Top research
KU Leuven and Ghent consistently in the global top 100 for research.
All destinations 
Country guide
Country guide Study in Belgium
Belgium hosts some of Europe’s oldest research universities — with affordable tuition, English-taught master’s, and a 12-month job-seeker residence in the heart of the EU.
Why Belgium
World-class research. EU institutions. Low tuition.
Affordable degrees in the EU capital, with strong English-taught programs and a clear job-seeker pathway.
Low tuition
Most public master’s programs sit at €1,000–€4,000/year.
English-taught
200+ English master’s programs across Flemish and French universities.
EU institutions
Brussels hosts EU institutions, NATO, and global multinationals.
EU capital, research-led
KU Leuven, Ghent, ULB — research at the EU’s core.
Belgium’s universities pair centuries of academic depth with practical, English-taught master’s — and a 12-month job-seeker residence in the EU capital.
10+Research unis
200+English master’s
12 moJob-seeker
EUCapital
Universities
Top universities in Belgium
A representative shortlist across research universities and specialist institutions.
KU Leuven
Belgium’s top-ranked university — sciences, engineering, medicine.
Ghent University
Broad research strength across humanities and sciences.
Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Brussels-based; politics, economics, sciences.
Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
Sister university to KU Leuven; medicine, law, sciences.
University of Antwerp
Strong in sciences, design, and business.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Dutch-medium counterpart of ULB in Brussels.
University of Liège
French-medium; engineering, veterinary, sciences.
Vlerick Business School
Top Belgian business school with MBA tracks.
Programs
Popular programs
The most-applied tracks for international students.
Sciences & Biotech Engineering Computer Science Business & Management Law & Policy International Relations Design & Arts Medicine & Veterinary
Costs
Tuition and cost of living
Indicative ranges — final figures depend on program and city.
Public university tuition€1,000 – €4,200Per year · non-EU; lower for EU students.
Specialist / MBA tuition€6,000 – €30,000Per year · private schools and MBAs higher.
Living — Brussels€1,000 – €1,300Per month · capital-city rents.
Living — Other cities€800 – €1,100Per month · Leuven, Ghent, Antwerp.
Funding & visa
Scholarships, funding & the Belgium student visa
Two parallel tracks — how to fund the degree, and how to secure your stay.
Scholarships & funding
- VLIR-UOS Master’s Scholarships for students from developing countries.
- ARES Scholarships for French-language programs (Wallonia-Brussels).
- University-specific awards (e.g. KU Leuven Science@Leuven Scholarship).
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s for top candidates.
- Education loans through major Indian and international lenders.
Student visa snapshot
- Visa name: Type D student visa via the Belgian consulate.
- Requires admission letter and proof of paid tuition.
- Proof of funds: roughly €730/month for the duration of study.
- Standard processing: 4–8 weeks; biometrics at VFS Global.
- Work allowance: 20 hours/week during term, full-time in summer.
Timeline
Application timeline
A typical roadmap from profile review to arrival.
Profile review & shortlist
12–14 months out: Flemish vs French region, language fit.
Tests & documents
8–12 months out: IELTS/TOEFL; transcripts, SOP, LORs.
Applications
Oct–Apr: most master’s programs; UG via direct application.
Offers & deposit
Mar–Jun: accept offer, pay deposit, finalise scholarship.
Type D visa
Jun–Aug: submit at consulate, biometrics, processing.
Pre-departure & arrival
Aug–Sep: housing, commune registration, insurance, arrival.
Plan your Belgium application with us
From Flemish vs French region fit to Type D visa — we map a Belgium-ready application.
What you’ll get
A 30-minute counselor-led session, free of cost.
- KU Leuven vs ULB fit
- VLIR-UOS scholarship plan
- Job-seeker visa roadmap