Scholarships for International Students in Belgium?

I'm thinking of applying to Ghent University in Belgium. Has anyone here applied for or received scholarships as an international student there? Any detailed info on eligibility or selection criteria would be super helpful.

Ghent University does offer scholarships for international students. Some of the main awards for students coming from outside the European Union include the Master Mind scholarships from the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training and the Ghent University Top-Up Grants.

The Master Mind scholarships are granted to promising students who wish to pursue a Master's degree at a Flemish higher education institution, including Ghent University. The scholarship comprises a maximum allowance of 8,000 EUR per academic year. Usually, there are approximately 30 Master Mind scholarships available each academic year.

Similarly, the Top-Up Grants are meant for students from developing countries who only have a partial scholarship. It's designed to "top up" your existing funds to cover all your expenses. The Top-Up Grant can be combined with any other scholarship or funding, as long as all funds combined don't exceed the benchmark of €1000/month for a single student.

To be eligible for most scholarships, you need to:

- Be applying to an English-taught master's program (note that some programs aren't eligible for scholarships)

- Have received an official admission letter from the university

- Have not been enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution before

- Have a high level of proficiency in English (IELTS or TOEFL scores are typically considered).

As for the selection criteria, Ghent University usually considers the following:

- Your motivations and future career perspectives

- The quality and results of your previous studies (grades, ranking)

- Your references and the overall quality of your scholarship application.

Remember to check the specific application deadlines and requirements for each scholarship as they can vary. Also, applying early will increase your chances because the number of applications Ghent University can put forward for the Master Mind scholarships is limited. Good luck!