Ghent University in Belgium is inviting applications for its 2027 Special Research Fund (BOF) Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from the Global South. The programme offers 15 doctoral scholarships to promising researchers from eligible Global South countries who wish to pursue PhD research through a partnership between Ghent University and a university or research centre in their home region. The scholarship follows a sandwich PhD model, allowing candidates to conduct part of their doctoral research in Belgium and the remainder at a partner institution in the Global South. The programme is designed to strengthen international research collaboration, support emerging researchers and promote knowledge exchange between the Global South and the Global North. The application deadline is 9 February 2027. Overview of the Ghent University PhD Scholarships 2027 Host institution: Ghent University Programme: Special Research Fund (BOF) Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from the Global South Number of scholarships: 15 Study level: PhD/doctoral research Location: Ghent, Belgium, and an eligible partner institution in the Global South Duration: 48 months Funding structure: 24 months funded by Ghent University and 24 months funded by a partner institution Research fields: All disciplines, with preference for proposals relevant to South–North collaboration Application deadline: 9 February 2027 What the Scholarship Offers The BOF doctoral scholarship supports the portion of a candidate’s PhD research conducted at Ghent University for a total of 24 months. The remaining 24 months must be fully funded by the partner university or research centre in the Global South. The overall doctoral programme lasts four years, combining research periods in Belgium with locally funded research in the Global South. Ghent University also provides the selected researcher’s Ghent-based supervisor with a bench fee of €310 per month of research conducted in Ghent, together with an €8,000 travel budget. These funds help cover eligible operational expenses and part of the travel costs for the doctoral candidate and supervisors. Applicants should note that co-funding is compulsory. The scholarship does not independently cover the entire 48-month PhD period. Eligibility Requirements Applicants must meet the programme’s nationality, academic and institutional requirements. Nationality and country eligibility: Candidates must originate from and hold the nationality of a country included on Ghent University’s official Global South country list for the 2027 call. Doctoral status: The programme is intended for candidates at the beginning of their PhD research. Applicants must intend to obtain a PhD degree, either solely from Ghent University or through a joint doctoral arrangement. Exchange students are not eligible. At the planned scholarship start date of 1 October 2027, applicants must still require at least 36 months to complete their doctoral research. Supervisory support: Each proposal must be jointly submitted by the candidate, a Ghent University supervisor and a supervisor at a partner university or research centre in the Global South. Support from a Ghent University professor is essential for eligibility. Partner institution and co-funding: The partner institution must provide a local PhD supervisor and written confirmation that the candidate will receive a full-time PhD scholarship or salary for 24 months while undertaking research in the Global South. Candidates must also be sufficiently exempted from teaching and other duties to concentrate on their research. Such additional duties may account for no more than 10% of a full-time appointment. The university encourages female researchers to apply. A Ghent University supervisor may support a maximum of two candidates in the same call, provided the two candidates are of different genders. Mandatory Research Mobility Requirements Successful candidates must follow the programme’s mobility arrangement. They must begin and end their PhD programme with research stays of between three and 12 months at Ghent University. The first research stay must begin between 1 October 2027 and 28 February 2028. At least 24 months of locally funded research in the Global South must take place between the first and final research stays in Belgium. Limited exceptions may be requested for applicants who need to complete a PhD study programme or field research in the Global South before beginning their Ghent research stay, or who have already completed eligible periods of funded doctoral research. Requests for exceptions must be submitted by 15 January 2027, together with the required supporting documents, to BOF@ugent.be. Applicants should consult the official call documents for the precise conditions. How to Apply for the Ghent University PhD Scholarship Applicants should complete the following steps before submitting their applications. 1. Find a Ghent University supervisor. Identify a professor willing to supervise the proposed PhD research. Candidates can explore research areas and academic contacts through the Ghent University Research Explorer. Without the support of an eligible Ghent University professor, an application cannot be considered eligible. 2. Identify a partner supervisor. Secure the support of a PhD supervisor at a university or research centre in an eligible Global South country. 3. Confirm the co-funding arrangement. Ensure the partner institution can guarantee a full-time scholarship or salary for 24 months and provide the required written confirmation of the candidate’s research and teaching arrangements. 4. Complete the application documents. The candidate must complete the official 2027 application form in English. The Ghent University supervisor must also submit an assessment of the candidate’s research potential and an assessment of the ethical and biosafety context of the proposed project. 5. Submit the application. The application form must be submitted electronically to BOFapplication@ugent.be. Candidates should consult the official call documents to confirm all submission requirements and ensure that the supervisor’s supporting documents are provided before the deadline. Application Deadline and Selection Results The application deadline is 9 February 2027. Where an exception to the funding or mobility arrangements is required, the request must be submitted by 15 January 2027. Ghent University expects to announce the selection results online from 12 May 2027 onwards. Unsuccessful applicants will automatically receive feedback within six weeks after the results are published. Why Apply for This Doctoral Scholarship? The BOF programme offers Global South researchers an opportunity to develop their academic careers through international research collaboration. Its sandwich structure allows candidates to benefit from Ghent University’s research environment while maintaining strong academic links with institutions in their home regions. The programme is particularly relevant to researchers who have a clear doctoral proposal, established supervisory support in both locations and a partner institution capable of guaranteeing the required co-funding. Candidates should begin contacting potential supervisors early, verify their country’s eligibility and secure written funding commitments well before the application deadline. Official Application Links 2027 application form: https://www.ugent.be/nl/onderzoek/financiering/bof/dos/application.doc Eligible Global South countries: https://www.ugent.be/nl/onderzoek/financiering/bof/dos/countrylist.pdf Full 2027 call documents: https://www.ugent.be/nl/onderzoek/financiering/bof/dos/call.pdf Research Explorer: https://research.ugent.be/web/home/en Scholarship enquiries: BOF@ugent.be VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY The Ghent University Doctoral Scholarships for Candidates from the Global South 2027 provide an opportunity for eligible researchers to pursue collaborative PhD research across Belgium and the Global South. Applicants should review the official call carefully, as eligibility depends on nationality, supervisory support, mandatory co-funding and compliance with the research mobility requirements. 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