Belgium: Tuition fees & cost of living

Author: Claudia Civinini — Last update: 28 May 2024

Studying right in the heart of Europe in a multilingual country, perhaps in the de facto EU capital… sound exciting, doesn’t it?

Belgium can offer all that, plus some of the best beer in the world – and a wealth of English-taught degrees, of course. The price tag is also lower than in other destinations.

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💸 Tuition fees in Belgium: How much does it cost to study at university?

Tuition fees at public universities in Belgium are typically around €1,000 per year for EU students and between €2,500 and €7,500 per year for students from outside the EU. Private institutions and business schools charge higher amounts.

For details, it matters in which of the country's three regions you want to study: the Dutch-speaking Flanders region in the North; the French-speaking Wallonia region in the South; or the Brussels capital region in the center.

In Flanders, tuition fees generally will be €979.60 for EU students and €979.60 – €8,000 for non-EU students at state institutions. In private institutions, fees will be the same.
In Wallonia, EU students pay a maximum €835 per year at university and €350.03 in university colleges and schools of arts. Non-EU students, on the other hand, pay a fixed yearly fee for university degrees, now set at €2,505, and between €992 and €1,984 for university colleges and schools of arts according to the course. Some exceptions exist: for example, the citizens of a group of non-EU countries can pay only EU fees.
In Brussels, it depends on whether your institution is French- or Dutch-speaking.

Remember that these are just general guidelines, and institutions may have different fees.

The following table will give you an idea of the tuition fee range at some of the top universities in Belgium.

University	Tuition fees for Bachelors per year	Tuition fees for Masters per year
Brussels School of Governance	Ca. 15,000 EUR	Ca. 15,000 EUR
Howest University of Applied Sciences	1,000 EUR for EU students, up to 7,000 EUR for non-EU	–
KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts	1,100 EUR for EU students, 7,100 EUR for non-EU	–
KU Leuven	1,000 EUR for EU students, ranging between 1,200 EUR up to 7,000 EUR for non-EU	1,000 EUR for EU students, ranging between 1,000 EUR up to 7,000 EUR for non-EU
Université catholique de Louvain	Ca. 800 EUR for EU students, 2,500 EUR for non-EU	Ca. 800 EUR for EU students, 2,500 EUR for non-EU
Université de Liège	–	Ca. 800 EUR for EU students, 2,500 EUR for non-EU
Université libre de Bruxelles	Ca. 800 EUR for EU students, 2,500 EUR for non-EU	Ca. 800 EUR for EU students, 2,500 EUR for non-EU
University of Antwerp	1,000 EUR for EU students, 3,000 EUR for non-EU	1,000 EUR for EU students, 3,000 EUR for non-EU
Vlerick Business School	–	From 18,000 EUR to 21,900 EUR
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)	1,000 EUR for EU students, 3,900 EUR for non-EU	1,000 EUR for EU students, ranging between 1,000 EUR up to 3,800 EUR for non-EU

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⌛ When do you have to pay tuition fees as a student in Belgium?

Tuition fees are usually paid annually, once the application is accepted, or after enrolment.

Some universities have a shorter deadline than others, so you will need to check with your institution. While KU Leuven asks for payment via invoice within two weeks after your registration, at UC Louvain tuition fees are due by 31 October.

Some institutions offer the opportunity to pay in instalments – for example, the University of Antwerp or Vlerick Business School. If this is something you are interested in, make sure to inquire with the international office and follow the procedure to draw up a payment plan.

📆 Application deadlines at Belgian universities

All universities will have their own application deadlines.

However, EU/EEA students will usually have more time than other international students.

While, generally, non-EU students will have to submit their applications by February/March to start in September, EU students will have longer – sometimes until June or September.

Study.eu Tip: It’s crucial to check with your chosen university, as some institutions will process applications on a rolling basis or have different deadlines for different courses. Ensure you have all relevant deadlines in your calendar before you start the process.

🏛️ Are there application fees at Belgian universities?

Yes, there will be application fees at Belgian universities.

Application fees can vary quite substantially and range between €50 and €200.

These fees are sometimes non-refundable, but that is not always the case.

At UC Louvain, students from outside of the EU (with a few exceptions) will be asked to pay €200, which will be discounted from their tuition fees if their application is accepted. At KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts, a €128 fee is deducted from tuition fees if the application is accepted – while students with a Belgian or Dutch diploma can have that fee reimbursed if they don’t enrol.

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🤔 Can you study in Belgium for free?

There are not a lot of opportunities to study in Belgium for free. Universities in Belgium charge tuition fees, but these are comparatively lower than in other European destinations.

However, there is one way to study for free or to pay lower tuition fees: obtaining a scholarship. Read the following paragraph to find out more about the scholarship opportunities international available for international students in Belgium.

💰 Are there scholarships for international students?

Yes, there are scholarships available for international students in Belgium. Some are offered by the government, others by individual universities or other organisations.

Some scholarship schemes are merit-based or targeted at students from a specific country or region.

Here are some scholarship opportunities as an example:

Are you thinking of studying in French? The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie has a scholarship programme for postgraduate students (master’s and PhD) enrolled in one of its member universities.
The Flemish Ministry of Education and Training runs a scholarship programme for international master’s students.
Universities have their own scholarship schemes for international students and often list external opportunities as well – the international office may be able to help with the application. See for example: Howest University of Applied Sciences and the University of Antwerp.
Erasmus+ and Erasmus Mundus scholarships are also an option.

💳 What is the monthly cost of living as a student in Belgium?

The cost of living as an international student in Belgium will vary according to your lifestyle and location. However, in very general terms, you can expect to spend approximately between €700-800 to over €1,000 a month.

Accommodation ranges between €300 to €500 a month, but private apartments or studios will easily cost more. As a capital, Brussels can be more affordable than others - it has cheaper rents on average than London, Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin.

Your monthly food bill will be around €250-€300. As much as the lure of Belgian fries and chocolate will be hard to resist, remember that cooking at home will keep your budget in check.

As a student, you’ll also have access to some discounted public transport deals, such as a discounted season tickets on trains and other transport networks. In Leuven, for example, a yearly bus pass will cost you €25, while in Brussels under-24s can get a yearly pass for as little as €12.

💪 Can I work while studying at university in Belgium?

Yes, international students can work while studying in Belgium.

EU/EEA students don’t have any restrictions and can access the labour market freely both during and after their studies.
Non-EU students can work up to 20 hours a week during term time and more during the holidays.

Regardless of visa restrictions, tax benefits to student job salaries only apply for up to 600 hours per year.

After graduation, non-EU students can apply for a residence permit for an orientation year and stay in Belgium for 12 months to look for a job or start a business.

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Claudia has many years of experience as a reporter and writer on international education and student mobility. Originally from Italy, she holds a BA in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Genova; a Graduate Diploma in Education, Secondary Education and Teaching from the Australian Catholic University; and a joint MSc in Educational Neuroscience from UCL and Birkbeck, University of London. Claudia has previously worked as Chief Reporter for the English Language Gazette, as Senior Reporter for the PIE News (Professionals in International Education), and as Reporter for Tes.