Scholarship from the Flemish Government

You may apply to the VUB for an exception status for one of the following 14 reasons:

• Course sequencing, curriculum structure or the organisation of the academic year 
• Two-year bridging programme with a standard study track of fewer than 54 credits in the first year of the programme
• Two-year preparatory programme with a standard study track of fewer than 54 credits in the first year of the programme. 
  PLEASE NOTE: this category does not apply to the VUB.
• Starting in the second semester with a study programme of fewer than 27 credits due to course sequencing, curriculum structure or the organisation of the academic year
• A disability
• Student athlete status
• As a practising professional artist
• Working student: employed for at least 80 hours per month
• Working student: student employee or self-employed student
• Working student: Student entrepreneur
• Working student: Student holding an official position
• As an unpaid carer
• No secondary education diploma in Dutch-language education
• Highly exceptional circumstances, subject to the Rector's explicit approval

There are 3 exception statuses granted externally to the VUB: final year, care for a dependent child (aged under 18) or medical reasons:

• Final year: If you will graduate from your bachelor's or master's programme or complete your bridging or preparatory programme this academic year. You will automatically be granted exception status by the Student Grant Service.
• If you are combining your studies with caring for a dependent child aged under 18. You apply directly to the Student Grant Service for this exception category. They will then check your family situation against the Belgian National Register to ensure you meet the criteria for this category.
• If a doctor certifies that you are unable to study on a full-time basis for medical reasons, they must complete a medical form. You submit this completed form to the Student Grant Service along with your application for a student grant.

You are eligible if:

It is objectively impossible for you to compile a full-time study programme (at least 54 credits for a full academic year) because of one or more of the following:

• Mandatory course sequencing requirements (i.e. rules requiring you to have successfully completed one course unit before you are allowed to enrol in another); AND/OR
• The structure of the curriculum for your programme; AND/OR
• The organisation of the academic year.

You must upload the following supporting documents:

An overview of the course units (including the number of credits) for which you have registered. You can find this overview on your scoring list in your Student SelfService.

You must also explain:

the objective reasons why you are unable to enrol in a full-time study programme. You must specify which course sequencing rules, curriculum requirements and/or organisational aspects of the academic year prevent you from compiling a full-time study programme. Where relevant, refer to the specific course units and/or course sequencing rules.

Two-year bridging programme with a standard track with fewer than 54 credits in the first year of the course

You are eligible if:

You are enrolled in a two-year bridging programme in which the standard study track in the 1st year of the course consists of fewer than 54 credits. There are 4 bridging programmes like this at the VUB:

• SCH MA Biology and Ecology
• SCH MA Law
• SCH Educational Master of Science and Technology – Mathematics
• SCH MA Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management

No other bridging programmes at the VUB qualify for this exception category.

You must upload the following supporting document:

an overview of the course units (including the number of credits) for which you have registered, to demonstrate that you are enrolled in the standard study track of one of the eligible bridging programmes. You can find this overview on your scoring list in your Student SelfService.

This exception category does not apply at the VUB, because there are no two-year preparatory programmes like this.

You are eligible if 

In one programme you are only enrolled for course units that start in the second semester. It is objectively impossible for you to compile a full-time study programme consisting of at least 27 credits because of one or more of the following:

• Mandatory course sequencing requirements (rules requiring you to have successfully completed one course unit before you are permitted to enrol in another course unit); AND/OR
• The structure of your programme curriculum; AND/OR
• The organisation of the academic year.

You must upload the following supporting documents:

an overview of the course units (including the number of credits) for which you have registered. You can find this overview on your scoring list in your Student SelfService.

You must also explain:

The objective reasons why you are unable to enrol in a full-time study programme. You must specify which course sequencing rules, curriculum requirements and/or organisational aspects of the academic year prevent you from compiling a full-time study programme. Where relevant, refer to the specific course units and/or course sequencing rules.

You are eligible if 

You have a recognised disability.

Supporting documents to upload:

One of the following documents:

• A certificate recognising your disability, issued by the Directorate-General for Persons with Disabilities OR
• Proof of registration with the Flemish Agency for Persons with Disabilities (VAPH) or
• A completed or signed VLOR certification file [a standardised medical and psychological evaluation file issued by the Flemish Education Council] OR
• A signed diagnostic assessment report, in the case of a specific learning disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (AD(H)D), a tic disorder, developmental coordination disorder (DCD) or developmental stuttering.

