ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028 for International Students
The ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028 provide international students and professionals with opportunities to undertake specialized study and training in Belgium. The programme supports applicants from selected eligible countries and covers areas such as economics, public health, human rights, food safety, cybersecurity, supply chains, and disaster management.
For the 2027–2028 academic year, applications opened on August 3, 2026. The application deadline is September 18, 2026, at 12:00 noon Belgian time (UTC+1).
Importantly, applicants can apply for only one training programme. Therefore, candidates should carefully review the available programmes and their admission requirements before submitting an application.
ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028: Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | ARES International Training Scholarships |
| Academic year | 2027–2028 |
| Study location | Belgium |
| Application opening | August 3, 2026 |
| Application deadline | September 18, 2026 |
| Deadline time | 12:00 noon Belgian time (UTC+1) |
| Application platform | GIRAF |
| Programme categories | Specialized Bachelor’s, Specialized Master’s and Continuing Education |
| Number of programmes | 10 |
| Applications allowed | One programme per applicant |
| Burundi eligible | Yes |
What Programmes Are Available?
ARES provides 10 training programmes for the 2027–2028 academic year. These programmes cover different academic and professional areas.
Applicants should, however, check the specific admission requirements of each programme before making their final choice.
1. Specialized Bachelor’s Programme
The available Specialized Bachelor’s programme is:
- Specialized Bachelor’s in Digital Integrated Supply Chain
This programme focuses on the digital aspects of integrated supply-chain systems and may be relevant to applicants whose professional goals relate to supply chains and related areas.
2. Specialized Master’s Programmes
ARES offers eight Specialized Master’s programmes:
- Specialized Master’s in Human Rights
- Specialized Master’s in Integrated Health Risk Management
- Specialized Master in International and Development Economics
- Advanced Master in Microfinance
- Specialized Master’s in Public Health Sciences – Analysis and Evaluation of International Health Policies, Programs and Systems
- Specialized Master’s in Food Chain Safety Management
- Specialized Master’s in Preventive Conservation and Collections Management
- Specialized Master’s in Risk and Disaster Management in the Anthropocene Era
These programmes cover areas including human rights, health, economics, finance, food safety, cultural heritage, and disaster management.
3. Continuing Education
ARES also offers the following continuing-education programme:
- Certificate in Cybersecurity Operations and Risk Governance
This programme falls under the continuing-education category rather than the Specialized Master’s category.
Burundi Is an Eligible Country
Burundi is one of the countries eligible for the ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028.
ARES lists 32 eligible countries across Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Asia.
Eligible African Countries
The eligible African countries listed in the information provided are:
- South Africa
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ethiopia
- Guinea
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Uganda
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Zimbabwe
The other eligible countries include Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Palestine.
Therefore, applicants from Burundi can consider applying, provided they also meet the other eligibility and programme requirements.
ARES Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Being from an eligible country does not automatically guarantee eligibility. Applicants must satisfy several additional conditions.
Residence and Professional Activity
Applicants must be permanent residents and work in one of the 32 eligible countries.
Palestinian nationals are an exception and may qualify even if they do not live in one of the listed countries.
Higher-Education Qualification
- Applicants must hold a higher-education degree and meet the admission requirements of their selected programme.
- In addition, the relevant academic degree normally must have been obtained no more than 20 years before the beginning of the programme.
- ARES extends this maximum period by one year for each birth and/or adoption.
Professional Experience
- Applicants must have at least two years of relevant professional experience after their most recent higher-education diploma.
- Furthermore, this professional experience must have been obtained in one of the eligible countries.
- As a result, the programme is particularly relevant to applicants who already have professional experience in their field.
Language Requirements
- Applicants must complete their application in the language of instruction of their selected programme.
- They must also demonstrate good written and spoken ability in that language.
- Basic French can nevertheless be useful for everyday communication in Belgium.
- Applicants should check the specific language requirements of their selected programme before applying.
One Programme Per Applicant
Each applicant can apply for only one programme.
Therefore, applicants should compare the available programmes carefully before submitting their application.
What Does the ARES Scholarship Cover?
ARES states that its scholarship support can include several expenses, depending on the training category.
The listed forms of support include:
- International travel expenses
- Subsistence and living allowance
- Exceptional visa application costs for Bachelor’s and Specialized Master’s programmes
- Registration fees for Bachelor’s and Specialized Master’s programmes
- Indirect mission costs for continuing education
- Insurance costs
However, applicants should check the conditions applicable to their selected programme because the benefits can depend on the type of training.
Therefore, it is better to view the ARES scholarship as a comprehensive financial-support opportunity rather than assuming that every applicant receives exactly the same benefits.
Scholarship Duration
The maximum duration depends on the type of programme.
| Programme type | Maximum duration |
|---|---|
| Specialized Bachelor’s | 12 months |
| Specialized Master’s | 12 months |
| Continuing Education | 6 months |
Applicants should therefore consider both the programme content and the scholarship duration when choosing their preferred option.
How to Apply for the ARES Scholarship
Applicants submit their applications through the GIRAF platform.
