Belgium can offer a rewarding study experience for students who want a European setting with several languages, compact university cities and opportunities to encounter international organisations. It also requires a little more care when comparing courses: education is organised through different language communities, and there is no single national tuition fee or admissions system.
For an English-taught degree, begin with the programme and the institution offering it. Brussels, Leuven, Ghent, Antwerp, Louvain-la-Neuve and Liège offer different environments, but an English website or an international reputation does not mean every course is taught in English.
Understanding the study regions
Study in Flanders is the official starting point for English-taught options at Flemish higher education institutions, including institutions in Brussels. Wallonie-Bruxelles Campus covers French-speaking higher education. Brussels has institutions connected with different communities, so the city’s name alone does not tell you which system applies.
This distinction helps with programme searches, fees and support. It also matters outside lectures. Dutch or French can enrich your social life, help with administration and expand possible work opportunities even when your degree is in English.
Consider how you prefer to learn. Research universities, universities of applied sciences and arts institutions offer different routes. Read the curriculum and assessment arrangements rather than choosing solely from an institution’s title.
English-taught bachelor’s and master’s options
Le official Flemish programme directory lists foreign-language programmes with their institution, level, credits and language. Its current examples include applied computer science, aviation, hospitality and urban sustainability at bachelor’s level, alongside a broad master’s selection.
Well-known institutions to investigate include KU Leuven, Ghent University, the University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. French-speaking options can be explored through Wallonie-Bruxelles Campus, including institutions such as UCLouvain, Université libre de Bruxelles and the University of Liège. These names are useful entry points rather than a claim that every department offers an English degree.
For every course, check whether all compulsory elements can be completed in English. A master’s may allow an English thesis while certain teaching remains in another language. Professional placements, fieldwork and contact with clients can introduce additional language needs. Our Guide du programme enseigné en anglais helps you ask precise questions.
Tuition fees and your student category
The published Flemish tuition guidance for 2026–2027 gives a general figure of €1,181.40 for EU/EEA nationals taking a full-time 60-ECTS programme. For non-EU/EEA nationals it gives a general range of €5,300–€12,000, with a separate, potentially higher range for schools of arts. Institutions set their actual programme prices and exceptions apply.
These figures must not be used as a national Belgian fee table. French-speaking institutions follow their own rules, and additional contributions or exemptions can depend on nationality and status. Use the French-speaking registration-fee guidance and the institution’s own quotation for your programme.
Ask whether the amount covers a full academic year, whether additional credits cost extra and what happens if you repeat a course. Advanced master’s programmes, specialist courses and private provision can have different prices. For a meaningful comparison, use our Guide des frais de scolarité and write down the fee basis beside each amount.
Living costs and accommodation
Start with actual housing availability rather than an old national average. Student residences and private rooms can have different contract lengths, deposits and arrangements for utilities. Ask whether the institution helps find housing and when you need to apply.
Study in Flanders’ living-cost page provides a general planning estimate, but a monthly budget and the financial evidence required for a visa serve different purposes. Do not assume one automatically satisfies the other. Your room type, city, insurance and travel plans can change the amount you need.
Build an arrival budget as well as a monthly one. Include a rental deposit, travel, temporary accommodation if necessary, household items and any required advance tuition payment. A shared kitchen and a straightforward commute may make a bigger difference to affordability than a small variation in the tuition bill.
Admission and funding
Applications generally go through the institution, with conditions depending on your previous education and the course. Bachelor’s applicants should check the school-qualification requirements; master’s applicants should check subject prerequisites and any required credits in particular fields.
Prepare the requested academic documents, language evidence and any motivation statement or portfolio. Deadlines for non-EU applicants can be earlier because of the time needed for residence arrangements. Scholarship deadlines may also precede the final course deadline, so research funding while you are making your shortlist.
Explore the Flemish scholarship information, Wallonie-Bruxelles Campus funding pages and the university’s own awards. Check whether funding covers tuition, living costs or a limited period of mobility. A competitive scholarship should not be treated as guaranteed income before an award decision. Our répertoire des bourses offers another discovery route.
Residence, work and gaining experience
Entry and residence arrangements depend on nationality and the length of study. Use official student visa guidance and the Belgian immigration authorities for your own route. Arrange the financial evidence, insurance and admission documents required for the relevant application.
Student employment can be useful, but hours, residence conditions and tax or social-security arrangements are not the same question. Check the terms applying to you before working. Dutch or French may be needed for many local roles even if English is sufficient in class. Do not base the viability of the degree on finding paid work immediately.
Belgium’s international environment can make student societies, research projects, volunteering and employer events particularly interesting. Placements are still programme-specific and competitive. Ask how students find them and what support the institution provides instead of assuming a Brussels address guarantees an internship with a European organisation.
Choose the combination of course, language and city that will help you participate fully. Use our programme finder to organise options, then verify the details with the institution before committing.
Reviewed 25 October 2026. Fees and immigration requirements depend on the academic year and your circumstances.