In Belgium, higher education is run by the language communities, not by the federal state – each community has its own institutions, rules and fees. The two largest are the ones that matter for you.
The Flemish Community (Flanders and the Dutch-speaking institutions in Brussels) – 18 publicly funded institutions:
The Wallonia-Brussels Federation (the French Community) – 40 public institutions:
There are plenty of international students: around 20% at UCLouvain, 24% at ULiège, and at ULB one in three students and researchers comes from abroad.
Degrees in the two communities are similar – mostly only the names differ:
The academic year starts in September – in Flanders in mid-September at the hogescholen and a week later at the universities. The year is divided into two semesters, with exam periods in January, June and (resits) in August–September.
Belgium – bachelor's programmes
Belgium – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Belgium – master's programmes
Belgium – doctoral programmes
Belgium has no central admission system – you apply directly to the institution, usually through its online form. Each institution sets its own deadlines.
Flanders: for a bachelor's programme you need a secondary school leaving certificate that gives access to higher education in the country where it was issued. Applications usually open in November–December, and checking your documents can take anything from four weeks to several months. You complete your enrolment after arrival, at the institution's office.
French Community: with a school leaving certificate obtained abroad, you first need to get it recognised as equivalent (équivalence) by the Service des équivalences in Brussels. You apply between 15 November and 15 July before the start of your studies (if you receive your certificate after 10 July – by 14 September). The fee is €65–200, depending on the country. You attach a copy of your ID, your certificate and your grades, with a sworn translation into French or English.
Programmes with a limited number of places (e.g. medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine) have separate procedures and deadlines – check them on the institution's website as early as possible.
If you come from outside the EU/EEA, apply early: you will need your admission letter to apply for a long-stay visa, and the visa procedure can take six to eight weeks (see: Residence and formalities). Many institutions have earlier application deadlines for applicants who need a visa.
Most programmes have no entrance exam. The exceptions:
The language of your studies depends on the community: in Flanders you study in Dutch, in Wallonia and at the French-speaking institutions in Brussels in French. There are bachelor's programmes taught in English, but many more at master's and doctoral level.
Flanders: Dutch-taught programmes usually require level B2, some C1. English-taught programmes usually ask for B2 – e.g. IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL iBT 72–94, depending on the institution.
French Community: formal proof of French at level B2 (e.g. DELF B2, DALF, TCF or TEF) is required mainly for teacher training programmes. For other programmes you still need to follow lectures in French with ease.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa – you enter with your ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, you register at the municipality (commune / gemeente) where you live – Study in Flanders advises doing this as soon as possible after arrival.
When you register, you fill in a form (Annex 19), and within 3 months of applying you hand in:
The municipality will usually also ask for a photo and your rental contract. You first get a temporary document, then a residence card for EU citizens (EU card).
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a long-stay visa (type D) for studies. You apply at the Belgian embassy or consulate for your country of residence, and Study in Flanders warns that the procedure can easily take six to eight weeks – appointments fill up quickly in summer. You will need, among other things, your admission letter, a passport valid for at least 12 more months, proof of sufficient means, a certificate of good conduct, a medical certificate and proof that you have paid the administrative fee. For the 2026/27 academic year the minimum proof of means was raised to €1,062 a month (it was €835 in 2025/26); it can be a scholarship, your own money or a sponsor's formal commitment. After arrival you register at the municipality where you live, with your passport and visa, proof of means and proof of health insurance, and you receive a residence card for the duration of your studies.
Each community sets its own fees, and EU/EEA students pay the same as Belgian students.
Flanders (2026/27): €305.40 plus €14.60 for each ECTS credit, i.e. €1,181.40 for a full year (60 ECTS). Students with a study grant pay €139.40, and those just above the grant threshold pay €623.40 (rates from UGent; the University of Antwerp also gives €1,181.40).
French Community (2026/27): the fee (minerval) depends on your family's income: the full rate is €1,194, the intermediate rate €835, the rate for low incomes €374, and grant holders pay nothing. Anyone who does not get a reduction pays the full rate – you apply for the reduction by 31 October.
Students from outside the EU/EEA pay more, and each institution sets its own rates. For example, in 2026/27 the University of Antwerp charges €4,300 a year for a bachelor's and €7,800 for a master's programme, and at UCLouvain an extra €4,175 is added to the minerval.
According to the official study portals, living in Belgium costs:
A room in a student residence (in Belgium called a "kot") costs on average €350 a month including utilities in the French Community, and €350–500 on the private market. The deposit is usually one or two months' rent. Look for housing through your institution's housing office or on HousingAnywhere. Your first month will cost more – you pay the deposit and often temporary accommodation too.
What you can apply for:
EU/EEA citizens can work in Belgium without a permit. Students usually work on a student contract (studentenarbeid / job étudiant) with reduced social security contributions – this applies up to an annual limit of hours, which you can check on Student@work.
Students from outside the EU/EEA do not need a separate work permit – your student residence card is enough. During the academic year you may work up to 20 hours a week, and during the official holidays (winter, spring and summer) you may work more. The work must not clash with your classes, and you may not work in the summer before your first academic year in Belgium.
For casual jobs, Dutch or French helps, depending on the region. Start with your institution's careers office and student jobs office.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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