Education in Belgium

Cost and structure of education in Belgium

The minimum costs indicated above apply to EU nationals, but the system is quite diverse. In Flanders, they usually pay fixed tuition fees which are determined by the number of credits taken. That is on average 995 USD per year. The universities of the French community charge only registration fees of no more than 902 USD/year. Those can be even lower for first-cycle programs at hautes écoles and art colleges. Finally, in the German-speaking community students are expected to pay up to 399 USD for study and 108 USD for the registration fee per year

Students from non-EU countries who wish to study in Belgium must make an additional payment^[8]. At colleges in the Walloon Region, the additional cost is 1,070 USD for professional programs and 1,604 USD for academic programs in the first cycle and 2,140 USD for the second-cycle programs. For university programs, the amount should not exceed 4,503 USD excluding paying registration fees. At the universities of Flanders, the fees for international students are set by each institution separately. The only exception to this rule is the educational institution of the German-speaking community, where there are only first-cycle programs, for which non-EU nationals pay as much as the Belgians themselves (about 485 USD in total).

Special emphasis should be put on PhD (third-cycle programs) tuition fees. Thus, there are two tuition fees of 497 USD in Flemish universities: the first is paid at the very beginning of the program (the enrollment fee), while the second is deferred until graduation (the defense fee). For the French community it is usual to charge a single registration fee of 901 USD in the first year (minerval) and then 54 USD/year for the rest period of study. The fees are usually much higher for international students from non-EU countries.

Languages ​​of instruction in Belgium

Belgium is a melting pot of various cultures and nationalities. Rare country can boast not one or two, but three state languages.

• The inhabitants of Flanders (with the administrative center in Brussels) speak mainly Dutch;
• The inhabitants of Wallonia (with the administrative center in Namur) — French;
• Part of the Eastern Cantons (with the administrative center in Eupen) — German.

Education in English

Big universities offer a large number of programs in English, most of which are related to master’s / doctoral programs. Almost all undergraduate programs^[11] are taught in one of three national languages. The undergraduate programs offered in English relate mainly to the humanities (theology, philosophy) and business areas.

Higher education system in Belgium

• Flemish community divides higher education institutions into universities (universiteiten) and colleges (hogescholen)^[12].
• The French community also distinguishes universities (universités), while the colleges are subdivided into general (Hautes écoles) and specialized art schools, which are allowed to conduct their own entrance examinations (Écoles supérieures des Arts)^[13].
• The German-speaking community owns only one educational institution (Autonome Hochschule in der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft), which offers specialized first-cycle programs in the field of health and education^[14].

The options for admission to universities in Belgium

Admission and requirements at universities in Belgium

Confirmation of a diploma

Flemish and German universities do not require special confirmation of a diploma (in addition to a notarized translation) of previous education, but when you enter a French undergraduate program, most likely, you will need to provide it. This document is called Équivalence, and to receive it you need to send a package of documents to a special committee, Équivalence service, which is engaged in the confirmation of diplomas in Brussels.

Documents for admission to Belgian universities

• A diploma/certificate and transcript with grades with notarized translation;
• Language certificate;
• Certificate of payment of an administrative fee;
• Passport information page (or ID card for EU members);
• Motivation letter (A4 page).

All documents are provided in pdf format during online registration on the university website.

Language exam for Belgian universities

The language exam that you must pass depends on the language in which you will be studying. Accordingly, the results of the following tests may be required:

• English[-] — TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge English Exams;
• Dutch^[15] — CNaVT, ITNA or STRT;
• French^[16] — FLE: DELF, DALF, TCF, CEFP, TEF;
• German — TestDaF.

Undergraduate programs require a level of B2 +, graduate — C1 +.

Foundation — Preparatory courses in Belgian universities

Belgian universities offer international students one-year training programs (preparatory year), during which students can take full advantage of the student status of the university. The main purpose of the courses is to help applicants who do not meet the language requirements of the university. Most universities offer a wide range of programs for different levels of language proficiency.

Some Belgian universities also organize interviews with prospective students to assess motivation and level of language proficiency. After successfully passing the exams, a student receives a diploma of proficiency in the studied language at B2 or C1 level (depending on the program).

To obtain a student visa, in parallel with applying for preparatory courses, non-EU students must undergo a full-fledged procedure for enrolling in universities for undergraduate or graduate programs, otherwise, a long-term student visa (type D) is not issued for the purpose of learning a language.

University College — Vocational training

Colleges in Belgium (university colleges) are considered to be public institutions of higher education. Their main difference from universities is that colleges have a more specialized and applied focus, without engaging in research activities. Colleges also have bachelor’s (professional and academic) and master’s programs, but the degrees obtained after completing these programs are not equivalent to university ones. Most colleges offer IT, business, healthcare, and art-related programs.

Bachelor’s in Belgium — Undergraduate

On average, undergraduate programs take 3 years (180-240 credits) but may vary by region. All programs are divided into professional (professional bachelor) and academic (academic bachelor). A professional degree is issued only by colleges and it opens access to employment. An academic degree is issued by colleges and universities and gives you the opportunity to enter the relevant master’s course. In addition, in some Flemish universities, there are "bridging programs" that last one year and allow students to enter the master's program after graduating from college. Some educational institutions also offer undergraduate special programs (advanced bachelor, banaba, bachelier de spécialisation), which last one year and allow you to improve professional qualifications.

The learning process itself depends on the direction and the university. The academic undergraduate program consists of lectures and theoretical classes, for visiting which students receive credits. The professional bachelor's degree focuses more on practical skills and, in addition to lectures and theory, includes periods of internships in the workplace.