If you already have a GIRAF account created and validated by ARES, you can use that account. Otherwise, you need to request the creation of an account.
After accessing GIRAF, applicants should follow the application process:
- Log in to GIRAF.
- Select Competitive calls.
- Choose Application – International Training 2027–2028.
- Open the application.
- Complete the required fields.
- Save the application as a draft.
- Return to the application through Competitive calls → My Tasks when necessary.
- Review the information carefully.
- Click “Submit my application.”
- Confirm that the application appears under My submitted applications.
Important: Applications Cannot Be Modified After Submission
- Applicants should review their applications carefully before submitting them.
- Once an applicant submits the application, they cannot modify it.
Therefore, check your personal information, academic qualifications, professional experience, programme selection, and other required information before clicking the submission button.
Choosing the Right ARES Programme
Because applicants can select only one programme, choosing the right option is an important part of the application process.
For example, an applicant with relevant experience in economics may consider International and Development Economics or Microfinance. Similarly, an applicant working in technology may investigate the Cybersecurity Operations and Risk Governance certificate.
Meanwhile, professionals working in health-related areas may consider the health-focused programmes.
However, applicants should not choose a programme based only on its title. Instead, they should compare their academic background and professional experience with the official admission requirements.
ARES Programmes at a Glance
| Programme | Category | General area |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Integrated Supply Chain | Specialized Bachelor’s | Supply chain |
| Human Rights | Specialized Master’s | Human rights |
| Integrated Health Risk Management | Specialized Master’s | Health risk management |
| International and Development Economics | Specialized Master’s | Economics |
| Microfinance | Advanced Master’s | Finance and microfinance |
| Public Health Sciences | Specialized Master’s | Public health |
| Food Chain Safety Management | Specialized Master’s | Food safety |
| Preventive Conservation and Collections Management | Specialized Master’s | Conservation and collections |
| Risk and Disaster Management in the Anthropocene Era | Specialized Master’s | Risk and disaster management |
This table provides an overview of the available programmes. Nevertheless, applicants should consult the official admission requirements for the specific programme they intend to select.
Who Can Consider Applying?
The ARES International Training Scholarships may be suitable for professionals who already have higher-education qualifications and relevant work experience.
You may consider applying if you:
- Live and work in an eligible country.
- Hold a relevant higher-education qualification.
- Have at least two years of relevant professional experience.
- Meet the admission requirements of your selected programme.
- Meet the required language conditions.
- Have professional goals related to the programme.
- Can demonstrate how the training will support your professional development.
Furthermore, applicants should begin preparing early because the application period has a fixed deadline.
What Should Applicants Prepare?
Before starting the application, applicants should review their own qualifications and professional background.
It is useful to have the following information ready:
- Highest academic qualification
- Field of study
- Graduation year
- Current occupation
- Professional experience
- Relevant work responsibilities
- Language ability
- Preferred ARES programme
- Career objectives
After preparing this information, applicants can compare their profile with the requirements of the available programmes.
Important Application Deadline
The ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028 application period opened on August 3, 2026.
The application deadline is:
September 18, 2026, at 12:00 noon Belgian time (UTC+1).
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final hours. Instead, they should create or validate their GIRAF account, prepare the required information, and submit the application before the deadline.
Important Warning About Scholarship Information
- Applicants should always verify scholarship information through official ARES sources before submitting an application.
- Scholarship programmes can change their eligibility requirements, deadlines, available programmes, and financial-support conditions from one academic year to another.
- Therefore, information published on other websites should not replace the official application guidelines.
- Applicants should also be careful with individuals or websites requesting money in exchange for scholarship applications or guaranteed selection.
Final Assessment
The ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028 provide an opportunity for eligible professionals from selected countries to undertake specialized study or training in Belgium.
For applicants from Burundi, the opportunity is particularly relevant because Burundi appears on the eligible-country list.
Furthermore, ARES provides financial support that can cover several important expenses, including international travel, living support, insurance, and certain programme-related costs, depending on the training category.
However, applicants must satisfy more than the country requirement. They also need to meet the academic, professional, residence, language, and programme-specific conditions.
Most importantly, each applicant can apply for only one programme.
Therefore, applicants should carefully compare their qualifications, professional experience, career objectives, and language ability with the requirements of their preferred programme before submitting the application.
ARES 2027–2028 Application Checklist
Before submitting your application, make sure you have:
- Confirmed that your country is eligible.
- Confirmed that you live and work in an eligible country.
- Checked the required higher-education qualification.
- Confirmed that your degree falls within the permitted period.
- Confirmed at least two years of relevant professional experience.
- Checked the language requirements.
- Selected only one programme.
- Prepared the required application information and documents.
- Created or validated your GIRAF account.
- Reviewed the application carefully.
- Submitted the application before September 18, 2026, at 12:00 noon Belgian time.
In conclusion, the ARES International Training Scholarships 2027–2028 are worth considering if your academic background and professional experience match one of the available programmes. Since applicants can submit only one application, careful programme selection and early preparation are essential.
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