1. Introduction

The KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa 2027 offers an outstanding African student an opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in Belgium with significant financial support.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, the scholarship provides a full tuition-fee waiver and a €4,000 financial allowance. Successful applicants will only pay an annual administration fee of approximately €140.

This guide explains the scholarship benefits, eligible countries, academic requirements, application procedure and experiences of previous recipients. It also provides official application links and practical advice for African applicants.

2. KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa 2027–2028: Overview

The following table summarises the main details of the scholarship.

 

About KU Leuven

KU Leuven is a Belgian research university with a long history of higher education and academic research. Its academic programmes cover several disciplines, including engineering, business, law, medicine, science and social sciences.

The university attracts international students and researchers from different parts of the world.

For African students, studying at KU Leuven provides an opportunity to gain international academic experience and develop professional skills.

3. What Does the KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa Cover?

The KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa provides two main financial benefits: a full tuition-fee waiver and a financial allowance.

However, applicants should understand exactly what these benefits cover before applying.

A. Full tuition-fee waiver

Successful candidates receive a complete exemption from tuition fees for the approved programme.

This means that scholarship recipients do not pay the standard tuition fees associated with their master’s programme.

Nevertheless, students must pay an annual administration fee of approximately €140.

B. €4,000 financial allowance

In addition to the tuition-fee waiver, successful applicants receive a €4,000 allowance.

The university states that this amount covers the entire duration of the programme.

Therefore, it is a total programme allowance, not a monthly payment or an annual allowance.

C. Scholarship duration

The tuition-fee waiver applies throughout the standard duration of the approved programme.

• 60 ECTS master’s programme: One academic year.

• 120 ECTS master’s programme: Two academic years.

ECTS refers to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. It measures the workload required to complete a university programme.

D. What is not confirmed as covered?

The published KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa information does not separately guarantee funding for:

• International flight tickets.

• Accommodation.

• Monthly living expenses.

• Visa and residence permit expenses.

• Health insurance.

• Personal expenses.

• Additional travel within Belgium.

Applicants should therefore prepare for these expenses themselves unless they secure additional support.

Important: Although the scholarship provides a full tuition-fee waiver, it should not be confused with a fully funded scholarship covering all living and travel expenses.

The €4,000 allowance is intended to support students throughout their programme, so applicants should prepare a realistic financial plan.

4. Eligibility Requirements

The KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa is intended for outstanding African students seeking admission to eligible master’s programmes. However, applicants must satisfy nationality, residence, academic and language requirements.

A. Nationality requirements

Applicants must be citizens of one of the African countries listed below.

Eligible African countries:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saint Helena, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Important residence requirement: Being a citizen of an eligible country is not sufficient on its own. Applicants must also reside in one of the eligible countries when submitting their scholarship application.

For example, a Cameroonian citizen currently residing in Cameroon satisfies the nationality and country-of-residence conditions. However, a Cameroonian citizen residing outside the eligible countries would not satisfy the published residence requirement.

B. Academic requirements

Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic performance and strong academic potential.

KU Leuven assesses academic performance using the applicant’s Grade Point Average (GPA), as reflected in their academic transcripts.

The university does not publish a specific minimum GPA for this regional scholarship on its 2027–2028 scholarship page.

Consequently, applicants should aim to demonstrate consistently strong academic results.

C. Previous university qualification

Applicants must have obtained their previous degrees from a higher education institution outside Flanders.

However, international students who previously participated in a credit mobility programme at a Flemish higher education institution remain eligible.

D. English-language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate a good command of English.

The scholarship page states that the language test must be taken before 15 January 2027. However, applicants may submit their test results after the application deadline.

Students who previously completed an English-taught programme in Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States do not need to submit an English-language certificate under this provision.

E. Programmes that are not eligible

Students applying for bridging programmes and distance-learning programmes are not eligible for the KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa in 2027–2028.

Applicants must select a programme from the university’s official list of eligible master’s programmes.