Depending on the university, the academic year can be divided into two or three semesters, at the end of each students take exams.

Master’s in Belgium — Graduate / Postgraduate

Master's programs take 1-2 years (60-120 credits) depending on the region and specialty. After completion of the program, the student is awarded the title of master and given the opportunity for admission to doctoral studies. Some universities also offer special one-year programs for master’s degree holders (advanced master, manama, masters de spécialisation). They are designed for working professionals and help them to update their knowledge, get new practical skills and improve professional qualifications.

The language of study is mainly Dutch or French, however recently the amount of programs taught in English increased dramatically. Apart from traditional lectures and seminars, writing a thesis is a major part of the studies. The number of credits gained from writing a thesis may vary from 20 to 50% of the overall amount depending on the university. Same as Bachelor’s the academic year starts in September and ends in July and depending on the University is divided into two or three semesters. In the end of each semester students must pass examinations.

Doctoral Studies — Postgraduate in Belgium

Only universities offer Doctoral programs and grant a PhD degree upon completion. The duration of study may vary depending on the region and university — in Flemish region it’s about 4 years (240 credits) and in Walloon from 4 to 6 years (240-360 credits). The main focus of doctoral studies is writing a thesis paper. It could also be written during college or art school under the condition of it being partnered with the university.

To enroll in a postgraduate program an applicant must contact the selected scientific advisor personally and present a plan of the research. After approval of research and funding by the study committee, a student is welcomed to start his doctoral studies. In addition to standard paperwork listed above a student might need a CV and a letter of recommendation. A student might also be asked to undergo an interview.

During doctoral studies, a student is considered to be a teaching assistant of a chosen scientific advisor. In Belgium this equates to an academic position in the university which has its benefits like salary and official employment in university, however, it comes with a responsibility to not only do study research but also perform teaching duties. At the end of the studies, a student must pass a public defense in front of a special committee after which he is granted a PhD that allows him to pursue a further academic or scientific career.

Scholarships and grants in Belgium

Universities of Belgium participate in the academic mobility programs ERASMUS+, ERASMUS MUNDUS, which provide the opportunity to become an exchange student at universities in Europe and other countries. Grants cover part of the cost of tuition, flight, and accommodation. Many Belgian universities offer their students various scholarships, but most of them relate to graduate and doctoral programs^[22]. For example, Global Minds (PhD) allows students undergoing doctoral studies at another university to conduct half of their studies at a university in Belgium. And the program Master Mind not only reduces the cost of studying at a Belgian master’s program, but also pays students up to 8,628 USD per year^[23].

Student visa to Belgium

Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland do not need to obtain a student visa. Students from other countries are supposed to get a D-visa for staying in the country for more than three months. Visa fee is 216 USD or 350 (for PhD)^[24]. Within 8 days upon arrival all students (including EU/EEA nationals) have to visit local authorities to obtain a residence permit.

The opportunity to work while studying

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can work in Belgium during their studies without any limitations.

Those staying in Belgium under a D-visa are allowed to work if they spend no more than 20 hours a week on it and work does not interfere with their educational process. For that, a work permit C is required. An application must be submitted to the local office of the Department of Economic Migration. The permit is free and valid for up to one year (can be further renewed) or for the whole period of studies depending on the circumstances. However, no permit is required for work during holidays. Note that the employer has no right to pay less than the established minimum, which is 1,510 USD per month.

Many universities also provide an opportunity to obtain the status of a working student. It is issued if the work takes at least 80 hours per month, and allows students to set a more flexible schedule for studying and passing exams. Additionally, almost every university has an employment center to facilitate students' job search^[25].

Immigration opportunities

In contrast to EU/EEA/Swiss students who do not meet any obstacles in searching for job and settling in European states, students from other countries are no longer entitled to stay in Belgium after graduation and the expiration of the visa. At present, Belgian law does not permit the extension of stay in the country for the purpose of job seeking. However, this is possible in France and the Netherlands: students with knowledge of the relevant languages ​​after studying at Belgian universities can receive a special visa for job search after studying at Belgian universities (visa recherche d'emploi, zoekjaar hoogopgeleide).

But you can extend your visa before its expiration when applying for a job while studying. Obtaining permission for already working citizens is possible if they belong to one of the following categories:

• Interns. Issue of a work permit is possible if the position is received in a state organization or in an organization (or its subsidiary) bound by international treaties (for example, NATO).
• Entrepreneur. To register as an entrepreneur in Belgium, you must first get a professional card.
• High skill labour. In Flanders, they are considered to be employees under 30 years of age and nurses with an income of 36,123 USD per year (or 3,235 USD per month) or employees over 30 years of age with an income of 45,153 USD per year (or 2,588 USD per month). In Brussels, the German-speaking region and Wallonia, employees have an income of 45,013 USD (or 3,233 USD per month).

  Region	Category	Min. monthly income
  Flanders	<30 years old and nurses	3,235 USD
  Flanders	> 30 years	2,588 USD
  Brussels, Wallonia, German-speaking region	all	3,233 USD

Employment prospects

The unemployment rate in Belgium is quite low. Of the entire adult population of Belgium aged 24 to 60, only 5.7% remain unoccupied, which is lower than the European average of 6.9%^[26]. The main obstacle to employment may be the lack of knowledge of one of the state languages.

The initial salary level for graduates is from 2,696 USD to 5,392 USD per month.

In connection with joining the Bologna process, Belgian diplomas comply with the standard adopted in Europe. Also in Belgium there are the NARIC centers (National Academic Recognition and Information Centers), which can be contacted if necessary to confirm the diploma.