You are eligible if 

You have been granted Student Athlete Status by the VUB Top sports and Study department.  

You must upload the following documents:

The Student Athlete Status certificate issued to you by the VUB Top sports and Study department.  

You are eligible if 

You are structurally, intensively and professionally engaged in an artistic practice. This refers to a sustained professional artistic activity, such as the creation, production, performance or presentation of artistic work.

You must upload the following supporting documents:

• One of the following 2 documents:
  • An Arts Work Certificate (Kunstwerkattest) issued by the Arts Work Commission (Kunstwerkcommissie) OR
  • A signed contract or cooperation agreement with a professional arts organisation.

You must also explain:

Why your professional activity requires a substantial time investment throughout the academic year. Please describe:

• the nature of your artistic practice AND
• which artistic assignments, projects or activities you are undertaking AND
• the average amount of time you devote to these activities throughout the academic year (expressed in hours per month) AND
• how these activities together amount to a substantial time commitment.

You are eligible if  

During the academic year, you work at least 80 hours per month as an employee, a self-employed professional or a civil servant.

You must upload the following supporting documents

• If you are an employee or civil servant:
  • An employer's certificate confirming that your employment amounts to at least 80 hours per month OR
  • A certificate issued by your public-sector employer confirming that your employment amounts to at least 80 hours per month OR
  • An employment contract stating that your employment amounts to at least 80 hours per month OR
  • Payslips demonstrating that you have worked at least 80 hours per month since the start of the academic year.
• If you are self-employed:
  • A certificate of affiliation with a recognised social insurance fund for the self-employed; OR
  • A certificate issued by a recognised business registration office; OR
  • Proof of registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE).

You must also explain

If you are self-employed (this section does not apply to employees or civil servants), you must demonstrate that you devote at least 80 hours per month to your self-employed activity during the academic year.

You must therefore describe in concrete terms what the nature of your self-employed activity is and which specific tasks and responsibilities you carry out as part of the self-employed activity. In addition you must specify the average amount of time you spend on each activity per month and how these different activities together amount to at least 80 hours of work per month.

Please be as specific as possible and include frequencies, quantities and time commitments relating to your activities. Only then can the VUB assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria for this exception category.

You are eligible if 

During the academic year, you work an average of at least 50 hours of paid work per month as either a student employee or a self-employed student.

Supporting documents to upload  

• Signed employment contracts or payslips from the previous academic year demonstrating that you worked an average of at least 50 hours per month; OR
• One or more signed long-term employment contracts from the previous academic year demonstrating that you worked, or were expected to work, an average of at least 50 hours per month; OR
• Employment contract(s) or payslips covering the first teaching weeks of the first semester, demonstrating that you work, or are expected to work, an average of at least 50 hours per month: from the first teaching week of the academic year up to and including the last week of November; OR
• Employment contract(s) or payslips covering the first teaching weeks of the second semester, demonstrating that you work, or are expected to work, an average of at least 50 hours per month: from the first teaching week of the second semester up to and including the last week of April.

You must also explain

Why the income from your paid employment is necessary to finance your studies and/or to finance your essential living expenses.

You are eligible if 

During the academic year, you spend an average of at least 50 hours per month developing, launching or operating your own commercial or non-profit venture with a sustainable and purposeful character.

You must upload the following supporting documents:

• Proof of registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE); OR
• A certificate confirming your status as a self-employed student; OR
• A dated certificate of participation in an incubator or accelerator programme, issued by the programme organiser. The certificate must describe the objectives and scope of the programme. 
  Please note: For startLAB.Brussels programmes, only the intensive GROW programme qualifies for this exception category. Participation in the Explore or Build programme will not qualify and will result in your application for this exception category being refused.

You must also explain:

How you spend an average of at least 50 hours per month on your entrepreneurial activities during the academic year. You must therefore describe what the nature of your business or project is, and which specific activities and responsibilities you undertake within it. In addition, you describe the average amount of time you devote to each activity per month, and how these activities together amount to an average of at least 50 hours per month.

Please be as specific as possible and include frequencies and quantities in relation to your activities. Only then can the VUB assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria for this exception category.

