International Training Scholarship (ARES)

Official overview

The International Training Scholarship of ARES is a Belgian development-oriented scholarship route for international candidates who want to study in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. The official Study in Belgium page states that ARES scholarships give the opportunity to follow a one-year advanced bachelor’s or master’s degree programme, or a 2-to-6-month continuing education programme, at a higher education institution in Belgium. This is an important route for candidates seeking a targeted programme in French-speaking Belgium rather than a general nationwide scholarship database. Applicants should use the official ARES and Study in Belgium pages as the source of truth and can complement their search with /tools/scholarship-finder and /tools/course-finder .

Funding and benefits

The official pages describe the scholarship as support for study in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, but the exact financial package depends on the programme and the call. Because the ARES call is framed around international training and cooperation, applicants should verify what costs are covered in the exact annual rules and whether tuition, travel, living expenses, or other allowances are included. The public page confirms the study types and duration, which is the key catalogue-level information, while the detailed call and regulations should be consulted for the award’s financial mechanics.

Eligibility and study levels

The official description says that the scheme targets international students for a one-year advanced bachelor’s or master’s degree, or continuing education. For a catalogue record, the degree level should therefore be listed as Bachelor, Master and, where the continuing education route is relevant, short professional training. The destination is Belgium . The field of study is broad and can be listed as All disciplines at catalogue level, although particular calls or host institutions may focus on specific subjects. The official pages also indicate that the ARES scholarships are part of a development cooperation framework, so applicants should expect additional eligibility screening beyond simple admission to a course.

Application documents

ARES application files commonly include an admission or pre-admission file for the chosen institution, academic records, identity documents, a motivation statement, and any country-specific supporting papers required by the annual call. The precise list must be checked in the official call and programme guide. Candidates should not assume that all Belgian institutions follow identical procedures, because the scholarship is administered through a cooperation framework and may require submission to the target institution or to a specific platform. A practical preparation step is to contact the prospective institution early and confirm how the scholarship file is routed.

Application process and timeline

The official ARES Study in Belgium page indicates that the scholarship is linked to the 2022-2027 cooperation programme. The detailed call for 2026-2027 referenced on the official pages carried a submission deadline of 2026-03-31 , which is now past. Since the present catalogue must not include expired rounds as active opportunities, applicants should treat the 2026-2027 information as the last confirmed cycle and watch the official ARES and Study in Belgium pages for the next annual call. The documentation available online remains useful for understanding the structure of the scholarship and the type of study it supports.

Important conditions

Confirmed conditions include the one-year advanced bachelor’s or master’s route and the continuing education option, as well as the need to fit the ARES cooperation framework. Applicants should check whether they already hold a degree sufficient for the target programme and whether the host institution accepts the application. A common practical risk is assuming that admission alone guarantees funding; in reality, the scholarship operates under its own selection criteria and annual call rules. Applicants should also confirm whether they are excluded because of prior development cooperation support or overlap with another mobility scheme.

Official resources

Use the official ARES and Study in Belgium pages for the current rules, and rely on the host institution for the academic admission process. If you are comparing this opportunity with French-speaking Belgium alternatives, you can also organise your search through /tools/scholarship-finder and /tools/course-finder . The annual call and official regulations remain the only authoritative source for the exact funding conditions.

How to judge whether this scholarship fits you

Begin by comparing every published condition with your own record, not with a friend's experience or an old social media post. For International Training Scholarship (ARES), pay particular attention to the stated nationality or residence group of Global, the Bachelor, Master study level, and the approved study destination of Belgium. Check whether the rules refer to citizenship, current residence, permanent residence, or the country where your previous degree was completed, because these are not always interchangeable. You should also confirm minimum grades, graduation dates, age limits, work experience, language tests, admission requirements, and any return-home condition. If one condition is unclear, use the official contact channel before investing time or money in documents.

Building a competitive application

Eligibility only determines whether an application can be considered. Selection is usually comparative, so a strong submission should show why your preparation, proposed study, and future plans fit the purpose of International Training Scholarship (ARES). Read the provider's objectives and identify the outcomes it values, such as academic excellence, leadership, public service, research impact, professional development, or contribution to a community. Then choose evidence from your education, employment, volunteering, projects, or personal responsibilities that demonstrates those qualities. Use specific examples with a clear situation, action, and result. Avoid copying generic statements about passion or financial need. Reviewers should be able to see what you have already done, what the proposed programme will help you learn, and how you intend to use that learning after graduation.

Writing the personal statement or study plan

A persuasive statement connects your past experience to a realistic next step. Explain why your chosen field, currently recorded as All disciplines, matters to the problem you want to address. Show that you understand the course, institution, or research environment rather than praising it in general terms. If the scholarship asks several essay questions, answer each question directly and avoid repeating the same story. Keep claims factual and support them with evidence. A useful editing method is to ask whether every paragraph adds new information about your preparation, judgement, character, or proposed impact. Leave time for revision, and ask a trusted reader to check clarity without replacing your voice.

References and supporting evidence

Choose referees who know your recent academic or professional work and can discuss it with examples. A senior title is less valuable than direct knowledge of your abilities. Contact referees early, share the official criteria, explain your study plan, and give them the exact submission deadline. Confirm whether the referee must upload a letter, complete an online form, or send the reference from an institutional email address. Your curriculum vitae, essays, transcript, and references should tell a consistent story. Dates, job titles, grades, awards, and project descriptions must agree across documents. If a document is unavailable, translated, provisional, or issued under a different name, follow the provider's instructions instead of uploading an unexplained substitute.

Planning the funding and practical costs

The funding category recorded for this opportunity is Partial, but applicants should still create a complete budget. Check whether the award covers full tuition or a fixed contribution, and whether payments are made to the institution or to the scholar. Look for information about accommodation, living allowance, flights, visa charges, health insurance, research costs, dependants, and arrival expenses. Currency changes and local housing costs can affect the real value of an award. Do not assume that every cost described as eligible will be paid automatically. Where a programme offers partial support, identify a realistic source for the remaining amount before accepting an offer.

Application timeline and final checks

Work backwards from the official deadline for your application route. Reserve the final days for technical problems rather than first drafts. A practical sequence is to confirm eligibility, shortlist courses, request transcripts, contact referees, draft essays, obtain language results, and complete the online form. Some scholarships require university admission before the funding application, while others use a combined process or require nomination by a university, ministry, employer, or national agency. Submit through the correct route for your country and programme. Before pressing submit, preview every page, open uploaded files, check that names and dates are accurate, and save a copy of the completed application and confirmation message.

After submission and possible interviews

Keep monitoring the email address and application portal you used. Scholarship providers may request corrections, additional evidence, an interview, or a response within a short period. Prepare for an interview by reviewing your application, the scholarship's mission, your proposed course, and the practical impact you described. Be ready to explain decisions, limitations, and alternative plans honestly. If you receive an offer, read all conditions before accepting, including academic performance requirements, reporting duties, travel dates, visa responsibilities, and obligations after study. If you are unsuccessful, retain your materials and seek specific feedback where available. A careful application can often be adapted for another suitable opportunity without being copied unchanged.

Related scholarships and planning resources

Use the Scholarship Finder to compare your profile with the current catalog. You can also explore programmes with the Course Finder , review your academic standing with the CGPA Calculator , and read current application advice in the NGScholars article library .

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