IN Excellence is a postdoctoral scholarship run by Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI) since 2008. It brings researchers from any country with a doctorate earned outside Belgium to a university or college run or subsidised by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
Long stays last at least a year; short stays one to three months. Fields tied to Wallonia’s Marshall Plan 4.0 clusters (transport and logistics, mechanical engineering, life sciences, agri-industry, aeronautics-space, environmental technologies) are preferred, but every field is considered.
Benefits & funding
- €2,120 net a month, paid as a mobility allowance, not a salary.
- Economy return travel from home to the host institution, based on WBI’s estimate.
- Health, civil liability and repatriation insurance.
- Long-term: at least 1 year, renewable once; short-term: 1–3 months.
- Duties: credit WBI in anything published; send periodic and end-of-stay reports.
Eligibility
- Any nationality.
- A doctorate from an institution outside Belgium; doctoral candidates may apply but must prove completion by 15 July (long-term) or by 1 December / 1 July (short-term).
- At most 12 months spent in Belgium in the 3 years before applying.
- An invitation from a host at a Wallonia-Brussels Federation institution; finding it is up to you.
- At most three attempts per person; one long-term award per postdoc.
- Cannot be combined with an F.R.S.-FNRS scholarship or mandate.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Researchers from all countries with a doctoral degree from a foreign institution who want to follow a postdoctoral programme in higher education institutions, organised or subsidised by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. … PLEASE NOTE: IN candidates may have stayed in Belgium for a maximum of 12 months during the 3 years preceding their application.” Eligibility
Education required
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Application process
- 1Get an invitation letter from your host supervisor.
- 2Have at least two academics email recommendation letters straight to WBI, using the form’s template.
- 3Email the full application as one PDF to bourses@wbi.be by 1 February (long-term), 1 October (short stays March–July) or 1 April (short stays September–February).
- 4Accept within seven days of an offer.
Program timeline
Long-term deadline
Feb 1, 2027
Short-term deadline (stays September 2027–February 2028)
Apr 1, 2027
Long-term decisions
Early June 2027
Short-term decisions
Early July 2027
Latest long-term departure
Oct 1, 2027