
EU/EEA students pay the same as Belgians: €1,181.40 a year (60 ECTS) in Flanders and €0–1,194 in the French Community, depending on income; non-EU fees are higher, e.g. €4,300 a year at the University of Antwerp. Flanders has 18 publicly funded institutions and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation 40. See how to apply directly, what a month costs and how many hours you can work.
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.