Studying in Belgium

5 good reasons to study in Belgium

With a population of only 11 million people, Belgium boasts more top 100 innovative universities per capita than any other European country
Job opportunities in Lifesciences, Chemistry and EU affairs as well as more generally in engineering and techniques
More than 1000 international organizations
Low cost of tuition fees and living expenses
Most globalized country in the world

Context

In Belgium, the Communities are responsible for taking decisions on services for individuals, such as education. The Flemish Community is therefore responsible for education in the Dutch-speaking part of the country whilst the French Community is the competent authority for the French-speaking part of Belgium, and the German-speaking Community for education in German.

Entry requirements for Belgium

Do you need more information on how to apply for a student visa? Then take a look at the visa section of this website.

Accommodation

Many schools and universities have rooms available for students or provide lists of rooms which are available to rent locally. As such it is advisable to contact your educational establishment to find out this information.

Education in the Flemish Community

The website Study in Flanders offers more information on studying in one of the universities, university colleges or schools of art in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. However, not all degrees are thought in Dutch, there are also an increasing number of courses available in English. On their website, you can find more information on scholarship opportunities, the cost of living, the different degrees and study programs, the deadlines to apply and much more.

Higher Education in Flanders is a brochure in pdf format. This brochure lists and explains the various degrees and diplomas which can be obtained from Flemish educational establishments. It also provides information on the range of study options in Flanders. The brochure gives a comprehensive overview of higher education establishments and financial information on all types of courses (e.g. grants).

The NARIC website and ENIC-NARIC website inform you whether your foreign diploma receives the same recognition in the Flemish Community as in your own country.

Education in the French Community

The website Study in Belgium offers more information on studying in one of the universities, university colleges or schools of art in the French-speaking part of Belgium. However, not all degrees are thought in French, there are also an increasing number of courses available in English. On their website, you can find more information on scholarship opportunities, the cost of living, the different degrees and study programs, the deadlines to apply and much more.

The Service Equivalences deals with the equivalence of foreign primary and secondary education certificates. To find out if your university degree receives the same recognition in the French Community as in the country where you obtained, you can visit the website of the French Community.

Allocation d’études provides useful information on how to submit an application for a student grant or student loan.

Education in the German-speaking Community

On the website of the German-speaking Community, you can find an overview of opportunities for studying in German-speaking Belgium.

Alumni association

Have you studied in Belgium in the past, and do you want to keep updated on the latest news? In that case, you can join the Korea Belgium Alumni Association, that is organizing events in Korea, especially for Koreans that have studied in Belgium in the past.

Testimonials

Jihyeon Seo went on an exchange (2015-2016) to the University of Ghent to study Biomedical Engineering (Cemacube):

I have done my Master’s degree program in Biomedical Engineering at Ghent University (UGENT) in Belgium. I was part of the Erasmus Mundus Master program called CEMACUBE and I spent my second year of my Master in Ghent. Before that, I have spent my first year in Prague, Czech Republic but previously I also have lived in Sweden for a year during my bachelor as an exchange student.

Based on my experience of living in different European countries, I can say that the time I studied at UGENT prepared me the best for the next steps in my life. I had never been challenged like that before for my studies. Compared to other European countries, there is a really high study load for students in Belgium. There was a list of reading materials which you need to read before attending each class. Even though there was nobody that forced students to prepare for the classes, everyone seemed to be so motivated and hard-working. My colleagues influenced me positively to put more effort into my studies.

The unique part of the evaluation system of Ghent University is that you have to take an oral exam right after giving a written test for every subject. No matter how correct your written answers are, you will pass the exam only if you are able to explain them orally without reading your answers. Therefore, I had no choice but to work on each subject comprehensively and I had to devote all my energy to studying. In addition to this, the grading scale in Belgium is from 1 to 20. When you get 10 or more than that, you pass the course. Due to the unique evaluation system, it is quite hard to get 10 points even if I have studied wholeheartedly.

In retrospect, it was never easy to study and live in Ghent, however, I can say for sure that it really helped me to build a solid foundation for my career and also helped me to grow as a better person.