For many professionals across developing countries, advancing their education can mean more than earning another qualification. It can provide access to new knowledge, international networks, specialized expertise, and practical skills that can be taken back home and used to create meaningful change.
The ARES International Training Scholarships 2027/2028 offer this kind of opportunity.
As part of its new 2027–2032 cooperation programme, the Academy for Research and Higher Education (ARES) is offering scholarships for eligible professionals from its partner countries to undertake selected international training programmes within the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium.
Depending on the programme, successful applicants can pursue a specialisation bachelor’s programme, a one-year specialisation master’s programme, or a continuing education course.
The opportunity is particularly relevant for professionals who want to strengthen their qualifications while gaining international academic and professional experience that can contribute to development in their home countries.
Application Deadline: 18 September 2026
Editor’s Note: ARES international training scholarships are tied to specific eligible training programmes and partner-country requirements. Applicants should carefully check the official ARES call and the specific programme they wish to pursue before applying.
ARES International Training Scholarships 2027/2028: Quick Overview
Programme: ARES International Training Scholarships 2027/2028
Organisation: Academy for Research and Higher Education (ARES)
Country: Belgium
Study Location: Wallonia-Brussels Federation
Programme Cycle: 2027–2032
Study Options: Specialisation Bachelor’s, Specialisation Master’s and Continuing Education
Duration: Varies according to the selected programme
Target Audience: Professionals from eligible ARES partner countries
Application Deadline: 18 September 2026
What Are the ARES International Training Scholarships?
ARES is the federation of higher education institutions within the Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium and plays an important role in international academic cooperation.
Through its international training programme, ARES supports specialised education and continuing professional development for participants from partner countries.
The 2027–2032 programme continues this approach by creating opportunities for professionals to undertake specialised training in Belgium while strengthening connections between Belgian higher education institutions and institutions and professionals in partner countries.
The programme is designed not simply to benefit individual scholarship recipients, but also to strengthen the institutions and communities to which participants return.
What Can Scholarship Recipients Study?
The ARES International Training programme covers different forms of specialised higher education and professional development.
Depending on the available programme, applicants may be able to pursue:
Specialisation Bachelor’s Programmes
These programmes provide additional specialised training at bachelor’s level for eligible professionals seeking to strengthen their expertise in a particular field.
Specialisation Master’s Programmes
Selected candidates can undertake a specialised master’s programme designed to develop advanced knowledge and professional expertise.
ARES’s 2027–2032 framework indicates that specialisation master’s programmes are designed as one-year academic programmes beginning from the 2027–2028 academic year.
Continuing Education
The programme also includes shorter professional development opportunities.
These continuing education programmes can last from approximately two to six months, depending on the course selected.
This makes the scholarship particularly relevant to professionals who may not be looking for a full academic degree but want to acquire specialised knowledge that can immediately be applied in their careers.
Why ARES Offers These Scholarships
The programme is built around a broader development objective.
Rather than treating international education as an end in itself, ARES aims to ensure that participants can use their new knowledge and professional experience to contribute to development in their countries and institutions.
The international training programme therefore seeks to:
- Increase participants’ level of qualifications.
- Strengthen professional and technical skills.
- Empower participants to contribute to development in their home countries.
- Build stronger professional and interpersonal networks.
- Improve the capacity of participants’ home institutions.
- Promote international knowledge exchange.
- Share the expertise and experiences gained through international training.
- Encourage scholarship recipients to become agents of positive change.
Who Is the Programme Designed For?
The ARES International Training Scholarships are primarily intended for nationals or permanent residents of ARES partner countries who meet the requirements for the specific training programme.
Previous ARES international training calls have generally targeted higher-education graduates with relevant professional experience. The 2027–2032 framework likewise identifies professionals from ARES partner countries with higher-education qualifications and at least two years of professional experience after their relevant degree as the target audience for these international trainings.
However, eligibility can vary depending on the particular programme.
Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that meeting the general conditions automatically makes them eligible for every training course.
Professional Experience Matters
The scholarship is particularly suited to professionals who have already begun building careers in their respective fields.
Under the 2027–2032 framework, applicants for specialisation bachelor’s programmes are expected to have at least two years of professional experience after completing a bachelor’s degree, while applicants for specialisation master’s and continuing education programmes are expected to have at least two years of professional experience after completing a master’s-level qualification.
This professional focus distinguishes ARES international training scholarships from many undergraduate scholarships aimed primarily at students entering higher education.
What Makes the ARES Opportunity Different?
One of the strongest features of the ARES programme is its emphasis on capacity building.
The objective is not simply to bring professionals to Belgium for academic study.
Participants are expected to gain knowledge and experience that can strengthen their work and institutions when they return home.
The programme therefore creates a connection between:
International education → Professional development → Institutional capacity → Community impact
This makes the opportunity particularly valuable for professionals working in areas connected to development, public institutions, education, health, sustainability, research, technology, agriculture, and other sectors where specialised expertise can generate wider benefits.
