StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Master Mind Scholarship is a Flemish-government award, funded by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training, for outstanding students from abroad who come to Flanders for a Master’s degree. At KU Leuven, 3 scholarships are available for the 2027–2028 academic year. Applications opened on 15 October 2026 and close on 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET.
Read the warning before you plan around the amount: KU Leuven’s own page states that the current information is preliminary and subject to change, pending confirmation no later than January 2027. Some official sections still show EUR 10,225 rather than EUR 10,750. Treat EUR 10,750 as the current published figure, not as final, until that confirmation lands.
Do not confuse this with the University of Antwerp’s Master Mind variant, which is a different award at a different university: a EUR 5,375 one-time grant plus the standard tuition amount (EUR 1,181.40 for 60 credits in 2026–2027), with a 1 February 2027 deadline and 5 scholarships at Antwerp. This article covers KU Leuven only.
Benefits
- A scholarship of EUR 10,750 to cover the full length of the programme at KU Leuven (preliminary figure, as warned above).
- Tuition at approximately EUR 1,200 per academic year at the EEA tariff.
- Duration: one academic year for a 60 ECTS Master’s, two academic years for a 120 ECTS Master’s.
- One application also gives automatic consideration for the Inspiring the Outstanding Scholarship, the KU Leuven ASEAN Scholarship, the KU Leuven Scholarship for Africa, and the KU Leuven Scholarship for Central and South America, subject to nationality conditions.
Who can apply
- You show a high standard of academic performance and potential, evidenced by a high GPA.
- Your previous degree is from a higher-education institution outside Flanders (credit mobility in Flanders can still be eligible).
- You are applying for an eligible Master’s programme at KU Leuven. Bridging programmes and distance-learning programmes are not eligible.
- You are not already enrolled at a Flemish higher-education institution, except for a specific preparatory programme for September 2027 starters.
- You cannot combine this award with another KU Leuven, Belgian-government or European Commission scholarship.
- English: your test must be taken before 15 January 2027. Secondary guides give TOEFL 94, IELTS 7.0 or Cambridge CPE at C2, and results may be added after the deadline. Exemptions apply if you completed an English-taught degree in Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA.
Documents required
The two-step application below defines what you must submit. In practice, prepare:
- A complete application file for your eligible Master’s programme, including the KU Leuven Scholarships & Master Mind Candidacy Form uploaded as an “Annexe”
- Your registration of scholarship candidacy through the online registration tool
- Academic transcripts and proof of your previous degree
- English test evidence (taken before 15 January 2027; results may be added after the deadline)
- If nominated: a one-minute motivational video, due by 16 March 2027
How to apply
- Complete both steps by 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET: (1) submit a complete application file for an eligible Master’s programme, with the KU Leuven Scholarships & Master Mind Candidacy Form uploaded as an “Annexe”; (2) register your scholarship candidacy via the online registration tool.
- Take your English test before 15 January 2027 (results may follow after the deadline).
- If you are nominated, you will be informed by 10 March 2027; submit your one-minute motivational video by 16 March 2027.
- Selection results are announced at the end of March 2027. Watch for the January 2027 confirmation of the scholarship amount before treating EUR 10,750 as final.
FAQs
No. KU Leuven states the information is preliminary and subject to change, pending confirmation no later than January 2027, and some official sections still show EUR 10,225.
No. Antwerp offers a EUR 5,375 one-time grant plus the standard tuition amount, with its own 1 February 2027 deadline and 5 scholarships. This article covers KU Leuven only.
No. One Master Mind application gives automatic consideration for the Inspiring the Outstanding, ASEAN, Africa and Central and South America scholarships, subject to nationality conditions.
No. It cannot be combined with another KU Leuven, Belgian-government or European Commission scholarship.
Nominated candidates are informed by 10 March 2027, submit a one-minute video by 16 March 2027, and selection results come at the end of March 2027.
Verified 30 Oct 2026 against the official KU Leuven page (kuleuven.be/scholarships/year/2027-2028/master-mind-scholarship: applications open 15 October 2026, deadline 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET, two-step application, nomination by 10 March 2027, video by 16 March 2027, results end of March 2027, EUR 10,750 preliminary, tuition approximately EUR 1,200 per year, 3 scholarships, preliminary-information warning) and the University of Antwerp Master Mind page for the distinct Antwerp variant.
