Cost of Studying in Belgium for International Students (2026/27)

Studying in Belgium as a non-EU student costs roughly €5,300 to €12,000 per year in tuition at public institutions, plus €800 to €1,300 per month for living costs, according to official 2026/27 figures. In the French-speaking Community the standard non-EU fee is a fixed €5,369 per year, while in Flanders each institution sets its own price.

Some nationalities pay far less. This guide breaks down tuition by Community and by university, living costs, one-off fees and the money you must show for the visa. Every amount includes the academic year it applies to.

Tuition fees in the French Community (Wallonia-Brussels)

From 2026/27 the full registration fee in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation is €1,194 under a new progressive system. Non-EU students also pay a €4,175 contribution per year unless exempt, for a total of €5,369. According to Study in Belgium, advanced master's programs and MBAs may differ, and your authorisation to enrol states the exact amount.

This applies to public universities such as UCLouvain, ULB, the University of Liège, the University of Namur and the University of Mons, and to public hautes écoles such as HELMo and Haute École Albert Jacquard, which list the same €1,194 + €4,175 structure.

For a PhD in the French Community, Study in Belgium gives €835 for the first year and about €50 per year afterwards (year not stated).

Tuition fees in Flanders

Study in Flanders gives these general guidelines for a 60-credit year in 2026/27: €1,181.40 for EEA students, €5,300–€12,000 for non-EEA students, and €8,800–€25,000 at schools of arts. Each institution sets its own fees, so always check the program's page.

Private institutions

Private business schools charge much more and the same price for everyone. Examples: Vlerick Business School master's programs cost €21,500–€23,500, Antwerp Management School programs €20,600 (Global Management €21,600), and Brussels School of Governance charges €7,500 per semester for its bachelor's. Private institutions also follow a different visa procedure (Article 9).

Living costs in Belgium

Both portals warn that the first month costs more because of the rental deposit and temporary housing. Brussels and big student cities tend to be more expensive than smaller towns, so compare housing offers on your university's housing service.

Health insurance is another regular cost. It is compulsory, and non-EEA students should join a Belgian health insurance fund with their proof of enrolment after arrival. Premiums depend on the fund, so ask your university's international office which fund students usually join and include the cost in your monthly budget.

How much money must you show for the visa?

For 2026/27 the minimum is €1,062 net per month, or €12,744 per year. It is indexed yearly by Royal Decree; the 2027/28 amount is not yet published. In the French Community, your financial plan must also cover your registration fees. You can prove it with a blocked account opened through your institution, a bank guarantee, a scholarship certificate or an Annex 32 sponsor. See our Belgium student visa guide.

One-off costs to plan for

• Application fees: €200 at most French Community universities (UCLouvain, ULB, ULiège, UNamur, UMONS); €90 at VUB; €50 at Howest; €0 at Ghent and Antwerp.
• Equivalence (French Community bachelor's): €400, or €150 for diplomas from listed developing countries such as Afghanistan.
• Visa fee: €250 for a type D study visa at the Embassy in Islamabad from 1 July 2026 (fees vary by country).
• Immigration Office administrative fee: may apply unless you are exempt; check the current amount before paying.
• Translations, legalisation, medical certificate and language tests: prices vary by country.
• Deposits: for example Howest's €2,000 tuition deposit for admitted non-EEA students.

Example first-year budgets

These examples simply add official figures together. They are minimums for planning, not quotes; your real costs depend on your city, housing and lifestyle.

Paying tuition: deposits, instalments and timing

Many institutions want part of the money before they issue your visa documents, so you need cash earlier than you might expect. Plan for these examples:

• Application fees are usually credited: at UCLouvain, ULiège and UMONS the €200 fee is deducted from tuition if you are admitted, but it is not refunded if you are refused.
• Deposits before the visa: Howest asks admitted non-EEA students for a €2,000 tuition deposit, refundable only if the visa is refused (minus €100).
• Early payment deadlines: for its February 2027 intake, Thomas More set 23 November 2026 as the payment deadline for tuition and blocked account money.
• Instalments: the University of Antwerp says payment plans are available. Ask your institution whether you can split the fee.

The full cost picture for Afghan students

Afghan students have some real advantages on tuition in Belgium, but the extra costs of applying from abroad are significant. On the plus side, Afghans pay no €4,175 contribution in the French Community, pay the €150 (not €400) equivalence fee, and qualify for Ghent University's developing-country rate. On the minus side, you must travel to Pakistan to lodge your visa at VFS Global, stay legally there for the appointment and biometrics, and pay the €250 visa fee and translation costs.

The visa minimum of €12,744 per year (2026/27) still applies in full, and scholarship options are narrower: Afghanistan is not eligible for VLIR-UOS or ARES development scholarships. Build your budget around your own funds or an open-to-all scholarship such as the Master Mind Scholarship or Erasmus Mundus.

How to lower your costs

• Check if your nationality is exempt or reduced: the French Community LDC exemption and Ghent University's developing-country rate are the biggest savings.
• Compare Flemish institutions: fees range widely, from Hasselt's €3,900 programs to Ghent's €12,557.70 for new non-EEA students in 2027/28.
• Apply for scholarships early; see scholarships in Belgium for international students.
• Look for merit waivers: Thomas More reduces the per-credit price for non-EEA students who reach set study-efficiency levels (up to €1,800 per year).
• Work part-time within the legal limit of 20 hours per week during term.

Fees for 2027/28 are still being published. You can track deadlines for free on FindUniPath and compare each university's official fees by country, or read our honest pros and cons of studying in Belgium.