You are eligible if 

During the academic year, you hold one or more official positions of a social, governance or representative nature, such as:

• A political mandate (at local, regional, provincial, Flemish, federal and/or European level);
• Student representation within the VUB (Student Council, Stuvo Council, Faculty Council and/or Programme Council)
• A board position within one of the VUB's sui generis associations (e.g. BSGgtgv, Studiekring Vrij Onderzoek or De Moeial);
• A board position within one or more recognised VUB student associations
• A board position within the Flemish Association of Students (VVS) or the Flemish Youth Council.

You must upload the following supporting documents

Documentary evidence confirming your official position(s). For example, a certificate of election, a proof of appointment or nomination, an official overview of your mandate(s) etc.

You must also explain

How you devote an average of at least 50 hours per month to your official position(s) during the academic year. You must therefore describe during which period(s) of the academic year you actively perform your position(s) and which responsibilities and activities you take on within your position(s). In addition, describe the average amount of time you devote to each responsibility or activity per month and how these responsibilities and activities together amount to an average time commitment of 50 hours per month.

Please be as specific as possible and include frequencies and quantities in relation to your activities. Only then can the VUB assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria for this exception category.

You are eligible if 

During the academic year, you regularly provide care, support or assistance to a person close to you (such as a family member, partner, relative or another person within your immediate social network) who has a long-term or recurring care or support need. Your role as a carer requires a significant time commitment and has an impact on your studies.

You must upload the following supporting documents:

• Official recognition as a carer, issued by your Belgian health insurance fund OR
• A certificate confirming entitlement to the increased informal carer allowance, issued by your Belgian health insurance fund; or
• A certificate completed by your general practitioner (GP), which must include at least:
  • the GP's name and contact details AND
  • a brief description of the care situation AND
  • an indication of the nature, frequency and impact of your caring responsibilities on your studies.

You must also explain:

How your responsibilities as an informal carer require an average time commitment of at least 50 hours per month during the academic year and the impact this has on your studies. You must therefore describe specifically who you provide care for (without disclosing medical or other sensitive personal information) and the specific care tasks, support or assistance you provide. In addition, you describe the average amount of time you devote each month to your various caring responsibilities, how these responsibilities together amount to an average of at least 50 hours per month and what impact your caring responsibilities have on your studies and/or your study programme.

Please be as specific as possible and include frequencies and quantities in relation to your activities. Only then can the VUB assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria for this exception category.

You are eligible if 

You are enrolled in a programme taught in Dutch at the VUB. You did not obtain a secondary education diploma through a Dutch-language education system; and are enrolling in higher education in Flanders for the first time.

You must upload the following supporting documents:

• A copy of your secondary education diploma (this does not have to be a Belgian diploma), so that we can verify which language you completed your secondary education in AND
• Proof of enrolment in a programme taught in Dutch at the VUB.

You provide a declaration on honour 

That you are enrolling in a higher education programme in Flanders for the first time.

You are eligible if 

During the current academic year, you are confronted with unexpected, (non-medical!) circumstances that significantly affect your ability to study.

This category is intended exclusively for highly exceptional situations that do not fall within any of the other exception categories. 

You must provide the following supporting documents:

Documentary proof of the exceptional circumstances and their impact on your studies and/or your study programme. 

You must also explain:

What exceptional situation you’re in and what impact it has on your ability to study and your course progression. Therefore, describe specifically what the exceptional and special circumstances involve, and what impact this has on your ability to study and your potential to undertake a full-time study programme, and why you think this situation justifies an exception to enrolment in a full-time study programme.

1. You need a Belgian e-ID with its pincode. If you no longer have the pincode, you can request a new one on ibz.be. This will take a while, but applying with an e-ID also saves you time.
   
   The computer you use needs to have the software to use an e-ID. You can download this on eid.belgium.be for free. Select your language and click 'free download'. The website will guide you through the process. It's important to only connect the card reader once the setup wizard tells you to.    
   
   Important: you can borrow a card reader to submit your application. Contact Financial Support to request one, or to get help with your online application.
2. You can also log in with a 'federal token', which you must possess, along with a username and password. 
    
