Research Master in Fluid Dynamics (Master-after-master level)
Applications for the academic year 2020-2021 are opened
The Research Master of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI) is a one-year postgraduate programme at “Master-after-Master” level (also known as VKI Diploma Course) with a 60-years legacy. The program offers a wide choice of specialised courses on various aspects of fluid dynamics. Half of the year is devoted to a personal research project under close guidance by members of the faculty. The research may be experimental, theoretical, or computational in nature. The VKI Research Master in Fluid Dynamics complements the master programmes of universities with a deep research oriented specialisation.
The program is accredited by NVAO (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie) which ensures the quality of educational programs following the Bologna agreement for higher education in Europe. The complete Research Master curriculum involves a minimum of 30 ECTS of courses and 30 ECTS for an independent research project, corresponding to one full academic year.
1. Citizens of NATO countries which contribute to the funding of the Institute (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Turkey and The United States of America)
2. Citizens of Non-NATO countries who are enrolled at a University in a NATO country which contributes to the funding of the Institute
3. Citizens from outside of Europe at the conditions listed below (Tuition for Students from Outside Europe)
Required qualifications
A five-year engineering or science degree (3-year B.S. + 2-year M.S.) from a European university or a M.S. from an American, Canadian or Turkish University. A working knowledge of the English language (level B1)
VKI fellowship and tuiton waiver
A fellowship to cover living expenses while in Belgium are available for accepted applicants from the countries listed above under n°1. Note that it cannot be cumulated with any other means of financial support (own fellowship, salary …). Furthermore, for accepted applicants from these countries, tuition is free. For students from European countries not in this list. There is a tuition fee and no VKI fellowship can be offered.
VKI-BAEF fellowships for the US citizens
The Belgian American Educational Foundation (B.A.E.F) in collaboration with the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI) encourages applications for fellowships for advanced studies or research at VKI. The offer is directed to citizens of the United States of America and valid for the academic year 2020-2021.
The so-called “BAEF-VKI-fellowships” are for any of the following academic programs organized at VKI:
1. The VKI Research Master program of academic year 2020-2021 (starting 28 September, 2020 and finishing on 2 July, 2021), which is a one year accredited study program (60 ECTS) at master-after-master level and continuously offered since 64 years. It complements the master programs of universities with an in-depth research oriented specialization in fluid dynamics. Independently from the VKI-BAEF fellowship, VKI fellowships are also available and there is no tuition fee for US citizens. Applications for VKI fellowships are open until May 2020 (https://www.vki.ac.be) 2. The VKI PhD program 3. The VKI Postdoc program The above VKI programs are all concerned with advanced fluid dynamics applied to the fields of aeronautics, hypersonics, space, turbomachinery, propulsion, green environment, sustainable energy production and industrial processes.
The applications for the BAEF-VKI fellowship are subject to the standard conditions of BAEF fellowships, see details on the BAEF webpage BAEF-fellowships. In particular, the grants carry a monthly stipend of
- $ 2,333.30 per month for Master's or Ph.D. students ($ 28,000/12)
- $ 2,666.60 per month for Post-doctoral Fellows ($ 32,000/12)
The deadline on the BAEF website is not applicable to the BAEF-VKI fellowship.
Please note that the von Karman Institute also provides fellowships for the short training program, a hands-on training for a period from 3 months to 6 months. Attendees will be assigned a project, which is part of an ongoing research activity at VKI. In this way, they will become acquainted with fluid dynamics facilities, laboratories and computational techniques and as well as soft skills for research.
Interested candidates should contact the VKI secretariat (Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Citizens of Students from outside Europe, for example Canada, Japan can participate (if selected) subject to payment of a tuition fee of € 25.000 and are not eligible for the VKI fellowship.
Program of the VKI Research Master
One of the main programs offered by the Institute is the one-year postgraduate “Research Master in Fluid Dynamics” at the level “Master after Master” (former VKI Diploma Course). Approximately thirty-five engineers and scientists drawn from ten or more countries attend this program. They are offered a wide selection of specialised courses on various aspects of fluid dynamics and are given the opportunity to perform personal research projects under close guidance by members of the faculty. The projects may be experimental, theoretical, or computational in nature. Thus, the VKI Research Master in Fluid Dynamics Course complements, rather than duplicates, the teaching programs of universities.
