Studying in Belgium: Honest Pros and Cons for International Students

Belgium is a good choice for non-EU students who want an English-taught master's program at moderate public fees, with a 12-month post-study orientation year; it is a harder choice if you want an English bachelor's, need a scholarship, or come from a country with difficult document legalisation. The country's split into two education Communities also makes the process more complex than in many neighbouring countries.

Below is our honest assessment, with every fact sourced from official Belgian pages. Use it to decide whether Belgium fits your plans before you invest months in applications.

The pros of studying in Belgium

1. Moderate public tuition, with big exemptions

In the French Community, every public institution charges non-EU students the same €5,369 per year (2026/27: a €1,194 fee plus a €4,175 contribution). Nationals of UN least developed countries, including Afghanistan, are exempt from the €4,175. In Flanders, some programs are also affordable: Hasselt University charged €3,900 for five master's programs and the University of Antwerp €4,300 for bachelor's programs in 2026/27.

2. Hundreds of English-taught master's programs

We have verified 250 English-taught master's programs in Belgium, led by Ghent University (45), UCLouvain (39), VUB (37), the University of Liège (34) and the University of Antwerp (33). They cover fields from biomedical sciences and engineering to economics, law and European studies. See English-taught programs in Belgium.

3. Low application costs at some universities

Ghent University and the University of Antwerp charge no application fee. Many Flemish universities do not require a formal diploma equivalence for admission, because the institution assesses your diploma itself.

4. Work rights during and after studies

You can work up to 20 hours per week during term and more during official holidays without a separate work permit. After graduating, you can apply for a 12-month orientation year with unlimited access to the labour market. Details in work and stay in Belgium after graduation.

5. Clear official information

Both Communities run official English portals, Study in Flanders and Study in Belgium, with program finders, fee rules and visa steps. Visa rules, such as the 90-day legal decision period for a complete file, are published openly.

6. Affordable PhD studies

If you plan to continue to doctoral research, fees are low. Study in Belgium gives €835 for the first PhD year and about €50 per year afterwards in the French Community, and Ghent University charges non-EEA PhD students €2,458.40 at first enrolment and again at the defence. Funding still depends on your supervisor and research group, so look for paid positions early.

The cons of studying in Belgium

1. Two systems, two sets of rules

Education is run by the Communities, so fees, recognition and admission rules differ between Flanders and the French Community. A French Community bachelor's needs an official equivalence of your school diploma; a Flemish one does not. Applicants often follow the wrong rules for their program.

2. Few English bachelor's at research universities

French Community universities teach bachelor's programs almost entirely in French. In Flanders, Ghent University offers 3 English bachelor's tracks and the University of Antwerp 2. Most of the 70 English bachelor's programs we track are at universities of applied sciences such as Thomas More, VIVES, Howest and UCLL.

3. Rising and varying fees in Flanders

Flemish institutions set their own non-EEA fees within a 2026/27 guideline of €5,300–€12,000 per year. Ghent University's fee for new non-EEA students rises to €12,557.70 per 60 credits from 2027/28, although students from the poorest OECD/DAC countries still pay the EEA rate (€1,229.70).

4. Early deadlines and up-front money

Non-EU deadlines are early: 28 February 2027 at the University of Antwerp for 2027/28, and 31 March at most French Community universities in 2026/27. You must also prove €1,062 per month (2026/27) for the visa, often through a blocked account, and some institutions ask for deposits before issuing visa documents.

5. Paperwork and legalisation can be hard

Documents from countries outside the Apostille Convention must be legalised in the issuing country and then by the Belgian embassy. For Afghan applicants it is harder still: the Belgian Embassy in Islamabad states it does not legalise Afghan documents, and Afghans must travel to Pakistan to lodge their visa.

6. Limited scholarships for some nationalities

Development scholarships from VLIR-UOS and ARES are restricted to listed countries, and Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are not on the VLIR-UOS list. The Flemish Master Mind Scholarship's 2027/28 terms are under review. Read scholarships in Belgium for international students.

7. Language in daily life and work

Your program can be fully in English, but housing, administration and many part-time jobs are in Dutch or French. UMONS, for example, advises French A2 even for its English-taught engineering master's.

8. Living costs and housing

Belgium is not a cheap country to live in. Study in Belgium estimates €1,000–€1,300 per month in the French Community (rent about €575 including utilities), and Study in Flanders estimates €800–€1,000 per month in Flanders. Both portals warn that the first month costs more because of deposits and temporary housing. Read our cost of studying in Belgium guide for a full budget.

Pros and cons at a glance

Flanders vs the French Community: which suits you?

The honest view for applicants from Afghanistan

Belgium has real advantages for Afghan students: no €4,175 contribution in the French Community, a reduced €150 equivalence fee, and Ghent University's developing-country tuition rate. But the practical barriers are serious. You must lodge your visa in Pakistan through VFS Global, make sure you are legally in Pakistan for the appointment, and solve the document problem, because the Belgian Embassy in Islamabad does not legalise Afghan documents. VLIR-UOS and ARES scholarships are also not open to Afghan nationals.

If you can fund the €12,744 per year (2026/27) visa minimum and get clear written answers from your university about documents, Belgium can be one of the more affordable options in Western Europe for you.

Who should choose Belgium?

• Good fit: master's applicants with a solid academic record and funds for the visa, especially in economics, management, engineering, life sciences and European studies.
• Good fit: nationals of least developed countries who can use the French Community exemption, or Ghent University's developing-country rate.
• Think twice: bachelor's applicants who want a research university in English, or students who need a full scholarship to go at all.
• Plan extra time: applicants whose documents need legalisation chains, or who must travel to another country for the visa.

How to make the most of Belgium

1. 1.Decide the Community first, then apply the right rules.
2. 2.Compare fees carefully; exemptions can cut your tuition by thousands of euros.
3. 3.Apply in autumn or early winter to leave time for the visa.
4. 4.Start learning basic Dutch or French for daily life and jobs.
5. 5.Plan your orientation year before your final exams.

If Belgium fits, start with our complete guide to studying in Belgium and track deadlines for free on FindUniPath. For all our Belgium articles, visit the Belgium hub.