🇧🇪 Belgium · Study Abroad
How to study in Belgium as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Quick answer
To study in Belgium you apply to the university (in the Flemish or French-speaking community), then, once admitted, apply for a student visa (type D / authorisation to stay for study) at the Belgian consulate and register at your commune after arrival. Explore the community and university sites and apply by the deadline.
Studying in Belgium requires matching the programme community, institution admission and immigration route. Education is handled by the Flemish, French and German-speaking Communities, while non-EU student residence is handled by the Immigration Office.
- Belgium.be explicitly notes that education is a community competence.
- Non-EU students in recognised higher education generally apply for a D visa or authorisation to stay for more than 90 days.
- Tuition, language and deadline rules vary by institution and community portal.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose your course and institution
Choose your program and apply to the university in the relevant community (Flemish or French-speaking). Explore the community sites.
- 2
Meet academic and language requirements
Meet the academic entry requirements and prove language ability (e.g. an English or local-language test) at the level the course demands.
- 3
Apply for admission
Apply for admission through the relevant application route by the deadline, with transcripts, test scores and supporting documents.
- 4
Receive offer and enrollment document
On acceptance, obtain your official enrollment/acceptance document, which you will need for the visa application.
- 5
Apply for your student visa
Apply for a student visa (type D) at the Belgian consulate, then register at your commune after arrival to complete your residence.
- 6
Arrive, enroll and know the rules
Arrive before the term, complete enrollment and any residence registration, and note the rules on part-time work and post-study stay.
Checklist
- Course, level and institution chosen
- Academic + language requirements met
- Admission application submitted by deadline
- Offer + enrollment/acceptance document received
- Proof of funds + health cover prepared
- Student visa applied for + granted
- Arrival, enrollment + registration done
- Work-hours and post-study stay rules understood
Official authorities
- Belgium.be — coming to study in Belgium
Official overview of education communities and study entry.
- Immigration Office — higher education
Official student-residence route overview.
Frequently asked questions
Which community do I apply in?
It depends on the university — Belgium’s education is run by the Flemish and French-speaking communities, each with its own institutions and language.
What visa do I need?
A type-D student visa (authorisation to stay for study) from the Belgian consulate, followed by commune registration on arrival.
Which languages are courses taught in?
Dutch in Flanders and French in Wallonia/Brussels, but there is a growing range of English-taught master’s; check each program.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.