ULB Brussels: Tuition, English Programs & How to Apply (2027/28)

The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is a large public university in the capital of Europe, and for 2026/27 it charges non-EU students €5,369 per year, or only €1,194 if your nationality is on the ARES exemption list (for example Afghanistan, Pakistan or Nigeria). Non-European students apply in one short window: 16 February to 31 March.

Below you will find the exact fees, the English-taught masters, the entry rules and a step-by-step plan, based on ULB's official pages.

Why ULB is good value

ULB is a French-speaking public university with three main campuses in Brussels: Solbosch, Plaine and Erasme. Its fees are set by the French Community of Belgium, so they are far below private universities in the same city.

• Regulated fees of €5,369, with a big reduction for many lower-income nationalities.
• Brussels location: the city hosts EU institutions and many international organisations, which matters for students of politics, economics and law.
• Engineering in English: several Master of Science programs in engineering are taught in English.
• PhD access: a long PhD window (16 February to 31 October).

ULB tuition fees for non-EU students

According to ULB, from 2026/27 non-EU students who are not assimilated to Belgian students pay €1,194, plus a €4,175 supplementary contribution unless their nationality is listed in Annexes 1 to 3 of the ARES circular. Fees for 2027/28 are not on the page yet.

You pay at least €50 before 31 October to validate your enrolment, and the balance before 1 February. Separately, applicants not assimilated to Belgian students pay a €200 non-refundable administrative fee by 31 March; without it, your file is not examined.

English-taught programs at ULB

All ULB bachelors are taught in French, and French B2 is required if French was not part of your school-leaving program. For English speakers, the options are at master's level: the FindUniPath database counts 22 English-taught masters and specialised masters, plus PhD programs.

English levels are set per program, so check each program page. Compare with other cities in our English-taught programs in Belgium guide.

Admission requirements

• Master's: a bachelor's of at least 180 credits that the academic jury judges comparable. You do not need a separate equivalence for master's admission.
• Specialised masters: may set their own dates and requirements, so check with the faculty.
• PhD: a master's of at least 120 credits (or at least 300 credits overall), or a foreign degree giving direct doctoral access in its country.
• Bachelor (French-taught): for 2026/27, a secondary average of at least 13/20, and proof that you requested the French Community equivalence by 31 March. Only one bachelor application per year.

Our Belgium admission requirements guide explains equivalence and grading in detail.

Deadlines

ULB publishes a standing yearly window: non-European students apply for all programs from 16 February to 31 March, and PhD applicants from 16 February to 31 October. The page presents these as recurring dates but does not print a year, so before the 2027/28 intake confirm them on the submission deadlines page. Non-European students living in an EU country can use the European dates.

Scholarships

• ARES exemption: if your nationality is listed, you save €4,175 a year.
• ULB international scholarships and Wallonia-Brussels International grants exist depending on nationality and level; grant holders from certain government programs pay €0 registration.
• WBI MASTER IN: €10,020 over 12 months for masters at French Community institutions; the 2026/27 deadline was 31 March 2026, and you must be admitted first.

See our scholarships in Belgium guide for eligibility.

Living in Brussels

ULB estimates the cost of living at about €14,000 per year. Study in Belgium gives €1,000 to €1,300 per month for French-speaking Belgium. For the visa, you must prove at least €1,062 net per month for 2026/27 (€12,744 a year). Students with a valid residence permit may work up to 20 hours per week during term.

Is ULB right for you?

ULB suits graduates who want an English-taught master in engineering, computing, economics or European studies in Brussels, at a public fee. It suits you less if you need a bachelor in English or a late deadline. If your nationality is on the ARES list, the €1,194 fee is very low for a master's taught in English, but rent in Brussels will still be the biggest part of your budget.

Honest downsides

How to apply to ULB step by step

1. 1

   Choose a master's

   Use ULB's English-language program search and note each program's requirements.

2. 2

   Prepare documents

   Bachelor's diploma, transcripts, passport and English certificate. See our documents and legalization guide.

3. 3

   Create your MonULB account

   Apply online via MonULB between 16 February and 31 March.

4. 4

   Pay the €200 fee by 31 March

   Your file is only examined once it is paid.

5. 5

   Get your admission letter

   ULB issues a standard-form letter via MonULB, which you need for the visa.

6. 6

   Apply for the student visa

   If the visa is not ready before 1 September, send your registration letter to the embassy. Follow our Belgium student visa guide.

Want reminders before 16 February? Track deadlines for free on FindUniPath, and see all Belgian options in the Belgium hub.