Belgium Opens Scholarships 2026-2027 Batch Under ASEM-DUO Program

ASEM-DUO has officially opened its 2026–2027 scholarship call, offering funded mobility grants to academic duos from Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The programme supports structured academic exchanges between higher education institutions in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB) and eligible Asia-Pacific countries.

Unlike traditional individual scholarships, ASEM-DUO funding is awarded to pairs of professors or researchers who jointly design a mobility project. The exchange must take place between 1 August 2026 and 31 August 2027, with both institutions directly involved in the collaboration.

This annual programme strengthens institutional cooperation, promotes sustainable academic partnerships, and supports cross-continental research engagement across all disciplines.

The Funding Blueprint: What the ASEM-DUO Grant Covers

The financial structure of the ASEM-DUO scholarship is standardized and designed to support international mobility costs.

• Total Grant Per Duo: €7,000
• Distribution: Shared between both partners based on a mutually agreed split (e.g., €3,500 each)
• Purpose: Covers international travel and per diem expenses
• Duration of Exchange: Minimum 18 days, maximum 60 days (including travel days)
• Stay Format: May be completed in one continuous stay or divided into two periods
• Per Diem Rule: Cannot exceed the total grant amount and must correspond to the number of mobility days
• Additional Costs: May be covered by institutional or external funding sources if necessary

The grant is awarded to the duo jointly, and both partners are responsible for planning their exchange within the defined mobility window.

Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria Explained

The ASEM-DUO Scholarships are open to academic and scientific staff who meet strict institutional and professional criteria.

Applicants must:

• Apply as a pair of academic or scientific staff members from higher education institutions
• Include one partner from a Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB) institution
• Include one partner from an eligible Asia-Pacific country (Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam)
• Be officially remunerated by their respective institutions (minimum 50% employment)
• Preferably hold positions extending at least three years within their institution
• Represent institutions officially recognised or accredited by relevant higher education authorities
• Ensure both institutions have signed a cooperation agreement (MoU) or intend to sign one within two years
• Work in any academic discipline (no field restrictions)
• Note that citizenship is not a selection criterion

The following groups are not eligible:

• Students and PhD students
• Professors emeritus or honorary professors
• Teaching assistants

Exceptions may apply for colleges of arts, subject to case-by-case review. Important participation rules include:

• The exchange must occur between the same two institutions
• A candidate may submit multiple applications with different partners, but only one may be selected per year
• A duo may apply twice for the same project but can receive funding only once for it
• Previous ASEM-DUO beneficiaries within the last three years will receive lower priority

Apply: https://www.ares-ac.be/en/asem-duo-scholarships-2026-2027

Application Deadline for ASEM-DUO Scholarships 2026–2027

The last date to apply for the ASEM-DUO Scholarships 2026–2027 is Friday, 13 March 2026 at midday.