Belgium has become one of the most attractive destinations for international students looking for high quality education, affordable tuition, and excellent career opportunities. With globally ranked institutions, strong research output, diverse programs in English, and generous scholarships for international students, this country in the heart of Europe offers a perfect mix of academic excellence and cultural exposure. In this blog we will cover Top Universities in Belgium you should consider for 2026, their approximate tuition costs, and scholarship opportunities that make studying here affordable for students from all over the world.
Choosing Top Universities in Belgium means you access world class degrees, a multicultural student environment, and strong links to European companies and research networks. Most public universities charge low tuition or offer fee waivers with scholarships, especially in fields like engineering, business, social sciences, medicine, and computer science. Scholarships such as Master Mind and VLIR-UOS ensure that talented students receive financial support including tuition support, monthly living stipends, and travel allowances. Let’s dive into the list of the Top Universities in Belgium 2026 for International Students and what makes each one special.
| University | Country | Approx. Annual Tuition (€) |
|---|---|---|
| KU Leuven | Belgium | €900 – €6,000+ |
| Ghent University | Belgium | €1,000 – €6,000+ |
| Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) | Belgium | €835 – €5,000+ |
| Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) | Belgium | €835 – €5,000+ |
| University of Antwerp | Belgium | €900 – €6,000+ |
| Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) | Belgium | €900 – €5,000+ |
| University of Liège | Belgium | €835 – €4,500+ |
| Hasselt University | Belgium | €900 – €4,000+ |
| University of Namur | Belgium | €900 – €4,000+ |
| University of Mons | Belgium | €900 – €4,500+ |
| UC Leuven-Limburg | Belgium | €1,800+ |
| Thomas More University of Applied Sciences | Belgium | €2,000+ |
| Antwerp Management School | Belgium | €10,000+ |
| Haute Ecole Lucia de Brouckere | Belgium | €2,000+ |
| PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts | Belgium | €1,800+ |
1. KU Leuven
Description: KU Leuven is Belgium’s oldest and largest university, known for its world class research and broad range of English taught programs. This university offers degrees in engineering, science, business, and humanities with strong research output and global connections. KU Leuven regularly appears in global rankings for academic excellence and innovation. Scholarships such as the KU Leuven Science@Leuven Scholarship and Master Mind Scholarships support international students with substantial funding to cover tuition and living expenses.
2. Ghent University
Description: Ghent University is a leading public research university located in Ghent, offering over 130 programs in science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. It is known for its affordable tuition and strong international research links. Scholarships including Ghent University Top-Up Grants and doctoral research funding help international students with tuition support and living allowances.
3. Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
Description: UCLouvain is the largest French speaking university in Belgium located in Louvain-la-Neuve. It offers excellent programs across science, law, humanities, and business. UCLouvain scholarships include international cooperation awards and research excellence grants that provide full tuition waivers and monthly allowances for deserving students.
4. Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Description: ULB is a prestigious research university based in the capital city Brussels with a strong multicultural environment and more than 30 percent international students. ULB offers scholarships covering tuition and research funding for international master’s and PhD candidates.
5. University of Antwerp
Description: University of Antwerp combines academic excellence with a vibrant urban learning environment offering programs in business, law, science, and engineering. Scholarships and incentive awards provide financial support to high potential international students.
6. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Description: VUB is located in Brussels and stands out for its liberal education model, strong research in engineering and political science, and close links with European institutions. Scholarships like B-PHOT Excellence Scholarships support funded study opportunities.
7. University of Liège
Description: University of Liège offers excellent programs in environmental science, engineering, and life sciences. Its scholarship packages for international students include Erasmus+ exchange grants and ARES fully funded opportunities.
8. Hasselt University
Description: Hasselt University is known for its problem centered learning and research based degrees in science and technology. Scholarships such as Master Mind bring financial support for tuition and living costs.
9. University of Namur
Description: University of Namur emphasizes research and close student faculty interaction. It offers programs in law, philosophy, and computer science along with opportunities for tuition reduction and scholarships for international students.
10. University of Mons
Description: University of Mons delivers quality research and international programs in science and engineering fields. Scholarships and support funding help make international study more affordable.
11. UC Leuven-Limburg
Description: UC Leuven-Limburg offers affordable bachelor and master programs especially suited for practical and career oriented fields. Tuition is low and students can access institutional scholarships.
12. Thomas More University of Applied Sciences
Description: Thomas More University of Applied Sciences focuses on applied sciences, business, and engineering. It provides practice oriented training and opportunities for international internships and scholarships.
13. Antwerp Management School
Description: Antwerp Management School is a business focused institution offering MBA and management degrees with scholarship options to support international applicants.
14. Haute Ecole Lucia de Brouckere
Description: Haute Ecole Lucia de Brouckere offers specialized programs in arts, engineering, and business and provides scholarships for international students based on merit.
15. PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Description: PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts focuses on creative and applied sciences programs and offers institutional support such as scholarships and tuition reductions for international learners.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best Top Universities in Belgium for international students?
The best Top Universities in Belgium include KU Leuven, Ghent University, UCLouvain, ULB, University of Antwerp, VUB, University of Liège, Hasselt University, and University of Namur among others for 2026.
Is Belgium affordable for international students?
Belgium is considered more affordable than many Western European countries with public universities offering low tuition and scholarship support at Top Universities in Belgium.
What are the language requirements for studying in Belgium?
Most Top Universities in Belgium require proof of English proficiency like IELTS/TOEFL for English programs, although some scholarships waive these requirements.
Are scholarships available at Top Universities in Belgium?
Yes, scholarships like Master Mind, VLIR-UOS, Erasmus Mundus, and university specific awards are available at Top Universities in Belgium to support international students.
Can international students study in English at Top Universities in Belgium?
Most Top Universities in Belgium offer English taught programs especially at master’s and PhD level to support international students.








