Funding a PhD Thesis

There are several options available to secure research funding for your doctoral studies. Below you will find some general guidance on doctoral funding, along with a list of the most common sources of PhD financial support. Since all funding programmes are highly competitive, it is essential to prepare a strong application. Your thesis supervisor can advise you on the schemes best suited to your situation and provide support in developing a solid application.

Other funding opportunities can be found on Infofin, ULB’s database on sources of research funding, and on EURAXESS Jobs, ULB's PhD offers platform.

Assistantship

As a research assistant, you conduct both doctoral research (part-time) and teaching activities (part-time).
Check out our open assistant position (in French)

Doctoral Fellowships

You can secure a fellowship in two ways:

• by applying for research funding offered by ULB or a third party
• by applying to a specific research project led by a ULB researcher

Practical guide and current amounts of doctoral fellowships (access restricted to ULB researchers)
 

Applying for Funding

For each funding programme, several doctoral fellowships are generally available.
You may send your application to the institution offering the funds, whether this is ULB or a third party.
The content of your application and the application process may change from one institution to the next.

Major funding programmes include:

• ULB
  • ULB Mini-ARC doctoral fellowship in human and social sciences (contact: Marie-Pierre SMAL)
  • Development cooperation scholarship for students from developing countries to allow them to realise their doctoral thesis in a ULB’s research unit, with a view to returning and valorising what they have learnt in their home country (contact: International Office)
  • "Esprit Libre" fellowship from Fonds Lewin-de Castro for researchers from developing countries wishing to research questions relating to rights and freedoms, which are important values for ULB (contact: International Office)
• F.R.S.-FNRS
  • F.R.S.-FNRS fellowship - "Aspirant" (contact: Lucie LEMAITRE)
  • FRIA fellowship for applied research in science and technology, and life sciences and medicine (contact: Lucie LEMAITRE)
  • FRESH fellowship for applied research in human and social sciences (contact: Lucie LEMAITRE)
  • Other F.R.S.-FNRS fellowships

Join a Research Project

You can be hired for a research project led by a ULB researcher.
You may apply by answering a fellowship posting on EURAXESS Jobs or another platform. Offers are also often posted on social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).

PhD with an Industrial Partner

You received funding to complete your PhD thesis in partnership with a private company.

Main funding programmes:

• Applied PhD - Brussels-Capital Region (contact: Flore KEYMEULEN)
• Win4Doc - Walloon Region (contact: Flore KEYMEULEN) 

Other Private Doctoral Funding

In certain cases, and depending on the area of research, you may receive funding from private companies or funds. You may discuss this with your thesis supervisor.