Fully Funded PhD in Belgium 2026: KU Leuven Youth & AI Scholarship | IAmAI Project €2,500/Month
The KU Leuven Youth & AI Scholarship 2026 under the IAmAI Project is Europe’s most competitive PhD funding for Artificial Intelligence researchers. It pays €2,500/month net salary, covers 100% tuition, and gives you a €10,000 research budget to work at KU Leuven, ranked #3 in Europe for AI. Applications close 31 May 2026.
Background of the Scholarship with Statistics
The IAmAI Project launched in 2021 to train 100 PhD researchers in “Youth & AI for Good” by 2030. Since inception this Scholarship has achieved the following:
1. 74 PhDs funded across 38 countries from 2021–2025.
2. 68% of international candidates outside the EU received awards.
3. 92% employment rate post-PhD at Google DeepMind, ASML, UNESCO, and ETH Zurich.
4. €9.2M disbursed in salaries and research grants so far.
5. 40+ peer-reviewed papers published by scholars on AI ethics, education, and youth mental health.
KU Leuven partners with UNICEF and the EU Commission to scale scholar research globally.
What the Scholarship Is About
This is a 4-year doctoral employment contract, not a stipend. You join KU Leuven’s Lirias AI Lab as a full researcher. Your PhD must explore how AI impacts youth aged 12–25. Topics include AI tutors, algorithmic bias on TikTok, LLMs for adolescent therapy, and privacy-preserving ML for schools. You’ll be supervised by Prof. Luc De Raedt or Prof. Tinne De Laet.
Available Fields of Study
1. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning.
2. Human-Computer Interaction.
3. Cognitive Science & Educational Technology.
4. AI Ethics, Law, and Policy.
5. Data Science for Social Good.
All PhDs are housed in the Faculty of Engineering Science or Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences.
Benefits of the Scholarship
Benefit of the Fully Funded PhD Belgium 2026 KU Leuven AI in financial Value, breakdown in Details below:
Monthly Salary – €2,500 net Paid 12 times a year, amounting to € 30,000 yearly (Tax-free).
Tuition & Bench Fees – 100% waived Worth €15,000 for over 4 years.
IAmAI Research Grant – €10,000 total, for Conferences, GPU cloud, and data collection.
Family Allowance – €200 per month For spouse/children relocating.
Relocation Grant – €1,500 once, Flights, visa, initial setup.
Employee Status – Full benefits, 32 vacation days, pension, and Belgian healthcare.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Academic: Master’s in CS, AI, Data Science, HCI, or related. Distinction/First Class preferred.
2. Research Fit: Proposal must align with “AI for Youth” theme.
3. Publications: 1+ conference paper/workshop paper is a strong advantage.
4. Age: Under 35 by 1 Oct 2026 preferred for IAmAI funding.
5. Language: English C1. IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 100, or English-taught MSc waives test.
Scholarship Duration
4 years full-time. Standard KU Leuven PhD contract: 2 years initial + 2 years extension after positive evaluation..
Required Application Documents
1. CV with publications list.
2. MSc diploma + transcripts, legalized.
3. 3-page research proposal on Youth & AI.
4. Supervisor acceptance letter from KU Leuven professor — mandatory.
5. 2 academic reference letters.
6. Motivation letter: 1 page.
7. English proof or Medium of Instruction letter.
8. Copy of passport.
Selection Process
1. Oct 2025 – Apr 2026: Find supervisor and get acceptance letter.
2. By 31 May 2026: Application deadline. You must have Submit full application via KU Leuven Doctoral School.
3. June 2026: Faculty ranking. Top 25% interviewed online.
4. July 2026: IAmAI Board final selection. 20–25 awards expected.
5. Sept 2026: Start date.
How to Apply With Official Application Website
1. Email 3–5 KU Leuven AI professors with your pitch. Secure supervisor acceptance.
2. Apply at *KU Leuven Doctoral School: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/phd
3. In application, select “Funding: IAmAI Youth & AI Scholarship”.
4. Upload all documents before 31 May 2026, 23:59 CET.
Application Deadline
31 May 2026, 23:59 Central European Time. Late or incomplete applications are rejected. Rolling review starts Feb 2026 — apply early.
Tips to Be Ahead of Other Applicants
1. Contact supervisors early. Professors fill slots early, meaning you have to apply as soon as you read through this article.
2. Use Global South data in your proposal. IAmAI prioritizes datasets from outside EU/US.
3. Show youth impact metrics: “This will help 500,000 students by 2028”.
4. Publish a workshop paper at NeurIPS, ICLR, or AIES before May. Even 2-page papers count.
5. Get a reference from an NGO or UNICEF. Applied impact beats pure theory
Conclusion
The KU Leuven IAmAI PhD pays more than most US PhDs and gives you EU residency options. With 25 slots and 1,000+ applicants expected, supervisor fit and youth impact are key. Start now — the May 31 deadline rewards early movers.
Official Application Website
Use the Fully Funded PhD Belgium 2026 KU Leuven AI official application website below to apply:
https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/phd
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. Do I need IELTS?
No, if your Master’s was taught in English. Get a Medium of Instruction letter.
2. Can I apply without a supervisor?
No. Supervisor acceptance letter is mandatory for IAmAI funding.
3. Is this a job or scholarship?
It’s a doctoral scholarship with employee status. You get a salary, pension, and vacation.
4. Can my family join me?
Yes. You get €200/month family allowance and D-visa support for spouse and kids.
5. Must I know Dutch?
No. All research and courses are in English. Free Dutch classes provided.
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KU Leuven PhD Scholarship 2026 for Africans | €2,500/Month Fully Funded AI Belgium