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Full information about study in Belgium: universities, programs, admissions, fees.
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According to the law, secondary education in Belgium is compulsory. After finishing elementary school at the age of 12, children go to high school, where they study for the next 6 years.
In total, there are five areas of secondary education in Belgium:
The secondary school curriculum consists of three cycles:
Education in Belgium has one of the most interesting systems in Europe. This is due to the division of Belgium into three regions, each of which has its own language, its own culture and its own model of higher education institutions. Despite the apparent complexity of the system, Belgian universities offer a decent education that meets all European standards, which attracts a large number of students from all over the world.
| Program. | Min. age | Duration | Min. cost | Avg. cost | Min. language proficiency | Exams |
| Summer Camp | 7+ | 1–8 weeks | 746 USD/week | 1,695 USD/week | Elementary (A1) | - |
| Language School | 9+ | 1-12 weeks | 113 USD/week | 452 USD/week | Elementary (A1) | - |
| Elementary school | 6 | 6 years | Free (State school) | 11,300 USD (Private) | Intermediate (B1) | - |
| Secondary school | 12 | 6 years | Free (State school) | 11,300 USD (Private) | Intermediate (B1) | - |
| Foundation | 18+ | 1 year | 1,459 USD | 3,390 USD | Upper-Intermediate (B2) | IELTS/TOEFL |
| College | 18+ | 3-5 years | 263 USD/year | 565 USD/year | Upper-Intermediate (B2) | CNaVT/IELTS/FLE |
| Bachelor’s | 18+ | 3 years | 508 USD/year | 3,279 USD/year | Upper-Intermediate (B2) | CNaVT/IELTS/FLE |
| MBA | 21+ | 1-2 years | 33,900 USD | 39,776 USD | Advanced (C1) | CNaVT/IELTS/FLE |
| Master's | 21+ | 1-2 years | 791 USD/year | 4,793 USD/year | Advanced (C1) | CNaVT/IELTS/FLE |
| Doctoral | 22+ | 4-6 years | 521 USD/year | 3,390 USD/year | Advanced (C1) | CNaVT/IELTS/FLE |
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 1,042 USD per year. The universities of the French community charge only registration fees of no more than 945 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 418 USD for study and 113 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 1,121 USD for professional programs and 1,680 USD for academic programs in the first cycle and 2,242 USD for the second-cycle programs. For university programs, the amount should not exceed 4,718 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 508 USD in total).
Special emphasis should be put on PhD (third-cycle programs) tuition fees. Thus, there are two tuition fees of 521 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 944 USD in the first year (minerval) and then 56 USD/year for the rest period of study. The fees are usually much higher for international students from non-EU countries.
| Expenses | Average cost |
| Exams | 138 USD |
| Registration fee + ID card | 11 USD + 175 USD |
| Flight | 88 USD |
| Rent | 678 USD/month |
| Meals | 542 USD /month |
| Insurance | 90 USD/year |
| Learning materials | 678 USD |
Belgium is a melting pot of various cultures and nationalities. Rare country can boast not one or two, but three state languages.
On the territory of Belgium, each student, depending on the purpose of the visit, can choose:
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.
| Organization | Degree | Cycle | Duration | Total credits |
| College | Professional Bachelor's | First | 3 | 180 |
| College | Academic Bachelor's | First | 3 | 180 |
| College | Master's | Second | 1-2 | 60-120 |
| University | Academic Bachelor's | First | 3 | 180-240 |
| University | Master's | Second | 1-2 | 60- 120 |
| University | Doctoral / PhD | Third | 4-6 | 240-360 |
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.
A certificate of education and a birth certificate must also have a notarized translation and be certified in a Brussels tribunal.
All documents are provided in pdf format during online registration on the university website.
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:
Undergraduate programs require a level of B2 +, graduate — C1 +.
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.
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.
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.
Universities conduct mandatory entrance tests for admission to undergraduate programs in the following areas: medicine/dentistry, art, engineering (only in French universities), management.
Since 2006, in all French-speaking universities in Belgium that provide training in the fields of veterinary medicine, dentistry, and medicine, in addition to entrance examinations, special quotas have been introduced restricting the admission of foreign students. The number of allocated seats can be no more than 30% of the total. Choosing one of these areas, a foreign student can apply only to one Belgian university. Further, the applicant must personally appear at the selection committee with documents on specially allocated days (usually three days in late August). If the number of applications submitted exceeds the number of free places, students are admitted randomly[17]. In 2018, the student’s chance of being admitted to one of these faculties was about 30% (14.5% at the University of Liège, 26.8% at the University of Louvain, 27.8% at the University of Namur and 39% at the Free University of Brussels)[18].
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 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.
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.
There are some differences between Flanders and Walloon communities:
Employment in the academic field in Belgium is a rather difficult task[21]. The number of graduates of Belgian doctoral studies is growing every year, and the number of jobs is practically unchanged. In this regard, many graduates have to look for other opportunities for professional implementation.
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 9,040 USD per year[23].
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 226 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.
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 1,582 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].
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:
| Region | Category | Min. monthly income |
| Flanders | <30 years old and nurses | 3,390 USD |
| Flanders | > 30 years | 2,712 USD |
| Brussels, Wallonia, German-speaking region | all | 3,388 USD |
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 2,825 USD to 5,650 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.
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