Look at the community first, then the school
In Belgium, universities belong to a language community, and the rules of the two communities are separate. The Flemish Community in the north has KU Leuven, Ghent University, University of Antwerp and VUB. According to Study in Flanders, most programs there are in Dutch. On the French-speaking side, schools like UCLouvain follow their own application calendar.
In the Flemish region, the school itself decides whether a foreign diploma is enough. According to the Flemish government, official recognition is not needed in most cases. In the French-speaking region, we suggest asking the school about this before you apply.
The language certificate also changes by program. At the University of Antwerp, you cannot enrol in a Dutch-taught program without a language certificate, and the certificate must be no more than two years old during the enrolment period. For those who want to learn Dutch first, the school's Linguapolis center offers a one-year preparation program. On this route, you need two separate acceptance letters for the visa.
Tuition rose in 2026
Some older guides list a tuition of €900 to €4,175 a year for students from outside the EU. Current rates are clearly above this. Flemish universities raised tuition for students from outside the EU in 2026.
- University of Antwerp: For most master's programs in 2026/27, a 60-credit year costs €7,800. The previous amount was €5,800.
- Antwerp, Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy: €5,700 for 60 credits (2026/27).
- KU Leuven: According to the ACA Secretariat, tuition for students from outside the EU rose by about 20 percent.
- Ghent University: A bachelor's student from outside the EU who enrols for the first time in 2027/28 will pay €12,557.70 for 60 credits.
Each school sets its own amount. We suggest reading the fee page and checking which academic year it belongs to.
Applications open in November
- University of Antwerp: The 2027/28 application for candidates from outside the EU opens on 4 November 2026. The last day to upload documents to Mobility Online is 28 February 2027. The last day for certified documents to reach the school is 31 May 2027.
- VUB: The 2027/28 application period opens on 15 November 2026. The closing date has not been published yet.
- UCLouvain: For 2026 entry, the last day for candidates who need a visa was 31 March 2026. The 2027 date has not been published yet.
Because Antwerp asks for certified documents, it helps to start on your diploma and transcript in November.
Visa and living money
You need a type D long-stay visa to study in Belgium. The application requires the school's acceptance letter. Study in Flanders writes that the process can take six to eight weeks.
The living money for the 2026/27 academic year is €1,062 a month, which is €12,744 for twelve months. The previous amount was €835 a month, and the figure will be indexed every year. Tuition is not included in this amount. Study in Flanders recommends showing the money for twelve months with a blocked account or a bank surety.
Monthly costs differ by city. The Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel calculates the 2026/27 monthly cost for Brussels, rent included, as €1,133.71. Of this, €550 is the average rent. According to the same page, a rent deposit can be up to two months' rent. The school writes that students under 25 can use Brussels public transport with a yearly pass of €12.
Working during and after your studies
During the academic year, you can work up to 20 hours a week. According to Study in Flanders, this limit does not apply on public holidays. Graduates can ask for their stay to be extended by up to 12 months to look for a job or start a company.
For details, see our Belgium page.
Related pages
Last checked: 23 October 2026. Rules and fees may change; we check the current situation together before you apply.
Let's talk about this for your student
In the first meeting we will work out together how this information fits the student's situation.