What?

REI is a travel grant for students at a Flemish university or graduate school, for an individual study trip to a country in the Global South. The exchange is part of an approved course, such as an internship or a thesis. 

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When and where?

REI Scholarships are granted for stays of at least one month in one of the 23 partner countries in Africa, Latin America or Asia. You can always submit an application during the current academic year and before the deadline of the last round. The selection is always in the month after the deadline for each round.

Africa

Benin     Burundi       Cameroon
DR Congo     Ethiopia       Kenya
Morocco     Mozambique       Rwanda
Senegal     South Africa       Tanzania
Uganda            
             

Asia

Indonesia     Palestinian Territories
Philippines     Vietnam

 

Latin America

Bolivia     Colombia     Cuba
Ecuador     Nicaragua     Peru

 

Why?

This is a chance for you to contribute to sustainable development, but also to: 

  • Gain practical experience in a unique setting

    Match your theoretical knowledge with practice, and get to know local habits and creativity.

  • Live in and experience different cultures 

    and gain a better understanding of your own, through them.

  • Expand your job opportunities

    Employers are always looking for people with an entrepreneurial spirit, international experience, intercultural skills and an open mind. 

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Support 

In the partner country, you will be working in or with a local organisation, like a university, a hospital, an NGO, etc. Your supervisor at VUB will help you with the content of and preparations for your stay. You will also need to find a supervisor locally, because they will provide support on site. You will be living, studying and/or working in an unfamiliar environment, with a different language and customs. Strong support ensures a positive experience. 

Criteria

To get a REI scholarship, you have to meet a number of criteria. If you have any questions about the listed requirements, do not hesitate to contact us. 

Eligibility criteria 
  • You are registered with a diploma contract at VUB.
  • You are enrolled in one of the following programs: bachelor, master, advanced master, specific teacher education, or transitioning programme.
  • The destination is a country listed on the Global Minds partner country list (see above).
  • You are not an Erasmus student.
  • You have never received a VLIRUOS or Universitas scholarship. You have not received any other scholarship for a study exchange in the Global South.
  • You can rely on the guidance of a VUB supervisor and a supervisor in the designated country, both with relevant experience and knowledge in your field of study.
  • Your stay lasts at least four full weeks (28 consecutive days). There is no maximum timeframe for your stay.

PROCEDURE

Application and deadlines

You can apply for a REI Scholarship through the SOP Mobility form: Online Application for Outgoing Students.

This form can be submitted anytime. Your application will be handled at the following deadlines:

  • 05 May 2025
  • 30 October 2025
  • 31 March 2026

Selection 

The programme coordinators will run an eligibility check after submission through SOP Mobility. The selection committee of the Advisory Council for Development Cooperation (BAOW) will review the applications. The Council for International Policy (RIB) will confirm the selection, after which the development cooperation team of IRMO will communicate the results to the applicants. Students who have not been selected will receive feedback.

Preparation

You must follow the training organised by UCOS before departure.

Scholarship payment 

The first payment (70% of the grant) will be made before departure and upon the signing of a Grant Agreement.

The final payment (remaining 30%) will only be made if the student submits the final report correctly and when they have completed the full training cycle. The final report should be submitted through the SOP Mobility Online tool within one month after your return. A template will be provided after selection.

  • The scholarship amount is 1500 euros.
  • If you receive the Flemish Study Allowance from the Ministry for Education and Training, the scholarship amount is increased to 1750 euros. You are responsible for uploading proof of your scholarship in the SOP mobility tool.

Extra information

We advise you to register with the government website Travellers Online.

The Institute for Tropical Medicine offers medical advice, information about your destination and the necessary vaccinations. For more information, please consult their travel medicine website.

Please register your travel log in the SOP Mobility tool before departure. This is different from your REI application. Please consult your faculty secretariat.

You must follow the VUB Travel Policy.

CONTACT 

Should you have any other questions, don't hesitate to contact us!