Universities in Belgium

Belgium has no single national university system. Higher education is run by the Communities: the Flemish Community for Dutch-speaking institutions in Flanders and Brussels, and the French Community (the Wallonia-Brussels Federation) for French-speaking ones in Wallonia and Brussels. Flanders has 18 publicly funded higher education institutions, including five universities, the oldest dating back to 1425; the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has 5 universities, 19 university colleges and 16 schools of arts. About 14% of students at Flemish institutions are international.

Our directory lists 12 universities and university-level schools in Belgium, mainly in Brussels, Ghent and Leuven, with others in Bruges, Mons, Liège and Louvain-la-Neuve.

How Belgian universities work

Both systems follow the European three-cycle structure and use ECTS credits, with 60 credits for a full year. In Flanders, an academic bachelor's degree is worth 180 ECTS and a master's 60 to 120 ECTS, followed by advanced master's programmes and the PhD; university colleges (universities of applied sciences) offer professional bachelor's degrees. In French-speaking Belgium, a bachelor's degree (bachelier) is worth 180 or 240 ECTS (three to four years) and a master's 60 to 180 ECTS (one to three years). Flemish degree programmes are accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).

Most programmes in Flanders are taught in Dutch, with English-taught programmes at bachelor's level and more of them at master's and PhD level. The academic year starts in September, with exams in January and June and resits in August and September; French-speaking institutions divide the year into three terms on the same rhythm.

Examples from our directory: Ghent University was founded in 1817; KU Leuven celebrated six centuries in 2025; the Université de Liège describes itself as a public university; the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Mons has trained engineers since 1837; and the College of Europe, a postgraduate institute of European studies, has campuses in Bruges, Natolin and Tirana.

Admission for international students

In Flanders, admission to a bachelor's programme is based on a secondary school diploma that gives access to university in the country where it was awarded, and each institution handles its own admissions. Entry exams are compulsory for medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences (taught in Dutch only) and for schools of arts. Most English-taught programmes require English at level B2 (for IELTS, an overall band of 6.0), and Dutch-taught bachelor's programmes usually require Dutch at B2.

In French-speaking Belgium, a recognition of equivalence of your diploma is required, and selection procedures apply to civil engineering, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, speech therapy and physiotherapy. Applications are recommended between February and 31 March. Diploma recognition is handled by NARIC-Vlaanderen in Flanders and by the ENIC-NARIC centre of the French Community, which charges €70 per case for its certificate.

Visa and residence

Students from outside the EEA usually need a long-stay visa (type D) from the Belgian embassy or consulate, and the procedure can take six to eight weeks. A key requirement is proof of means: for 2026-2027 the minimum is €1,062 per month. After arrival, all students must register at the town hall where they live. Residence applications for study at non-recognised private institutions are examined in detail by the Immigration Office.

Costs and funding

Public higher education is subsidised. In Flanders, the 2026-2027 tuition fee for a full-time year (60 ECTS) is 1,181.40 euros for EU/EEA nationals and between 5,300 and 12,000 euros for other students, as each institution sets its own price. In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, EU students pay at most €1,194 a year (2025-2026), while most non-EU students pay €5,369 including an additional contribution of €4,175; nationals of the least developed countries on the UN list are exempt from the additional contribution.

How to choose a university in Belgium

• Language: Dutch, French or English; check the language of each programme, not just of the university
• Type of institution: research university, university college or school of arts, or a specialised postgraduate or business school
• Recognition: degrees from recognised institutions are accredited; some private schools are not (TIMI, for example, states that it is a private unaccredited institute)
• Cost: fees depend on your nationality and the Community; add the monthly means required for the visa
• City: Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, Liège, Louvain-la-Neuve and Mons each have their own student life

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English at a Belgian university?

Yes. Most programmes are taught in Dutch or French, but there are English-taught programmes, especially at master's and PhD level. Most require English at level B2.

How much does a university cost in Belgium?

For EU students, about 1,181 euros a year in Flanders (2026-2027) and at most €1,194 in French-speaking Belgium. Non-EU students pay 5,300 to 12,000 euros in Flanders and usually €5,369 in French-speaking Belgium.

How long is a bachelor's degree in Belgium?

Usually three years (180 ECTS); some French-speaking programmes take four years (240 ECTS). A master's adds one to two years in most fields.

How much money do I need for a Belgian student visa?

For 2026-2027 the minimum proof of means is €1,062 per month, according to Study in Flanders and Study in Belgium.