Study in Belgium as an International Student (2027/28 Complete Guide)

Yes, you can study in Belgium in English as a non-EU student, and public tuition is moderate by Western European standards. In 2026/27 a non-EU student at a French-speaking public university paid €5,369 per year, and Flemish institutions charged non-EEA students between €5,300 and €12,000 per year according to the official guideline. You apply directly to each institution, usually before spring, then apply for a long-stay type D student visa.

This pillar guide walks you through the whole journey for the 2027/28 intake and links to our detailed guides on applications, requirements, visa, documents, costs, scholarships and life after graduation. Every figure below comes from an official Belgian source, and we tell you which academic year it belongs to.

First, understand Belgium's two education systems

Belgium does not have one national university system. Higher education is run by the Communities: the Flemish Community for Dutch-speaking Belgium (Flanders, plus Dutch-speaking institutions in Brussels) and the French Community, also called the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, for French-speaking Belgium. The Belgian Foreign Affairs ministry sends you to each Community for the rules.

This matters because admission, diploma recognition and fees are different on each side. Before you compare universities, find out which Community your English-taught program belongs to.

Universities and English-taught programs in Belgium

Belgium has research universities (such as KU Leuven, Ghent University, University of Antwerp, VUB, Hasselt University, UCLouvain, ULB, University of Liège, University of Namur and University of Mons) plus universities of applied sciences (hogescholen in Flanders, hautes écoles in the French Community) that offer practical bachelor's degrees.

Across the 47 Belgian institutions FindUniPath tracks, we have verified 327 English-taught programs: 70 bachelor's, 250 master's and 7 doctoral programs. The big picture is clear: Belgium is mainly a master's destination in English. Bachelor's programs in English exist, but they are concentrated in Flemish universities of applied sciences such as Thomas More (22), VIVES (8), Howest (8) and UCLL (7). Read our guide to English-taught programs in Belgium for the full breakdown.

The journey step by step

1. 1

   Choose your program and Community (12–18 months before September)

   Search the Study in Flanders program finder and the Study in Belgium program finder. Teaching starts in mid-September.

2. 2

   Check entry requirements

   Master's programs need a related bachelor's degree (in the French Community at least 180 ECTS). See our admission requirements guide.

3. 3

   Take an English test

   Most programs ask for B2. In Flanders that is usually IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 72–94, but many universities ask for IELTS 6.5.

4. 4

   French Community bachelor's only: request the equivalence

   For 2027/28 the Service des équivalences accepts files from 15 November 2026 to 15 July 2027. Without it, the institution cannot register you.

5. 5

   Apply to each institution online

   Flemish applications generally open around November–December; French Community institutions mostly close on 31 March. Details in how to apply to universities in Belgium.

6. 6

   Arrange proof of means

   A blocked account, bank guarantee, scholarship or Annex 32 sponsor covering €1,062 per month (2026/27 rate).

7. 7

   Apply for the type D student visa

   Fill in the form on Visa on Web, book through the visa centre and give biometrics. See our Belgium student visa guide.

8. 8

   Arrive and register within 8 days

   Register at your town hall to receive the A-card residence permit, then complete enrolment and join a Belgian health insurance fund.

When are the deadlines?

Belgium has one main intake, in September. Deadlines for non-EU applicants who need a visa are early because the visa takes time. These are the official dates we hold right now:

• University of Antwerp, 2027/28: apply on Mobility Online from 4 November 2026 to 28 February 2027.
• Ghent University, 2027/28: apply between October and March and complete the file before 1 April (yearly rule).
• ULB, 2027/28: non-European students apply from 16 February to 31 March (yearly window), and pay the €200 fee by 31 March.
• UCLouvain, ULiège, VUB and UMONS: for 2026/27 the non-EU deadline was 31 March 2026; 2027/28 dates are not published yet.
• Hasselt University, 2027/28: applications open 15 November 2026; master's deadlines range from 1 February to 1 May 2027 depending on the program.

How much does it cost to study in Belgium?

Tuition is only part of the budget. Study in Belgium estimates living costs of €1,000–€1,300 per month in the French Community, and Study in Flanders estimates €800–€1,000 per month in Flanders (neither states a year). Your first month costs more because of the rental deposit.

Fixed extras include the visa fee (€250 at the Embassy in Islamabad for appointments from 1 July 2026), application fees of up to €200, and for French Community bachelor's applicants an equivalence fee of €400 (or €150 for diplomas from listed developing countries). Full budget tables are in our cost of studying in Belgium guide.

Scholarships you can realistically target

The two big government master's scholarships are Flanders' Master Mind Scholarship (€10,225 plus a tuition waiver in 2026/27; the 2027/28 terms are under review) and the French Community's WBI MASTER IN grant (€10,020 for 2026/27). There are also university scholarships, Erasmus Mundus scholarships and, for some nationalities, VLIR-UOS and ARES development scholarships. See scholarships in Belgium for international students.

Applying from Afghanistan, Pakistan and nearby countries

You apply for your visa where you legally live. Afghan nationals must lodge their visa with the Belgian Embassy in Islamabad through VFS Global centres in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore; Afghans living in Iran must, as a rule, also go through Islamabad. The Belgian honorary consulate in Kabul is closed.

Life during and after your studies

Housing and insurance need early attention too. You must have permanent accommodation to register at the town hall, and health insurance is compulsory: non-EEA students join a Belgian health insurance fund with their proof of enrolment. Both official portals, Study in Flanders and Study in Belgium, have housing guides, and your university housing service is usually the safest place to start.

With a valid residence permit you may work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and without a limit during school holidays. After you graduate, you can request a 12-month orientation year to look for a job or start a business. Read work and stay in Belgium after graduation and our honest pros and cons of studying in Belgium.

Your Belgium checklist

• Decide on the Flemish or French Community for each program on your list.
• Book an IELTS, TOEFL or other accepted test early; some universities only accept tests taken at a test centre.
• Start collecting and translating diplomas and transcripts now.
• Plan your funds: tuition plus at least €12,744 per year (2026/27 visa minimum).
• Apply before the earliest deadline on your list, often February or March.
• Apply for the visa as soon as you have the admission letter and proof of means.

Deadlines change every year, and many 2027/28 dates are still unpublished. You can track deadlines for free on FindUniPath and see each university's official dates the moment they appear, or browse everything about the country on our Belgium hub.