Erasmus Mundus and VLIR-UOS Scholarships for the International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD)

Three funding routes exist for the International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD) starting in AY 2020/2021: Erasmus Mundus Scholarships, VLIR-UOS Scholarships and Ghent University Top-up Grants. The first two cover the full cost of study. The Top-up Grant is a partial award for strong IMRD applicants from OESO-DAC countries.

Erasmus Mundus funding goes to at least the top 15 applicants each year: 3 European students and 12 non-European students. Beyond those 15, the Management Board may hand out extra scholarships to applicants from particular regions.

VLIR-UOS awards are aimed at developing and transition regions. They go to applicants from eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America who take the English-taught IMRD at a Flemish university or university college.

The strongest IMRD applicants are put forward for the Ghent University Top-up Grants.

• Host: Ghent University, Belgium, with five partner universities across Europe
• Level: Masters Degree
• Study destinations: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain (plus Slovakia)
• Deadline: 28 February 2020 (annual)
• Course starts: September 2020
• Erasmus Mundus awards: 15 (3 European, 12 non-European)
• VLIR-UOS value: full scholarship with tuition, travel and a €1150 monthly allowance

This suits you if you want a rural development Masters taught in English and you fall into one of the three funding groups. Non-EU nationals who have not lived, studied or worked in the listed countries for more than 12 months over the last 5 years fit the Erasmus Mundus Partner Country route. Nationals of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Turkey or FYROM, and people who have spent more than 12 months in the EU over the last 5 years, fit the Programme Country route.

If you are a national and resident of one of the 31 eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, look at VLIR-UOS. If you are a national and resident of an OESO-DAC country and rank among the top IMRD applicants, you may be nominated for a Ghent University Top-up Grant.

Ghent University, Belgium
Slovak University of Agriculture, Slovakia
University of Cordoba, Spain
Pisa University, Italy
Agrocampus Quest, France
Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany

International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD)

Erasmus Mundus: 15
VLIR-UOS: Not specified

Erasmus Mundus Scholarships: Applicants from Programme and Partner countries
VLIR-UOS Scholarships: Applicants from developing and transition regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Ghent University Scholarships: Applicants from developing countries.

• Erasmus Mundus: The award covers a contribution to your participation costs (tuition fees, library and laboratory costs, full insurance coverage and any other mandatory costs linked to the Master), a contribution to travel and installation costs, and a monthly subsistence allowance for the whole study programme. Benefits differ between Programme and Partner countries.

• VLIR-UOS: This is a full scholarship. It covers the tuition fee, travel costs and a monthly allowance of €1150.

• Ghent University Top-up Grants: This is not a full scholarship. The tuition fee is partially waived, and students get a monthly allowance of €654.

• Erasmus Mundus: For a Partner Country scholarship you must not be a national of an EU country, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Turkey or the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). You also cannot be a resident of these countries, and you cannot have carried out your main activity (studies, training or work) there for more than a total of 12 months over the last 5 years.

For a Programme Country scholarship you must be among the students who do not meet the Partner Country criteria. This includes all nationals of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Turkey and FYROM, as well as people who have spent more than a total of 12 months in the EU over the last 5 years.

• VLIR-UOS: You must be a national of and resident in one of the 31 eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The list of countries is on the Official Website.

• Ghent University Top-up Grants: You must be a top IMRD applicant who is a national of and resident in a country on the OESO-DAC list.

Applications are currently closed.

To be considered for a scholarship, complete the IMRD application online by 28 February 2020 and send your supporting documents before 1 March 2020. During the online application for the IMRD course, state that you want to apply for a scholarship.

Check the official website (link below) for full details on how to apply.

• Who can apply for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship? Applicants from Programme and Partner countries. Partner Country applicants must not be nationals or residents of the listed countries and must not have spent more than 12 months there over the last 5 years.
• What does the VLIR-UOS scholarship cover? It is a full scholarship covering the tuition fee, travel costs and a monthly allowance of €1150.
• Is the Ghent University Top-up Grant a full scholarship? No. The tuition fee is only partially waived and you receive a monthly allowance of €654.
• What is the deadline? Apply online by 28 February 2020 and submit your supporting documents before 1 March 2020.

• Read the official IMRD guidelines before you start the online form, so you know which scholarship you are eligible for.
• Gather your supporting documents early and check the format the university asks for.
• State clearly in the application that you want to be considered for a scholarship.
• Check whether your country appears on the VLIR-UOS and OESO-DAC lists before choosing a funding route.