Costs & Funding in Belgium - Study in Belgium

Costs & Funding for Studying in Belgium

Belgium is one of Western Europe's most affordable study destinations — and the gap between EU and non-EU tuition is smaller than in many neighbouring countries. EU tuition is genuinely low (€835-4,175/year), non-EU tuition stays moderate at most public universities, and living costs in Brussels, Leuven, and Ghent are reasonable by Western European standards. This guide breaks down tuition by linguistic community, living costs by city, scholarships, part-time work, and the proof of funds you need for your visa.

Tuition Fees

Tuition depends on your nationality (EU/EEA vs non-EU) and the linguistic community of your university. None of it is free, but all of it is low next to the UK or US.

EU/EEA students

Non-EU students

Tuition is real, not free — even for EU students. Exact amounts vary by university and program, with engineering, business, and English master's often at the higher end of the range. Many universities allow payment in two instalments per year. Run a personalised estimate with our cost-of-study calculator, and compare routes in the programs and universities guide.

Monthly Living Costs

Living costs in Belgium are reasonable for Western Europe, with notable variation between Brussels and the smaller student cities.

Brussels (highest costs)

Leuven / Ghent (cheaper)

Total Cost of a Degree

Realistic totals, tuition plus 10 months of living (academic year):

Even at the higher end, Belgian degrees cost far less than the equivalent in the UK (£25,000-50,000/year all in) or the US (USD 40,000-80,000/year), where tuition alone often exceeds these totals.

Scholarships

Funding in Belgium is real but competitive. Plan for it as a bonus, not a guarantee.

Belgian government and inter-university scholarships

• VLIR-UOS — funds master's scholarships for students from developing countries to study at Flemish universities (KU Leuven, Ghent, VUB, Antwerp). Highly competitive and prestigious.
• ARES — the Walloon equivalent, funds master's scholarships for students from developing countries at French-speaking universities (UCLouvain, ULB, Liège). Also competitive.

University and institutional scholarships

• KU Leuven runs institutional scholarships, including the Science@Leuven and faculty-specific awards
• Ghent University offers the Top-up Grants and faculty awards
• UCLouvain, ULB, VUB all run institutional scholarships for international students
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's — several pass through Belgian universities, fully funded for non-EU students

Home-country and external funding

• Erasmus+ and similar exchange schemes (for eligible students)
• Home-country government scholarships that fund study abroad
• Private foundations and employer sponsorships in your home country

Strategy: because Belgian tuition is already low, scholarships often make a degree remarkably cheap. Apply for VLIR-UOS / ARES and each university's scheme early — these deadlines frequently fall in February-March for the following September intake, often before the admission deadline.

Part-Time Work

International students on a valid residence permit can take part-time work — generally up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holiday periods, with the appropriate authorisation:

• Annex 19 ter — student work permit, issued by the commune
• EU students — full work rights, no additional permits

Pay is reasonable — €12-15/hour for typical student jobs (cafés, retail, university roles). Treat part-time work as living-cost support, not tuition funding. Confirm the current rules with your university's international office and the student visa guide.

Proof of Funds for the Visa

Non-EU students applying for the student visa (Type D / ASP) must show they can support themselves.

Minimum to budget:

• Roughly €730 per month
• For a full academic year (10 months), about €7,300-8,760
• Updated annually by the Belgian government

Accepted proof typically includes:

• A bank statement in your name showing the required amount
• An official scholarship confirmation letter
• An Engagement de prise en charge / Verbintenis tot tenlasteneming — a financial guarantee signed by a Belgian-resident sponsor (often a relative or host family)

This is separate from tuition — you need to cover both. The figure can change, so confirm the exact current amount with the Belgian embassy in your country and your university before you apply. Full walkthrough in our student visa guide.

Health Insurance and Healthcare

International students in Belgium are required to hold valid health insurance for the duration of their studies.

• EU students — use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for short stays; for longer studies, register with a Belgian mutuelle / ziekenfonds (sickness fund), which gives full access to the Belgian system at low cost.
• Non-EU students — usually required to take out private health insurance for the first months, then register with a Belgian mutuelle / ziekenfonds after arrival (often through the university).

Belgian healthcare is excellent and partly reimbursed through the mutuelle system. A GP visit costs €25-30, with most of the cost reimbursed. Keep your insurance valid throughout your studies.

Smart Ways to Cut Costs

Belgium is already affordable, but students trim costs further in predictable ways:

• Eat at student cafeterias (resto's) — €4-6 for a full meal beats restaurants by a wide margin
• Live in a kot — student rooms in Leuven and Ghent are much cheaper than private flats in Brussels
• Use the SNCB Youth Pass — heavily discounted train travel for under-26s
• Cycle — Flemish cities are excellent for cyclists; second-hand bikes are cheap
• Pick Leuven or Ghent over Brussels if your program offers it — noticeably lower rent
• Buy a SIM with a generous data plan — prepaid mobile data is competitive

Together these keep a monthly budget comfortably in the €700-1,000 range outside Brussels.

Budget Planning Checklist

Before you arrive, confirm:

• Tuition payment schedule (one or two instalments) and first payment amount
• VLIR-UOS / ARES / university scholarship applications submitted where relevant (early deadlines!)
• Proof of funds secured (~€8,000 for a year, or scholarship confirmation, or financial guarantee)
• Housing reserved (kot through university where possible, especially in Leuven and Ghent)
• Medical insurance arranged (private for first months, mutuelle / ziekenfonds after arrival)
• A settling-in buffer (€1,500-2,000) for deposit, commune registration, and first-week costs

Next Steps

1. Student visa — use your proof of funds to apply for the Type D ASP
2. Living in Belgium — housing, transport, and daily costs
3. Admissions and application — if you have not applied yet
4. Programs and universities — compare KU Leuven, Ghent, UCLouvain, ULB and find your field