Flemish Ministry of Education and Training Master Mind Scholarship 2024

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant applies to take up a master's degree programme at a Flemish higher education institution.
• The applicant should have a high standard of academic performance and/or potential:
  • The student has a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 out of 4.0:  https://www.scholaro.com/gpa-calculator/ (see annex 1  How to calculate your American GPA)

• The student has a good knowledge of the English language:
  • An overall minimum band score of 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
  • Or a similar result in another official language test (recognized by the host institution)
  • Online language tests of IELTS and TOEFL will also be accepted:
    • IELTS Indicator ( https://www.ieltsindicator.com/)
    • TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition ( https://www.ets.org/s/cv/toefl/at-home/)

• Students who apply for a master's programme at a school of arts have at least:
  • An overall band score of minimum 6.5 on the IELTS test
  • A minimum total score of 90 on the TOEFL test
  • A B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference
  • Or a similar result in another official English language test (recognized by the host institution)
  • Online language tests of IELTS and TOEFL will also be accepted:
    • IELTS Indicator ( https://www.ieltsindicator.com/)
    • TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition ( https://www.ets.org/s/cv/toefl/at-home/)
• The host institution also performs an academic check of the student’s file. The student has to be accepted by the host institution in order to receive the scholarship. This criterion applies even if the host institution’s decision to accept the student is taken after the selection for the Master Mind Scholarship programme.
• The applicant can be nominated by only one Flemish higher education institution. If the applicant is preselected by more than one Flemish higher education institution, he/she has to choose one Flemish higher education institution to submit his/her application into the Mobility Online tool.
• All nationalities, except for Russian ( see news item for more information), can apply. The previous degree obtained should be from a higher education institution located outside Flanders. International students who have been on credit mobility in a hosting Flemish higher education institution are still eligible for a Master Mind Scholarship.
• Students who are already enrolled in a Flemish higher education institution cannot apply. The only exception is made for international students who, at the moment of their application in Spring 2024, are already enrolled in a specific preparatory programme in order to start a master's programme in September 2024.
• Students who enrol for the following programmes for the academic year 2024-2025 are not eligible for the Master Mind Scholarship:
  • Preparatory programmes
  • Bridging programmes
  • Distance learning
• Student mobility to partner institutions outside Flanders and Brussels during the master's programme is allowed. However, at least half of the study credits of the master's programme must be obtained at the Flemish host institution.

Offered Benefits

• The incoming student is awarded a maximum scholarship of €10.000 per academic year according to the details mentioned in the section  Payment of the scholarship.

Application Process

• Check if you are  eligible to apply and if the  Flemish institution of your choice participates in the Master Mind Scholarships
• Submit your application to the host institution
• The host institution preselects the eligible applications
• The host institution starts the application procedure for the Master Mind Scholarship by creating your application file in the Mobility-Online application tool
• You receive an email generated by the Mobility-Online tool notifying you of being preselected for a Master Mind Scholarship
• You register in the Mobility-Online tool and complete your application file in the Mobility-Online tool before the deadline.
• The host institution validates and submits the completed application file in the Mobility-Online tool before the deadline of 28th April 2024 23h59 GMT+1. Applications validated submitted after 28th April 2024 23h59 GMT+1 will not be accepted.

Required Documents:

Documents to be uploaded:

• Passport photo
• International passport or national ID
• A Curriculum Vitae (including your American GPA out of 4.0 and if applicable your publications, academic awards, previous scholarships, etc.)
  https://www.scholaro.com/gpa-calculator/ (see annex: How to calculate your American GPA)
• Transcript of records; if written in a language other than Dutch, French, German or English, a certified translation must be enclosed.
• English language test results or letter of exemption provided by the host university
• Letter of motivation written in English
• Two signed letters of recommendation from professors of your (previous) home university, university of applied sciences (and arts) or recent employer written in English.
• Copy of acquired diploma(s); if written in a language other than Dutch, French, German or English, a certified translation must be enclosed.