KU Leuven has officially opened applications for its highly competitive Inspiring the Outstanding Scholarship for the 2026–2027 academic year, offering exceptional international students the chance to study in Belgium with full tuition support and generous financial backing.
This is a prestigious merit-based master’s scholarship, designed for top-performing students from around the world who are ready to contribute to academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact. The opportunity is available for incoming master’s students starting their studies in the 2026–2027 cohort, with applications accepted until January 2026.
What This Opportunity Is About?
The Inspiring the Outstanding Scholarship reflects KU Leuven’s core mission of excellence in education, research, and global engagement. Backed by the KU Leuven International Scholarship Fund, this award supports outstanding international students who demonstrate strong academic records, leadership potential, and a clear commitment to making an impact in their chosen field. The scholarship targets students enrolling in eligible on-campus master’s programmes and aims to remove financial barriers while attracting global talent to one of Europe’s top-ranked universities.
What the Scholarship Covers?
Successful recipients of the Inspiring the Outstanding Scholarship receive a full tuition fee waiver, meaning they pay only a small annual administrative fee of €136.50. In addition, the scholarship provides a living allowance of €12,000 per academic year, which can be awarded for up to two academic years depending on the structure of the master’s programme. The funding is granted for one year for 60 ECTS master’s programmes and two years for 120 ECTS master’s programmes. For the 2026–2027 intake, one scholarship is available, making this a highly selective opportunity.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is open to international students of all nationalities applying to eligible master’s programmes at KU Leuven. Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic performance, typically shown through a strong GPA and academic achievements. The previous degree must have been obtained outside Flanders, although students who completed a credit mobility programme in Flanders remain eligible.
Applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements, unless exempt due to prior study in an English-speaking country. Eligible tests include TOEFL (minimum 94), IELTS (minimum 7.0), or Cambridge CPE (C2 level). Students already enrolled at a Flemish higher education institution are generally not eligible, and the scholarship cannot be combined with other funding awards.
Through a single application process, eligible candidates are also automatically considered for other KU Leuven master’s scholarships, including the Master Mind Scholarship and selected regional KU Leuven scholarships, depending on nationality.
How Selection Works?
After the application deadline, KU Leuven master’s programmes nominate eligible candidates. Nominated applicants are informed by 10 March 2026 and invited to submit a one-minute motivational video for the next selection stage. The final decision is made by the central KU Leuven Selection Committee, with results expected by late March or early April 2026. Selection is based on academic excellence, motivation, leadership potential, relevant experience, and overall profile strength.
Apply: https://www.kuleuven.be/scholarships/year/2026-2027/inspiring-the-outstanding-scholarship
Application Timeline and Deadlines
Applications can be submitted before January 15, 2026 for the Inspiring the Outstanding Scholarship. Candidates nominated for the next stage will be notified by 10 March 2026, with motivational videos due by 18 March 2026. Final scholarship results are announced at the end of March or beginning of April 2026.