The syllabus presents pertinent information regarding the VKI Research Master in Fluid Dynamics Course. Admission and diploma requirements are reviewed first. Then the course syllabus for the current academic year is presented. A description of research activities provides an indication of the diverse possibilities for the individual research project. The major facilities available for the research project are described and a list of the faculty members is included.
Attendees to the VKI Research Master in Fluid Dynamics Course follow a series of lectures entitled "Theoretical and Experimental Fluid Dynamics" described in the syllabus and then make a selection among the three areas of specialisation. Further specialisation in certain fields is also possible. The final program of courses for each attendee is formulated, following discussions with the supervisor.
An essential aspect of the VKI Research Master in Fluid Dynamics Course is the independent research project. A list of suggested projects appears in a later section of the syllabus.
The VKI Research Master in Fluid Dynamics comprises a balanced combination of classroom lectures and individual research.
Attendees select one of the areas of specialisation and follow the courses therein, adding optional courses to their program if they so desire. Attendees are allowed a certain flexibility in the selection of their course program. The final curriculum will be decided after consultations with the Institute's Faculty and will involve a minimum of 30 ECTS (*) of courses outlined in the syllabus and 30 ECTS for an independent research project.
Faculty members will assist attendees in selecting an appropriate research project. The individual research project will be weighted with a factor of nearly two compared to the performance in course work.
The VKI Diploma will be awarded to attendees who, in the opinion of the faculty, achieve a mark of at least 60% in both course work and the research project.
Submit your Application
If you are interested in joining our 2020-2021 program, please click here to start your application. You will be guided through the process step-by-step, and kept informed of the progress of your application via electronic notifications. The next academic year starts on 1 October 2020, and applications can be submitted now. However, we encourage interested students to apply as early as possible.
Requirements to obtain the degree
The VKI Research Master in Fluid Dynamics comprises a balanced combination of classroom lectures and individual research. Attendees select one of the areas of specialisation and follow the courses therein, adding optional courses to their program if they so desire. Attendees are allowed a certain flexibility in the selection of their course program. The final curriculum will be decided after consultations with the Institute's Faculty and will involve a minimum of 30 ECTS (*) of courses outlined in the syllabus and 30 ECTS for an independent research project.
Faculty members will assist attendees in selecting an appropriate research project. The individual research project will be weighted with a factor of nearly two compared to the performance in course work.
The VKI Diploma will be awarded to attendees who, in the opinion of the faculty, achieve a mark of at least 60% in both course work and the research project.
Added Values
Unique international setting
Originating from more than 10 countries, some thirty to thirty-five young engineers and scientists work together in a unique international team spirit, following a tradition of excellence initiated by Theodore von Karman in 1956.
Exceptional environment
VKI offers a one-year specialisation for in research in the following fields:
Aeronautics and Aerospace
Turbomachinery and Propulsion
Environmental and Applied Fluid Dynamics
Access to a fleet of wind tunnels covering all regimes, from low subsonic to hypersonic flow. Free access to our internationally renowned VKI Lecture Series, a lifelong learning program.
Recent Research programmes cover the following fields: aircraft and space propulsion; aerothermal flow in turbomachinery; turbomachinery design and testing; flight and ground testing for space vehicles; small satellites development and launching; noise and emission reduction; non-intrusive instrumentation; physico-chemical and numerical modeling, design and optimization; industrial plasma processes; thermal-hydraulics and safety of nuclear reactors; cryogenics; wind energy and green energy systems.
Career opportunities
Graduates of the VKI Research Master have access to exciting career opportunities in the research departments of industry (Airbus, Automotive, General Electric, Rolls-Royce, SNECMA, ...), in government agencies and international research centers (ESA, DLR, NASA, ONERA, ...), or pursue their education in a doctoral programme.