3. You can also opt to use the "It’s me" app, which allows you to confirm your identity in a safe and easy manner. 

Go to the website of the Flemish Government

• Click "Ga naar het loket en stel je profiel in"
• Click “Ga naar het loket”
• Select how you wish to apply
   

The next steps are only for Belgian students applying with their e-ID & card reader:

• Insert your ID card in the reader and connect to your computer
• Click 'aanmelden'
• Select your name in the tile “een certificaat selecteren” and click “OK”
• Enter your e-ID pincode
• Select 'ik ben een student'
• Follow the instructions on your screen

Want to know the status of your application? Sign in following the steps above, and look into your file, see all communications on your case and an overview of decisions made on your current (and previous) application(s).

Any issues or questions?

Call the Vlaamse Infolijn (1700) for free (only in Dutch) or contact Financial Support.

No. Once you have submitted your application, you can no longer upload additional documents or amend, supplement or correct the information you have provided.

This will be possible from 7 September 2026. 

Important: You do not need to wait until your exception status has been granted before applying to the Flemish Government for a student grant. You can submit your student grant application to the Student Grant Agency in advance. If your application for exception status is approved, you can upload the exception status certificate to your  application file at a later stage.

You may apply for a to the Flemish Government for a student grant up to 1 June of the relevant academic year. After submitting your student grant, you may continue to upload supporting documents until 31 December of the calendar year in which the academic year ends.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, this means that you may submit additional documents to the Student Grant Service until 31 December 2027 to update or complete your application.

If you believe that you are eligible for an exception status, apply for it as early as possible, with a final deadline of 15 August of the relevant academic year. The VUB can then issue the final exception statuses by 31 August.

The VUB aims to process all applications within 15 calendar days. At peak times, when exceptionally large numbers of applications are submitted simultaneously, it may take longer to process exception status applications We appreciate your understanding on this.

Please do not submit the same application again while you are waiting for a decision. Submitting duplicate applications will not speed up the assessment and creates unnecessary administrative work, which may delay the processing of applications for all exception-status students.

If you have not received a decision after 15 calendar days and are concerned about your application, please contact studentenzaken@vub.be instead of submitting the same application again. We will be happy to check the status of your file with you.

You do not have to wait for your exception status to be granted before applying for a Flemish student grant. You may submit your student grant application up to 1 June of the relevant academic year, allowing the Flemish Student grant Agency to begin processing your file. Once your exception status has been granted, you can upload the certificate to your online student grant application.

Applications for exception status are assessed on the basis of the criteria established by Flemish legislation and by the VUB in consultation with the other Flemish universities. No internal appeals procedure is available against this decision. 

No, exemptions are not counted as enrolment credits.

But if you are exempt from 9 credits in the first year of your programme and therefore only need to complete 51 credits in your first year, you may qualify for an exception to the full-time study requirement. This would then fall under the category “course sequencing, curriculum structure or the organisation of the academic year”. 

Once you have been granted exception status that allows you to enrol in less than a full-time study programme, there is no minimum number of credits that you must take. 

If, during the academic year, you partially withdraw from your programme, do notenrol in another programme, and consequently take fewer than 54 credits for the full academic year, the Flemish Government will reclaim your student grant in full. Please therefore consider this carefully.

If you qualify for exception status, you can still apply for it and submit it to the Flemish Student Grant Service (up to 31 December of the calendar year in which the academic year ends).

No. During the academic year in which you are expected to graduate from your bachelor's or master's programme, or complete your bridging or preparatory programme, you are not required to enrol in a full-time study programme. The Student Grant Service automatically verifies through its own databases whether you are in your graduation year. Therefore, definitely do not upload proof of your graduation year, as this may delay the processing of your student grant application unnecessarily.

If, for example, a bridging or preparatory programme consists of only 45 credits, and a student is enrolled in the entire programme, the student will automatically qualify for an exception based on the graduation year. In that case, no minimum credit requirement applies.

The student can however, if they wish, start taking the master's course units while keeping the total number of credits below 54.

The same principle often applies to students combining bachelor's and master's course units. If you are in the graduation year of your bachelor's programme, you automatically qualify for the exception. You can then decide for yourself whether to supplement your study programme with master's course units and how many.

The VUB processes the personal data and supporting documents you submit through the online application form solely for the purpose of assessing your application for an exception statusin relation to the Flemish student grant.

This is processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)and the VUB’s Privacy Policy. Only VUB staff members who are directly involved in processing your application will have access to your personal data.

After submitting your online application, you will receive an email to your VUB email address acknowledging that your application has been received.