Belgium Universities and Colleges

Overview

Overview of Higher Education in Belgium

The country of Belgium is made up of a large Flemish community, a large French community and a much smaller German community. The Flemish and French communities each have their own system of higher education. Students from the German community usually study elsewhere in Belgium or in Germany.

Admission to most of Belgium's higher education institutions is open to anyone who has graduated from secondary school. However, programs in medicine, engineering, business and arts may also require students to pass an entrance examination. Only schools that are accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting organization can confer degrees that will be recognized within Belgium and across Europe.

Tuition is free but there are registration fees for all public institutions which are set by the government These have been about 600 euros a year in the Flemish community and over 800 euros a year in the French Community.

Types of Schools and Degrees

Flemish Community

Higher education institutions are referred to as universities or university colleges. Academic degrees available at Flemish universities are bachelor's, master's, advanced master's and doctoral degrees. Professional degrees are offered at university colleges and include associate's, professional bachelor's and advanced bachelor's degrees. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from both types of instituions follow the structure defined by the Bologna agreement which has standardized degrees across Europe.

The universities and university colleges in the Flemish community are grouped in associations where one university will have an association with one or more university colleges to facilitate research. Bachelor's level courses are taught in Dutch while some master's and doctoral level courses are taught in English to appeal to an international audience.

French Community

Universities, professional education schools, schools of architecture and schools of art provide academic and professional degree programs. These degree programs conform to the Bologna agreement which defines standards for degree programs across Europe. Universities offer bachelor's, master's, complementary master's and doctoral degrees as well as medical doctor and veterinary doctor degrees. Professional education schools and other institutions offer bachelor's and master's degrees.

International Students

Flemish Community

International students are able to enroll in bachelor's degree programs at universities, university colleges and other schools as long as they have completed a secondary education deemed equivalent to Belgium's secondary education. Admission to master's and doctoral programs is decided by the institution's board who will determine whether the student's foreign degree is equivalent to a degree earned in Belgium.

International students must have Dutch language competency and students from outside the European Union must obtain a student visa. All international students must register with the local administration in Belgium within eight days of arrival. Tuition and fees for international students vary by institution but are generally higher than for Belgium's citizens.

French Community

Higher education in the French community is very popular for international students with about 19 percent of all students coming from outside Belgium. Admission of foreign students is determined by individual universities and schools which decide whether a student's secondary education qualifications are equivalent to Belgium's. Certain areas of study such as art, engineering, and science require that students take an entrance examination that is also required of Belgium's students.

Fees for international students vary by institution and are higher than fees paid by Belgium's citizens. EU students pay more than citizens of Belgium but less than non-EU students. In 2010, a non-EU student may have typically paid about 1500 euros in addition to the normal registration fee of about 820 euros each year. There may also be additional charges for international students that vary by school.

About Belgium

Belgium is a country of about 10.7 million people which is made up of two major linguistic groups, the Flemish who speak Dutch and the French. A much smaller group speaks German. Its complex system of government involves a federal government, language-based community governments as well as regional governments. It is bordered by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the North Sea. Its capital, Brussels, is the seat of the European Union and NATO.

Belgium's GDP is the 31st largest in the world and it ranked 17th on the United Nations 2009 Human Development Index. Belgium has a very high rate of those who pursue post-secondary education, compared with its European neighbors.

Resources

Study In Flanders

Higher Education in Flanders

Study in the French Community of Belgium