How to apply?

• Online Application Opens: 1 December 2025
• Application Deadline: 28 February 2026
• Online Interviews: April 2026
• Admission Decisions: End of May 2026
  • All candidates are notified by email of the official decision of the ISSF Admission Board, including programme admission and scholarship award status.
  • Admission letters are sent to all admitted applicants.
  • Candidates awarded a consortium scholarship also receive a Scholarship Letter.

Appeals: If a candidate believes the selection process was not followed fairly, they may submit an appeal. Appeals cannot challenge the decision itself, only a procedural error in the selection process.

Online Application Portal: KU Leuven Admissions

Quick Reminders :
Apply early and ensure all documents are complete
Applications missing any required documents or information will be disqualified.

Applicants must submit the following documents via the online portal:

1. Passport (scan)
2. Residence history for the past 5 years
3. Bachelor’s diploma and transcript of records in english
4. Documentation of English language proficiency
5. Curriculum Vitae (CV) – preferably in Europass format 
6. Motivation Letter (see detailed guidance below)
7. Letters of Recommendation – minimum 1, maximum 3

The motivation letter is a key component of your application and should reflect your personal experience and goals. AI-generated content is discouraged. Your letter should include answers to the following four guiding questions:

1. How did you first discover the ISSF Erasmus Mundus programme, and what inspired you to apply?
2. In what ways does the programme’s focus on insects align with your previous studies, professional experience, or personal interests?
3. Which specialization appeals to you most — Insects in Agro- and Ecosystems, Insects in Industry and Innovation, or Insects and Public Health — and how does it connect with your background and future goals?
4. What type of applied research topics or projects would you be interested in pursuing during your studies (for example, as a potential internship project)?

Note: Individual trajectories, orientation, and specialization in one of the programme’s subtopics may evolve over the course of the programme.

Additional Information to Include:
Applicants are encouraged to reflect on:

• Their professional goals and how the programme aligns with them.
• The experience, skills, and perspectives they will bring to the programme.
• The broader impact they aim to achieve considering the ISSF programme’s mission: addressing biodiversity loss, sustainable agriculture, food security, health issues, and the SDGs.

You may consider addressing questions such as:
Professional Goals & Programme Alignment
How does the ISSF programme align with your long-term academic and professional goals, and in which sector (academia, industry, policy, entrepreneurship, etc.) do you envision applying your expertise?
Experience, Skills & Contribution
What unique skills, experiences, and perspectives will you bring to the programme, and how will they enrich the ISSF academic community?
Broader Impact & Mission Alignment
How do you plan to use the knowledge and skills gained from the programme to address global challenges such as biodiversity loss, sustainable agriculture, food security, health issues, or the SDGs, and what impact do you hope to make locally or globally?