F. Other disqualifying conditions

The following conditions may prevent applicants from receiving the scholarship:

1. Current enrolment in Flanders: Students already enrolled at a Flemish higher education institution are generally ineligible. An exception applies to certain international students enrolled in a specific preparatory programme in spring 2027 for a master’s programme starting in September 2027.

2. Combining scholarships: Recipients cannot combine the KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa with another scholarship offered by KU Leuven, the Belgian national or regional governments, or the European Commission.

Can applicants without work experience apply?

The published scholarship criteria do not specify a compulsory work-experience requirement.

However, relevant experience, motivation, leadership abilities and commitment are considered during selection.

Therefore, recent graduates with excellent academic records should not automatically rule themselves out.

5. Application Deadline and Intake

The KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa is available for students beginning their eligible programmes in the 2027–2028 academic year.

The university has already published the application dates.

Applicants should pay attention to the time zone.

The deadline is 23:59 Central European Time. Therefore, applicants in Cameroon should convert the deadline to their local time and avoid waiting until the final hours.

Additionally, some master’s programmes may have their own admission requirements and deadlines. Applicants should check their chosen programme before beginning the application.

6. Required Documents

Applicants must submit a complete admission application for an eligible master’s programme.

The scholarship also requires a specific candidacy form.

The exact academic documents depend on the programme selected. Therefore, applicants should consult the relevant programme’s admission instructions.

The following documents and application materials are important:

A. Academic documents

• Bachelor’s degree certificate or other relevant previous degree certificate.

• Official academic transcripts.

• Any additional academic documents requested by the selected master’s programme.

An academic transcript is an official record showing the courses completed and grades obtained during previous studies.

B. English-language documents

Applicants must meet the English-language requirements of their selected programme.

If an English-language test is required, applicants must take it before 15 January 2027. However, the results may be submitted after the deadline.

C. KU Leuven Scholarships & Master Mind Candidacy Form

This is an important document for scholarship consideration.

Applicants must download the official form, complete it and upload it to their master’s application file.

The form must be uploaded under the document category labelled Annexe.

👉👉Download the KU Leuven Scholarships Form for 2027–2028.

D. Additional documents

Applicants should check whether their selected master’s programme requires:

• Curriculum vitae (CV).

• Motivation letter.

• Recommendation letters.

• Portfolio or other supporting documents.

• Additional programme-specific academic information.

Do not assume that every programme requires the same documents.

7. How to Apply for the KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa 2027

The application process involves two important submissions.

First, applicants must apply for admission to an eligible master’s programme. Secondly, they must register their scholarship candidacy through the university’s online registration tool.

Follow these steps.

Step 1: Select an eligible master’s programme

Visit the official KU Leuven website and identify a master’s programme that matches your previous academic qualifications and professional interests.

The university provides a list of master’s programmes eligible for its 2027–2028 scholarship selection.

👉👉View eligible master’s programmes for 2027–2028.

Make sure your chosen programme is not a bridging or distance-learning programme.

Step 2: Review the admission requirements

Read the admission requirements for your selected programme.

Check the academic qualifications, English-language requirements and supporting documents.

Remember that meeting the scholarship requirements does not automatically mean you qualify for admission to your chosen programme.

Step 3: Prepare your application documents

Gather your academic certificates, transcripts and other documents required by the programme.

Also, download and complete the KU Leuven Scholarships & Master Mind Candidacy Form.

Step 4: Submit your master’s application

Complete your online admission application through KU Leuven’s application system.

Your application must be submitted before 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET.

Importantly, upload the completed scholarship candidacy form as an annex to your master’s application.

Select the document type labelled Annexe when uploading the form

Step 5: Register your scholarship candidacy separately

Submitting your master’s application alone is not enough.

You must also register your scholarship candidacy using the university’s online registration tool.

The registration form requests information such as:

• First and family names.

• Email address.

• Nationality.

• Current higher education institution, where applicable.

• Eligible master’s programme applied for.

• Your 12-digit KU Leuven application number.

Make sure your application number is correct. The university states that registrations containing an invalid number are not eligible.

