Howest University of Applied Sciences at a glance
- City
- Kortrijk
- Type
- Public university
- Website
- howest.be/en
Key takeaways
- For 2026/27, Howest charges non-EEA students €8,000 per 60 ECTS (€2,000 + €100 per ECTS) for English-taught bachelors.
- The FindUniPath database lists 8 English-taught bachelor programs, including Cybersecurity and Creative Technologies and AI.
- Non-EEA admits pay a €2,000 deposit and put €13,200 (2026/27) in a Howest blocked account for the visa.
- For 2026/27, applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Pakistan had an earlier deadline of 1 May.
- Howest says it has no scholarships for international students.
On this page
Howest is a public university of applied sciences in West Flanders that teaches practical, career-focused bachelors in English, and for 2026/27 non-EEA students pay €8,000 per year (€2,000 + €100 per ECTS). It lets a non-EU school leaver study cybersecurity, AI, digital arts or product design entirely in English.
It is not the cheapest option in this list, and it has no scholarships, but if you want a hands-on bachelor's rather than a research master's, it is worth a close look.
Why Howest is on our best-value list
- English-taught bachelors: in the FindUniPath database, ULB, ULiège, UHasselt, UMONS and UNamur list no English-taught bachelors.
- Applied, job-oriented programs in fields like cybersecurity, AI and digital design.
- Fee within the Flanders range: €8,000 sits inside the €5,300 to €12,000 non-EEA guideline Study in Flanders gives for 2026/27.
- No portfolio required for creative programs, according to Howest.
Howest tuition and costs for non-EEA students
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| English-taught bachelor (60 ECTS) | €8,000 (€2,000 fixed + €100 per ECTS) |
| Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics@home (30 ECTS per year) | €4,000 (€1,600 + €80 per ECTS) |
| Basic flat-rate study costs | €123 (reduced €83); some programs add more |
| Application fee | €50, non-refundable |
| Tuition deposit | €2,000, deducted from tuition |
| Blocked account for the visa | €13,200 (single student) |
Deposit rules
The €2,000 deposit is non-refundable if you decide not to study at Howest. If your visa is refused, it is returned minus a €100 administration fee.
Howest's blocked-account amount (€13,200 for 2026/27) is higher than the national minimum of €1,062 per month (€12,744 per year) set for 2026/27, so budget for Howest's figure. See our cost of studying in Belgium guide.
English-taught programs at Howest
| Program | Length |
|---|---|
| Cybersecurity | 3 years |
| Creative Technologies and Artificial Intelligence | 3 years |
| Digital Arts and Entertainment (English track) | 3 years |
| Digital Design and Development (English track) | 3 years |
| Industrial Product Design (English track) | 3 years |
| Short Track Creative Technologies and AI (for ICT bachelor graduates) | 1 year |
| Advanced Bachelor in Bioinformatics (on campus) | 1 year |
| Advanced Bachelor in Bioinformatics@home (distance learning) | 2–2.5 years part-time |
Degree students start only in the autumn semester; there is no February intake. Explore other options in English-taught programs in Belgium.
Admission requirements
- Diploma: a secondary diploma that gives access to university studies in the issuing country; Howest states no minimum grade.
- English B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, Duolingo 110, PTE 59, Cambridge FCE/CAE/CPE, or one year of English-taught secondary school or 30 ECTS of English-taught higher education.
- Maths test or interview: possible for applicants from countries with a PISA score below 450 or not in PISA, which includes Afghanistan.
- Documents: passport, translated and legalised diploma and transcript, English certificate, motivation letter in the language of instruction, a Certificate of Access to University Studies if requested, and insurance.
- Advanced bachelors and the short track require a bachelor's degree plus program-specific diploma requirements.
Diplomas from outside the EU must be legalised, and from 2026/27 Howest verifies diplomas online or via Qualification Check. Read our documents and legalization guide.
Deadlines
For the 2026/27 intake, Howest applications opened on 1 January 2026, with these deadlines:
| Applicant group | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan (application and final payment) | 1 May |
| Other non-EEA students who need a visa | 1 June |
| Final deadline for blocked-account money, deposit and verified documents | 15 June |
| EEA citizens and visa-free applicants | 1 July |
| Applicants already living in Belgium | 7 September |
The 2027/28 dates are not published yet. Check the official applications page from January. Incomplete applications are rejected.
Scholarships
Howest states that it does not have scholarships for international students. It mentions other funding routes such as Flemish Community grants and FINS loans. For national programs, see our scholarships in Belgium guide.
Living in Kortrijk
Study in Flanders estimates student living costs at €800 to €1,000 per month, with rent of €450 to €600, and the first month costs more. With a residence permit you may work up to 20 hours per week during term and without limit in holidays.
Is Howest right for you?
Howest suits school leavers who want a practical, professional bachelor's in English and a clear route into tech or creative work. It also suits ICT graduates who want a one-year short track in creative technologies and AI, and biology or computing graduates interested in bioinformatics.
If you already hold a bachelor's and your nationality is on the ARES list, a master's at a French-speaking university at €1,194 a year (2026/27) will cost far less. And if you come from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana or Cameroon, remember that in 2026/27 your full payment, including the €13,200 blocked account and the €2,000 deposit, was due by 1 May, which means having the money ready early in the year.
Honest downsides
Benefits
- Practical English-taught bachelors in tech and design
- No portfolio needed for creative programs
- Clear published fees and deposit rules
Difficulties
- €8,000 a year, more than many master's fees at French-speaking universities
- No Howest scholarships
- Earlier 1 May deadline for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon
- €2,000 deposit is lost if you change your mind
How to apply step by step
- 1
Choose your program
Check if you need a bachelor's first (advanced bachelor, short track).
- 2
Take an English test and legalise your diploma
Allow time for legalisation and Qualification Check.
- 3
Apply from 1 January
Submit on apply.howest.be and pay the €50 fee.
- 4
Do the maths test or interview if asked
Likely for applicants from countries not in PISA.
- 5
Pay the deposit and fund the blocked account
Before your group's deadline (1 May for Afghanistan, Pakistan and three other countries in 2026/27).
- 6
Apply for your visa
Follow our Belgium student visa guide.
Applying from Afghanistan
In 2026/27 Afghan applicants had to finish both the application and the final payment by 1 May, and may be asked for a maths test or interview. Afghan visa applications go through the Belgian Embassy in Islamabad and VFS Global in Pakistan.
Get reminded when Howest opens on 1 January: track deadlines for free on FindUniPath. See all options in the Belgium hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Howest tuition for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, €8,000 per 60 ECTS (€2,000 + €100 per ECTS) for English-taught bachelors, plus a few hundred euros in study costs.
Does Howest offer scholarships?
No. Howest states that it does not have scholarships for international students.
When is the Howest deadline for Pakistani or Afghan students?
For 2026/27, applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Pakistan had to apply and pay by 1 May.
How much money do I need in the Howest blocked account?
€13,200 for the 2026/27 academic year for a single student.
Is the Howest cybersecurity bachelor taught in English?
Yes. Cybersecurity is a 3-year English-taught bachelor at Howest.
Official sources
Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
- 1.Howest — Tuition fees
- 2.Howest — Applications for English-taught degree programmes
- 3.Howest — Study programmes
- 4.Study in Flanders — Tuition fees
- 5.Study in Flanders — Visa requirements
- 6.Study in Belgium — Living costs (incl. Flanders estimate)
- 7.Study in Belgium — Working while studying
- 8.Belgium FPS Foreign Affairs — Visa competence list