Long and short-term academic programs are available in Belgium across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research programs in Belgium. Moreover, summer schools and conferences are other excellent academic activities that make Belgium an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully-funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every student, researcher, and professor can always find a suitable program in Belgium and apply.
Scholarships in Belgium
- Study in Flanders Scholarships
- Forigen Scholarships in Belgium
- The Belgian Development Cooperation Funds Scholarships and Internships
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel Scholarships
- Belgian Technical Cooperation Scholarships Ghent University
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp Fees and Scholarships
- University of Namur Scholarships
- ASEAN Scholarships Fully Funded Scholarships in Belgium for the Academic Year
- Wallonia.be Scholarships in Belgium
Fellowships in Belgium
- FWO Postdoctoral Fellowships
- EURAXESS Postdoctoral Fellowships in Belgium in All Research Fields
- BAEF Fellowships for Study or Research in Belgium
- University of Antwerp Fellowships and Grants
- MRBS Brussels Fellowship
- IF@ULB International Research Fellowships
- Beware Fellowships Academia
- Pence Lab Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel Fellowship
- BeRS Short Term Research or Training Fellowship
Academic Programs in Belgium
- Thomas More Degree Programs
- Sint Lucas Antwerpen English Study Programmes
- Vrije Universiteit Initial Master Programmes Taught in English
- UCLouvain Bachelor’s Degree
- Universiteit Gent Master Programmes Taught in English
- University of Antwerp Master Programmes
- LUCA English Programmes
Summer Programs in Belgium
- Antwerp Summer University
- Summer School at VUB
- ISB Summer School
- Summer Schools at ULB
- Summer Schools and Short Courses Ku Leuven - https://www.kuleuven.be/english/education/summer-schools
- ICHEC Summer School
- KARAMAH Law and Leadership Summer Program
- BSoG Undergraduate Summer Programme
- BeMSA Gent Summer School
Belgium as an academic destination
Many of the critical decisions are made in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, as here the is the seat of the European Union Government. Belgium has the right to be called "a heart of Europe," and you have plenty of opportunities to study there.
In the opportunities list above, you have read the names Flanders and Wallonia many times. Those are two locations in Belgium which are essential to know for you as a student, as it's going to determine the language of studies and general communication with locals.
So, Belgium is divided into two parts. The first one is Flanders, and the people who live there are called Flemish. In Flanders, both the education language and the language of residents is Dutch.
The second one, Wallonia, is the part of the country where the main language is French. If your French knowledge is good and you pursue academic experience in Belgium, the Wallonia located universities will be the best option for you.
The third option of academic degrees will be told in English and adapted to the international students' needs. However, you should also develop one of the two national languages for your residence convenience in the country.
International students usually choose Economics, Business Administration, Computer Science, IT, Physics, and Political Science in Belgium.
Universities in Belgium
Belgium is home to the top-ranked universities, and in parallel, there are also many old universities, where you can explore the historical breath of Belgium education. Let's start with some of the oldest universities first.
Ghent University was founded in 1817 and successfully operates up to current. It's popular within the country borders and outside, being included in the global university rankings. According to estimations, around 10% of students in the university are from foreign countries. Therefore, while it's in the Dutch-speaking sector of the country, you will be able to find many graduate and undergraduate programs taught in English.
Ku Leuven is the largest university in the country, and it's also one of the oldest ones in Europe. Founded in the 1420s, it carries its high reputation for quality research-based projects up to now. The famous philosopher Erasmus is connected with the university, as he was a part of it for many years.
Another university that has a high reputation for its quality research opportunities is the University of Liège, which is also the only French-speaking public university in Belgium. Students usually do much inter-disciplinary research by studying here, as universities spend more than half of the budget on creating a special atmosphere for that.
In addition to the mentioned universities the top-ranked universities in QS ranking from Belgium include:
- Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
- Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Tuition Fees & Accommodation Costs in Belgium
Tuition fees and student visa requirements vary based on the international student's country of citizenship. A mandatory expense for international students in Belgium is a registration fee, which should be paid by all students every year, however, in different amounts.
So for EU/EEA/Swiss students government covers most of the tuition expenses for public universities. However, the registration cost is around 840-840 EUR, and it will vary based on your chosen institution and academic program.
For students holding citizenship other than the mentioned countries, the required cost is higher. Here, the sum also depends on the university, chosen field, program level, and university type. In addition, it also matters at what part of the country you study.
In public Wallonian universities, the registration fee for both Bachelor s and master's degrees varies between 835-4,200 EUR. The {hD degrees change the application fee of around 830 EUR, and then you pay 50$. Flemish universities should be contacted to clarify the tuition and registration fees, as there the legislation changes quite often.
Apartment renting and cost of living are equal to the average number of other European countries. A student should have around 800-1200 EUR per month for covering living costs, where 2--=700 might be allocated to house rent.
Student visa to Belgium
EU/EEA/Swiss national nationals are free of visa and permit. These two documents are required for students of other countries.
Foreign students should apply for a D-visa (student visa type) after they have a certification of being admitted to the university in Belgium.
For Asian students, particularly for Chinese, the procedure for applying and getting a visa slightly differs. To obtain a visa, they should have an APS certificate by DAAD Bejing. After receiving the visa and arriving in the country, Chinese students should apply for a residence permit eight days after being in Belgium.
Despite being one of the smallest European countries, Belgium has several academic opportunities to offer, a part of which is described in this section of ARMACAD. We hope the opportunities gathered here will help you construct your dream career and academic life in Belgium.