candidate and both supervisors, and monthly supervisory bench fees.
At Mansory Consultants, our international academic mobility desk guides prospective doctoral applicants through research proposal structuring, academic supervisor outreach across Belgian universities, and Belgian long-stay consular visa filings. Below is the full operational guide to program mechanics, eligibility, the mandatory mobility framework, and the application pipeline.
Ghent University BOF Doctoral Grants at a Glance
| Scholarship Metric | Institutional Call Specification |
| Host Institution | Ghent University (UGent), Belgium |
| Funding Body | Special Research Fund (BOF – Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds) |
| Target Level | Doctoral Degree (PhD) |
| Award Type | Sandwich PhD Fellowship (Joint/Double or UGent degree) |
| Total Program Tenure | 48 Months (4 Years) |
| Funding Distribution | 24 Months funded by Ghent University + 24 Months co-funded by South partner |
| Living Allowance (Ghent) | ~€2,550 net per month (Tax-exempt doctoral fellowship rate) |
| Travel & Operational Grant | €8,000 total budget (Assigned to UGent supervisor for flights & research) |
| Monthly Bench Fee | €310 per month of research conducted at Ghent University |
| Application Deadline | Mid-February 2027 (23:59 Belgian Time) |
| Earliest Start Date | October 1, 2027 |
| Academic Advisory Desk | Mansory Consultants Global Mobility Desk |
1. The 4-Year Sandwich Doctoral Model: How Mobility Works
The core design of the BOF Global South grant is built around bilateral academic exchange. It bridges high-tech European laboratories with development-focused field challenges in the Global South.
[Total 48-Month Doctoral Research Program]
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[24 Months at Ghent University, Belgium] [24 Months at Partner University (Global South)]
• Funded by Special Research Fund (BOF) • Funded by Home Institution / Regional Grant
• €2,550/mo Living Stipend • Full-time salary or PhD stipend guaranteed
• Advanced lab work, seminars, doctoral thesis • Field surveys, local data collection, trials
Mandatory Mobility Rules:
- Start and End in Belgium: The candidate must begin and conclude their doctoral trajectory with a research stay of minimum 3 to maximum 12 months at Ghent University.
- Inaugural Stay Window: The first research stay at Ghent University must commence between October 1, 2027 and February 28, 2028.
- Intermediate Period: At least 24 months of locally funded research must be carried out in the Global South between the first and final stays in Ghent.
- Remaining Research Time: Applicants must have at least 36 months of active doctoral research remaining on their project when the fellowship takes effect on October 1, 2027.
2. Comprehensive Financial Package & Supervisory Budget
The scholarship eliminates out-of-pocket research expenses for the candidate while funding institutional collaboration:
- Doctoral Living Allowance: For every month spent in Ghent (up to 24 months total), the scholar receives a full monthly doctoral scholarship (approx. €2,550/month net), providing sufficient income for private accommodation, living expenses, and health insurance.
- €8,000 Travel & Operational Budget: Allocated directly to the Ghent University supervisor’s project account to cover international economy airfare for the doctoral student and travel expenses for both the Belgian and local supervisors to conduct mutual supervisory site visits.
- Monthly Bench Fee: The Ghent supervisor receives €310 per month of research conducted in Ghent to cover laboratory consumables, software licenses, computing access, and project-specific administrative overheads.
- Partner Institution Commitment: The home university or research institute in the Global South must provide written guarantees that the candidate will receive full-time funding (salary or local scholarship) and be exempt from teaching or administrative duties for at least 90% of their time during the 24 months in their home country.
3. Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?
To qualify for the BOF Global South call, applicants must satisfy strict academic and bilateral criteria:
- Eligible Nationality: Must hold citizenship in an eligible Global South or developing nation (as categorized by the OECD-DAC list, including Pakistan, developing Asian, African, and Latin American states).
- Two Sponsoring Supervisors Required:
- Ghent University Supervisor (Promoter): A permanent or tenure-track professor at Ghent University who formally commits to supervising the PhD and submits the application.
- South Partner Supervisor: A qualified doctoral faculty member at the applicant’s home university or accredited research institute.
- Supervisor Quota & Diversity Rule: A Ghent University professor is permitted to support a maximum of two candidate applications per call, provided that the two candidates are of different genders.
- Degree Intention: Open exclusively to degree-seeking students committed to obtaining a full PhD or a recognized joint/double doctoral degree conferred by Ghent University. Exchange students are ineligible.
4. The Application Roadmap: Securing a Professor & Filing
Unlike undergraduate or master’s applications, BOF doctoral proposals cannot be submitted independently by the student. The application must be jointly prepared with and formally submitted by the Ghent University supervisor.
[Phase 1: Identify Research Focus & Match with UGent Faculty via Research Explorer]
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[Phase 2: Formal Professor Outreach with Academic CV & Concept Note]
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[Phase 3: Secure Written Commitment from Partner Institution in Home Country]
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[Phase 4: Co-Draft Detailed Joint Research Proposal & Ethics Assessment]
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[Phase 5: Ghent Supervisor Submits File to BOFapplication@ugent.be]
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[Selection Results Published in May 2027 ➔ Earliest Intake October 1, 2027]
Essential Application Dossier:
- Joint Research Proposal: Detailing project methodology, work packages, milestones, scientific relevance, and societal impact in the context of North-South scientific cooperation.
- Mobility & Funding Plan: Outlining the exact chronological split of the 24 months in Belgium and 24 months in the South.
- Supervisor Evaluations: The Ghent professor submits an assessment of the candidate’s research potential along with an ethical and biosafety advisory declaration.
- Partner Guarantee Letter: An official, signed institutional commitment letter guaranteeing 24 months of full local salary/scholarship and 90% research duty exemptions.
5. Visa & Relocation: Belgian Long-Stay Visa D
Following award confirmation from the Ghent University Research Council in May 2027:
- Host Agreement (Gastovereenkomst): Ghent University issues an official hosting agreement certifying full doctoral fellowship funding, exempting the researcher from proving private blocked bank account balances.
- Belgian Visa Type D Filing: The scholar applies for a National Long-Stay Visa (Type D) at the Embassy of Belgium (e.g., in Islamabad).
- Required Consular Papers: Valid passport, HEC/MoFA-attested degrees, clean police character certificate with MoFA Apostille, and recognized medical fitness certificate.
- In-Country Belgian Residence Permit: Upon arrival in Ghent, the scholar registers at the municipal administration (Stadskantoor) to receive their biometric Single Permit / Electronic Residence Card (A-Card) granting full Schengen mobility.
Structure Your European Doctoral Application with Mansory Consultants
Securing a fully funded doctoral placement in Europe requires more than high grades; it demands a polished research concept that captures a European professor’s interest, backed by compliant institutional documentation.
At Mansory Consultants, our doctoral research and European higher education desk provides end-to-end advisory:
- Reviewing academic CVs, publications, and drafting high-impact academic outreach emails to prospective Ghent University supervisors.
- Structuring scientific concept notes and PhD research proposals aligned with European Research Council (ERC) and BOF benchmarks.
- Assisting home universities and employers with drafting compliant 24-month co-funding and institutional release guarantee letters.
- Managing educational degree attestations via HEC, IBCC, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Pakistan.
- Guiding successful candidates through Belgian Long-Stay Visa D consular documentation and pre-departure briefings.
Contact Mansory Consultants today to assess your research profile and initiate your doctoral pathway to Ghent University in Belgium.
