Ghent University, with support from its Special Research Fund (BOF), is offering PhD 'sandwich' scholarships for promising students from the Global South. These scholarships enable candidates to conduct half of their doctoral research at Ghent University in Belgium and the other half at a partner university in their home country. The program is open to all research fields, with preference for topics relevant to the North-South context, such as Pharmacognosy, Natural Products Chemistry, Food Chemistry, and Herbal Medicine.

Applicants must be nationals of a selected Global South country and intend to obtain a (joint) PhD degree at Ghent University. Proposals require joint submission by the candidate, a Ghent University supervisor, and a supervisor at a partner university in the Global South. Candidates should be at the beginning of their PhD, with at least 36 months of doctoral research remaining at the start of the fellowship. Female researchers are especially encouraged to apply.

Ghent University funds 24 months of research in Belgium, providing a bench fee of €310 per month and an €8,000 travel budget. The partner university must guarantee full-time funding for the other 24 months, along with a written statement confirming the candidate's exemption from other duties. Co-funding is mandatory, and applicants must ensure all requirements are met before applying.

The mandatory mobility scheme requires students to start and end with a research stay of 3-12 months at Ghent University, with at least 24 months of locally funded research in the South scheduled in between. Exceptions to the mobility scheme are possible under specific circumstances, subject to approval by Ghent University.

To apply, candidates must secure the commitment of a Ghent University professor as supervisor, prepare the application form and supporting documents in English, and submit them electronically to [email protected] by 17 February 2026. The application must include an advice on the candidate and on the ethical and biosafety context from the Ghent University supervisor. More information, including the list of eligible countries and application forms, is available on the Ghent University website.