Building International Professional Networks
Studying or undertaking professional training in another country can also provide opportunities to develop relationships with people working in different sectors and regions.
ARES places emphasis on strengthening interpersonal and professional networks as part of its international training objectives.
These connections can potentially become valuable sources of:
- Professional collaboration.
- Knowledge exchange.
- Research partnerships.
- Institutional cooperation.
- Career development.
- International project opportunities.
For professionals returning to their home countries, these networks can remain useful long after the training programme has ended.
Becoming an Agent of Change
The wider purpose of the scholarship is perhaps best understood through the programme’s emphasis on participants becoming agents of change.
ARES seeks to support professionals who can take what they learn abroad and apply it within their own professional environments and societies.
For example, a participant could return home and:
- Introduce new professional practices.
- Train colleagues.
- Strengthen institutional systems.
- Develop new community programmes.
- Improve service delivery.
- Establish professional partnerships.
- Apply new research or technical knowledge.
- Support sustainable development initiatives.
The value of the scholarship therefore extends beyond the individual recipient.
Duration of the Training
The duration depends on the programme selected.
Specialisation bachelor’s and specialisation master’s programmes are generally structured around an academic year, while continuing education programmes are shorter.
Under the ARES 2027–2032 framework, continuing education programmes may run for two to six months, depending on the course.
Applicants should therefore check the specific training programme before making plans for travel, accommodation, employment leave, or other commitments.
Who Should Consider Applying?
The opportunity may be particularly relevant if you:
- Are from an eligible ARES partner country.
- Already hold a relevant higher-education qualification.
- Have professional experience in your field.
- Want to gain specialised international training.
- Want to strengthen your professional qualifications.
- Work in an area connected to development.
- Want to bring new expertise back to your organisation or community.
- Are interested in building international professional networks.
- Have a clear reason for pursuing the selected training.
The strongest applications should demonstrate not only academic or professional readiness but also a clear understanding of how the training can contribute to the applicant’s future work.
How to Prepare a Strong Application
If you are considering the ARES International Training Scholarships, preparation should begin before opening the application form.
1. Identify the Right Training Programme
Do not apply simply because a programme is offered in Belgium.
Choose a training programme that clearly connects with your academic background, professional experience, and future goals.
2. Review the Eligibility Requirements
Check:
- Nationality or residence requirements.
- Academic qualifications.
- Professional experience.
- Language requirements.
- Programme-specific conditions.
- Required documents.
3. Connect the Training to Your Career
Your application should make it easy for reviewers to understand why the selected programme matters to your professional development.
Explain what you currently do, what gap you want to address, and how the training will help you become more effective.
4. Explain the Wider Impact
Think beyond:
“This scholarship will help me advance my career.”
Explain how your new skills could benefit your organisation, sector, community, or country.
5. Prepare Your Documents Early
International scholarship applications can require several supporting documents.
Preparing early gives you time to obtain official academic records, recommendation letters, professional documents, and other materials that may be required.
Application Deadline
The stated application deadline for the ARES International Training Scholarships 2027/2028 is 18 September 2026.
Applicants should not wait until the final day to submit.
Before applying, carefully review the official ARES instructions and the requirements for the specific training programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ARES International Training Scholarships?
They are scholarship opportunities supporting eligible professionals from ARES partner countries to undertake selected specialised higher education or continuing professional training programmes in Belgium.
Where will the training take place?
The programmes are offered at higher education institutions within the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium.
What types of programmes are available?
Depending on the selected programme, opportunities include specialisation bachelor’s programmes, specialisation master’s programmes, and continuing education.
How long are the programmes?
Duration varies. Specialisation master’s programmes are generally one academic year, while continuing education programmes can last between two and six months depending on the course.
Who is eligible?
The programme is aimed at eligible professionals from ARES partner countries who meet the academic, professional, and programme-specific requirements.
Do I need professional experience?
The 2027–2032 framework targets professionals with higher-education qualifications and relevant professional experience. The exact requirement depends on the type of training selected.
Is the scholarship available to applicants from Africa?
ARES works with partner countries in international development cooperation. Applicants should check the current official list of eligible countries and the requirements attached to the specific training programme before applying.
When is the application deadline?
The stated deadline is 18 September 2026. APPLY HERE.
Final Thoughts
The best international scholarships do more than help someone study abroad.
They equip people with knowledge that can travel back home.
That is one of the strongest ideas behind the ARES International Training Scholarships 2027/2028.
For eligible professionals who want to deepen their expertise, gain international exposure, strengthen their professional networks, and contribute more effectively to development in their home countries, the programme offers a potentially valuable pathway.
The opportunity is particularly worth considering if you already have professional experience and can clearly explain how specialised training in Belgium fits into your long-term career and development goals.
If you meet the requirements, begin preparing early, choose your training programme carefully, and make sure your application demonstrates not only what you want to learn, but also what you intend to do with what you learn.
Application Deadline: 18 September 2026
Applicants should consult the official ARES application information and the specific training program requirements before submitting their application. APPLY HERE
