The Flemish Ministry of Education awards scholarships to outstanding students for Master's programmes in Flanders and Brussels. The Master Mind programme promotes Flemish higher education as a top study destination for international talent. The scholarship includes a grant of € 10,000 + a tuition fee waiver per academic year. It is estimated that a total of 30 international students spread across the various universities in Flanders can benefit from the Master Mind Scholarships. Students cannot apply directly. Applications need to be submitted by the University of Antwerp. Some scholarships are reserved for students from Japan, Mexico, Palestine and the USA. These countries are priority countries for the Flemish government.

The call for 2025-2026 will be published late December 2024. The application deadline will be 1 February 2025. 

UAntwerp Master programmes that qualify for Master Mind scholarships

General eligibility criteria

The applicant applies to study a Master's degree programme at the University of Antwerp.

The applicant should have a high standard of academic performance and/or potential. This means: 

  • The student has a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 out of 4.0. You can use the GPA calculator here
  • The student has a good knowledge of the English language, proven by one of the following situations:
    • an overall band score of minimum 7.0 on the IELTS test;
    • a minimum total score of 94 on a TOEFL test;
    • a C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference;
    • a similar result in another official language test recognised by the University of Antwerp;
    • or an exemption provided by the Master programme's Selection Committee during the screening process.

Additionally, the University of Antwerp will consider the following aspects when evaluating candidates:

  1. Academic performance
  2. Motivation for the programme and the university
  3. Attitude and maturity
  4. Relevant work experience 
  • The student has to be accepted by the University of Antwerp to receive the scholarship. Even if the university's final decision is taken after awarding the scholarship to the student, this precondition applies.
  • All nationalities can apply, except for Russian citizens this year (see reasons here). The previous degree should have been obtained from a higher education institution outside Flanders.
  • Students already enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution cannot apply. The only exception is for international students who, at the moment of their application in the spring of 2025, are already enrolled in a preparatory programme to start a Master's programme in September 2025.
  • Students who enrol for the following programmes for the academic year 2025-2026 are not eligible for a Master Mind scholarship:
    • preparatory programmes
    • bridging programmes
    • distance learning programmes
  • Student mobility during the Master's programme is allowed. However, at least half of the credits of the Master's programme must be obtained at the University of Antwerp.