Ever heard of the unique VLIR scholarship? VLIR is an acronym for Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad – The Flemish Inter University Council. The Belgium’s Directorate-General for Developmental Cooperation awards government scholarships to students from less developed countries. They can study in any one of 15 International Course Programs or choose any of the 6 available International Training Programs. These VLIR UOS scholarship awards target persons in responsibility in the community, school or social organizations within their developing countries and those pursuing Master’s qualifications with a suitable academic history. The VLIR scholarship program is intended to cover all related expenses for the student to study in Flanders, Belgium.
The Kingdom of Belgium is comprized of a federal state having (3) communities – Flemish, French & German. along with (3) regions Flanders, Wallonia & Brussels Capital. Education has gained its own independence and as a result the educational system in Flanders, Belgium is entirely different to that of Wallonia. One out of ten people in Belgium are a foreign national. Belgium is home to the worldwide organizations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU).
There are a maximum of 180 such VLIR scholarships awarded each year for first year International Course Program students. There are 70 possible VLIR UOS scholarships for International Training Program scholarships.
Included within the 2010 VLIR ITP (International Training Program) curriculum are courses such as Beekeeping for alleviation of poverty, Governing for development, ITP training in food safety and quality assurance, Political Economy of the Great Lakes, Scientific and Technical Information Management for Libraries.
The intent of the VLIR Scholarship Program is to disseminate new techniques among persons in responsibility in developing countries as well as to aid in mutual understanding and education of those who will become the future of those countries. The hope is that the assistance will result in better understanding and mutually beneficial long-term associations and partnerships. Although the VLIR Scholarship programs are targeted toward students in developing countries they are open to any person wishing to apply that meets the scholastic requirements.
The applicant for a VLIR Scholarship should have a strong academic requirement that meets the specification of the institution at which they will be studying. They should also be below the age of 35 years. Residents of a developing country are the target population but the VLIR scholarship application process is open to any interested parties. Persons applying for a VLIR UOS scholarship must also be proficient in reading and writing English. Proficiency in English may be proven with a certificate of equivalency if formal instruction has not been undertaken.
The VLIR scholarships differ in parts from any scholarships in that there are multiple schools involved and that different schools host different programs of study. The student must meet both the unique scholarship requirements of the VLIR scholarship program as well as the admission requirements of the individual school.
These Belgium scholarships are awarded by a committee composed of the host school, and staff of the VLIR UOS scholarship committee. Scholarship approval is based on the opinions of both factions of the committee. Scholarship applications for the VLIR UOS scholarship for 2011 can be submitted starting Oct 1st to February 1st every year. The steps are as follows. Apply on the VLIR scholarship website and complete the pre-screening application. You will receive a return email with a link for the host university where you must apply at their site. You will then send transcripts and a printed copy of your application form via postal mail to the address given you.
The VLIR Scholarship Programs are truly a unique study abroad scholarship program in every sense of the word to which it has no equal. It is best suited only for those individuals who welcome this type of truly unique and one of a kind college experience and who happens to meet the VLIR scholarship criteria.