About this opportunity
Ghent University's Special Research Fund runs a doctoral programme for candidates from the Global South built around the sandwich model. Fifteen places are awarded each year, each running 48 months with 24 months financed by Ghent University and 24 months financed by the partner institution in the South, so the candidate carries real research time on both sides rather than a short visit.
The call document prints "The amount of the scholarship is approximately € 2. 850 per month for the part of the PhD done at Ghent", with the call using a dot as its thousands separator, so that is roughly two thousand eight hundred and fifty euro a month while the candidate is in Ghent.
The Ghent supervisor is funded alongside them, receiving a bench fee of € 310 per month of research in Ghent plus a travel budget of € 8000 to cover part of the operational costs and part of the travelling costs of the student and of both supervisors. Mobility follows a set pattern.
A research stay of three to twelve months at Ghent comes at the start and another at the end, with at least 24 months of locally funded research in between, and the partner institution must guarantee a full time local scholarship or salary for those months in the South, with the candidate exempted from all but a maximum of ten percent of their time for other duties. Two conditions decide whether a file can even be considered.
The candidate must come from and hold the nationality of one of the listed Global South countries, and Nigeria appears on that published list. The proposal must also be submitted jointly by the candidate, a supervisor at Ghent University and a supervisor at the partner university, because without the support of a Ghent professor the application is not eligible.
Only degree students who intend to obtain a PhD at Ghent may apply, exchange students cannot, and at least 36 months of doctoral research must still be outstanding when the fellowship starts on 1 October 2027. A Ghent supervisor may back at most two candidates per call, provided they are of different genders, and no restriction applies on the field of research though South-North topics are preferred.
What you receive
- One of 15 PhD sandwich places awarded each year
- 48 months of doctoral research, 24 financed by Ghent University and 24 by the partner institution in the Global South
- Approximately € 2.850 per month for the part of the PhD done at Ghent
- A bench fee of € 310 per month for the Ghent supervisor
- A travel budget of € 8000 for operational and travelling costs
- No restriction on the field of research
Who can apply
- Candidates who come from and hold the nationality of one of the listed Global South countries, with Nigeria on the published list
- Degree students who intend to obtain a PhD degree at Ghent University, exchange students cannot apply
- A joint proposal from the candidate, a supervisor at Ghent University and a supervisor at the partner university in the Global South
- At least 36 months of doctoral research still outstanding when the fellowship starts on 1 October 2027
- A full time local scholarship or salary guaranteed by the partner institution for the 24 months spent in the South
- The candidate exempted from all but a maximum of ten percent of their time for other duties
- A Ghent supervisor may support at most two candidates per call, provided they are of different genders
Documents to prepare
- The completed application form from the fund's call page
- The supporting call documents listed on that page
- The published Global South country list confirming the candidate's nationality
How to apply
- Confirm your nationality appears on the fund's published Global South country list
- Secure a supervisor at Ghent University and a supervisor at the partner university in the South
- Prepare the joint proposal on the fund's application form
- Send the completed application in English by email to the fund's application address shown on the call page
- File before 9 February 2027, unless you are requesting an exception to the funding or mobility scheme, which carries the earlier date of 15 January 2027
Selection process
- Exception requests to the funding or mobility scheme are due by 15 January 2027
- The main application date is 9 February 2027
- Results are announced online from 12 May 2027
- Funded fellowships begin on 1 October 2027
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
How much is the scholarship worth?
The call document prints "The amount of the scholarship is approximately € 2.850 per month for the part of the PhD done at Ghent", using a dot as its thousands separator. The Ghent supervisor also receives a bench fee of € 310 per month and a travel budget of € 8000.
Is Nigeria eligible?
Yes, Nigeria appears on the fund's published Global South country list, and candidates must hold the nationality of one of the listed countries.
Do I need a Ghent supervisor before I apply?
Yes. The proposal is submitted jointly by the candidate, a Ghent University supervisor and a supervisor at the partner university in the South, and without the support of a Ghent professor the application is not eligible.
Important disclaimer
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