Scholarship details
The Marc Vervenne Fund ( MVF ) was created in honor of Professor Marc Vervenne, honorary rector of KU Leuven and president of the Fund.
Since its launch in 2013, five researchers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have obtained their doctorate with the support of the Fund. He is currently helping another group of six researchers from the same country to achieve the same goal.
The Fund aims to build the capacity of universities in developing countries. It relates in particular to the training of academic staff at universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It supports talented young scientists from the DRC who participate in research projects relevant to the development of local communities in the Congo.
- Fellows must do their doctoral research mainly at their home university or at a research institute in the DRC.
- The results of the thesis should improve the quality of life of the Congolese society.
The Marc Vervenne Fund provides financial support for aspects of the approved thesis project taking place at KU Leuven.
- The applicant must be a citizen of the DRC who participates in research projects relevant to the development of local communities.
- The applicant cannot have a long-term residence permit from a country outside the DRC.
- The candidate must be affiliated as a doctoral student or employed at a university or research institute in the DRC.
- The candidate holds a master’s degree or equivalent diploma from higher education, in a field relevant to the doctoral research envisaged. He must have distinguished himself by an academic career or exceptional professional achievements. In addition, applicants to the MVF must be admitted to the doctoral program by the KU Leuven Doctoral School, which organizes this program for the research in question (please see the section “Doctoral schools”).). In this call, the MVF gives priority to research projects in the fields of health care, agriculture and natural resources, education, justice, leadership, and governance. Research should be adapted to local development and offer possibilities of application from which society as a whole will benefit. Pre-doctoral candidates are not eligible for funding from the MVF.
- Sufficient local support for carrying out the research project is essential and, therefore, must be demonstrated. This support must guarantee the feasibility of the research and facilitate the publication of the research results so that it can be evaluated by peers in the research field.
- The candidate must conduct his doctoral research mainly in the DRC.
- The applicant has an academic director at KU Leuven. In addition, it is supervised by a promoter from the university or research establishment in the DRC to ensure the integration of research in the local context. Even if there is no financial support for this local co-promoter, he can apply for a mobility grant as part of the Global Minds program (for more information, click here).
- Applicants must submit letters of recommendation from relevant referees demonstrating academic excellence.
- The candidate is fluent in university English as well as other research forum languages. Please find more information on English proficiency tests and accepted certificates here.
- The applicant must follow the application procedure and submit the application before January 15, 2020. The application consists of submitting documents online, but also of sending certain documents in physical / paper form. See the instructions below.
Please submit your application only if it meets the conditions listed above. Incomplete or late requests will not be considered without exception.
