Study in Belgium

Who this applies to

International students at Belgian universities. Belgium has TWO separate higher-education systems by language community: the Flemish Community (Dutch) and the French Community / Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (French). Brussels has institutions from both.

Governing authority

Flanders: Flemish Ministry of Education, VLIR, NARIC-Vlaanderen (diploma recognition). French Community: ARES (Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement supérieur), Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.

Degree system

Bachelor 3 yrs (180 ECTS) · Master 1–2 yrs · PhD/Doctorat 3–4 yrs (often funded). Bologna-aligned.

Admission

How

Apply directly to each university (no single national portal). Most Bachelor's programs are non-selective with open enrolment for holders of an equivalent secondary diploma (some — medicine/dentistry/arts — have entrance exams or quotas). Non-EU diplomas require equivalence (NARIC in Flanders; service des équivalences in FWB).

Language

Bachelor's mainly in Dutch (Flanders) or French (FWB) — proficiency required. English-taught Master's are widespread (esp. KU Leuven, Ghent, VUB, UCLouvain, ULB). IELTS/TOEFL for English programs; CNaVT (Dutch) or DELF/DALF (French) for local-language programs.

Tuition Per Year Eur

Eu Eea

~€835–€1,160 standard enrolment fee (Flanders ~€1,157; FWB ~€835).

Non Eu Eea

Higher 'majoration'/specific enrolment fees — roughly €1,200–€8,000 depending on community and program (some up to ~€4,175+ in FWB).

Private

Private/business institutions ~€10,000–€12,000/yr.

Source

European Commission — Study in Belgium (Flanders)

Student visa & residence permit

EU/EEA: register at the local commune within 8 days of arrival (no visa). Non-EU/EEA: student visa (type D) + residence permit; proof of funds + health insurance required.

Scholarships

VLIR-UOS (Flanders, development-focused); ARES scholarships (FWB); Master Mind Scholarships (Flanders); university scholarships.

Sources & references

• tuition/costs — https://education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe/countries/belgium/flanders (2026-06-11)
• fees/visa — https://feather-insurance.com/en-be/blog/study-in-belgium (2026-06-11)