EDUCATION IN BELGIUM

Education in Belgium:

Moving to Belgium for your Higher Education opens opportunities in an exciting, lively and cosmopolite urban setting where the world gathers to enjoy fine culture, beautiful fairytale castles and great cuisine. Studying in Belgium is not only studying abroad. With its multicultural and multilingual environment Belgium offers you the ultimate international experience.

Due to the structure of the Bologna system, higher education in Belgium is organized according to the Bachelor/Master system.


Bachelor's Degree: 3 years (180 ECTS credits) towards a professional bachelor or an academic bachelor. Offer students core teaching in the chosen discipline, as well as a broad general education. The academic bachelor gives access to master's studies.

Master's degree: 1 or 2 (60 or 120 ECTS credits). Provides specialized content whilst allowing for further development of the scientific research process.

After obtaining a Master's degree, students can choose to pursue research projects leading to a Doctorate degree (PhD). PhD's are only awarded by Universities. Another part of the Bologna System is the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to measure higher education credits and giving corresponding grades throughout the countries involved.

The Belgium higher education system follows the Bologna declaration. In 1999, the Bologna process was initiated with the purpose of creating educational standards for academic degrees and quality assurance throughout the 29 European countries signing the declaration. The Bologna declaration aims to make it easier for students to move freely throughout Europe, and to improve the quality of European higher education. An additional bonus of the system is that it simplifies comparisons between schools, grades and programs also with the United States as some aspects from this system have been incorporated.

Top Universities in Belgium:

  • Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
  • Universite Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
  • Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
  • University of Antwerp
  • University of Ghent
  • University of Lieqe 
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
  • Antwerp Management School 
  • Kathioleke Universiteit Leuven
  • University College Ghent
  • Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School
Documents required for Visa:
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • Two passport size photos of the applicant.
  • Valid passport of the applicant which is valid for at least 3 months after the expiry of the visa.
  • Proof of registration or a registration permit for a full course in a higher education establishment in Belgium, or
  • Proof of applicant for an equivalence certificate for diplomas or certificates issued abroad, or proof of registration for an admission test or entrance exam.
  • A pledge of financial support for students. This document may be obtained by the guarantor from his/her municipal authorities in Belgium.

This site useful for you http://www.belgium.be/en/education/