Step 6: Wait for nomination

KU Leuven will assess eligible applications.

If you are nominated for the next selection stage, the university will inform you by 10 March 2027 at the latest.

Step 7: Submit your motivational video

Nominated candidates will be asked to submit a one-minute motivational video.

The deadline for this video is 16 March 2027.

Use this opportunity to explain your academic interests, motivation and future ambitions.

Step 8: Await the final selection

The university expects to announce the scholarship selection results towards the end of March 2027.

Successful candidates will receive further information from the university.

Important: Applying for the scholarship does not guarantee selection. KU Leuven has announced only one Africa scholarship for this academic year.

8. Practical Guidance for African Applicants

Although the KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa is open to citizens of many African countries, applicants should prepare carefully.

The following recommendations can help strengthen your application.

A. Confirm your country and residence eligibility

Before preparing your documents, confirm that your nationality appears on the university’s eligible-country list.

Also, remember that you must reside in an eligible country when applying.

For example, Cameroonian applicants should ensure that they can satisfy both conditions.

B. Start collecting academic documents early

Obtaining official academic transcripts and degree certificates can take time.

Contact your previous university early, especially if you need certified copies or official translations.

If your documents are not in an accepted language, check KU Leuven’s requirements for translations.

C. Prepare for the English-language test

Do not wait until the final application week to arrange your English test.

Check the requirements of your selected programme and register for an accepted examination if necessary.

Although KU Leuven allows applicants to submit their test results after 15 January, the test itself must be taken before the deadline.

D. Write a convincing motivation letter

Your motivation letter should explain:

• Why you want to study your chosen programme.

• How your previous education has prepared you.

• What academic or professional goals you intend to achieve.

• How the programme relates to your future ambitions.

• How you intend to use your knowledge after graduation.

Avoid generic statements about wanting to study in Europe.

Instead, explain your personal interests and provide practical examples of your achievements and ambitions.

You can also read our guide on

👉how to write a winning Statement of Purpose for graduate scholarships.

E. Demonstrate leadership and commitment

KU Leuven considers more than academic grades when assessing scholarship candidates.

The selection criteria include academic awards, motivation, relevant experience, leadership abilities and commitment.

Therefore, applicants should explain how their education, professional activities, volunteering or community involvement demonstrate their potential.

F. Prepare a realistic financial plan

The scholarship covers tuition fees and provides €4,000 for the entire programme.

However, students may still need additional money for accommodation, food, travel, insurance and other expenses.

Consequently, investigate the cost of living in Leuven before accepting an offer.

Also, confirm the financial documents required for your Belgian student visa and residence permit.

G. Avoid scholarship scams

KU Leuven provides official application instructions and online registration facilities.

Applicants should use the university’s official website and avoid individuals who promise guaranteed scholarship selection in exchange for money.

The university’s published application process does not require payment to a scholarship agent.

H. Consider other European scholarships

If you are not selected, you can explore other scholarship opportunities in Belgium and Europe.

For example, the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme is another opportunity worth exploring.

You should also investigate the Master Mind Scholarship, for which eligible African applicants can be considered through the same KU Leuven application procedure.

Additional official resource: KU Leuven International Scholarship Fund

KU Leuven has also published an institutional article explaining how its International Scholarship Fund supports talented students.

Read: Changing the Course of a River – KU Leuven.

The article explores Eslam’s journey from Egypt to Belgium, the financial challenges he encountered and the role of scholarship support in making his postgraduate education possible.

It also discusses the importance of international scholarships in improving access to higher education.

This is a useful resource for prospective applicants who want to understand the university’s approach to international student funding.

Conclusion

The KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa 2027–2028 provides an excellent opportunity for academically outstanding African students who want to pursue postgraduate education in Belgium.

The scholarship covers the full tuition fees and provides an additional €4,000 allowance for the entire programme.

Interested applicants should begin preparing their academic documents, identify an eligible master’s programme and complete both required scholarship submissions before 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET.

For more information and the latest application instructions, visit the official KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa page.

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