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Located in the heart of Europe, with Paris, London and Amsterdam in vicinity, Belgium is one of the most diverse European cities. Having Dutch, French & German as 3 official languages, the country gives an opportunity to learn new languages and embrace new cultures.
As one of the 6 founding states of the European Union and also headquarters to the European Union and NATO, it is the hub of international trade and activities, making it very open and accepting of expat population. Approximately 12.5% of people living in the country are foreigners. Being a capitalist economy and the epicenter of international trade, the country is consistently in the top 20 economies of the world.
In 2018 Belgium was positioned at number 17 out of a total of 189 countries on the Human Development Index. It offers high standards of living, healthcare and quality of life at an affordable living cost. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), currently ranks Belgium’s education as the 19th best in the world, making it an attractive study destination for international students.
Rich in culture and heritage, Belgium boasts of picturesque medieval architecture, impressive museums and festivals that date back several centuries. With its famous waffles, chocolates and beer, Belgium has a lot to offer – both as a study destination and also beyond that.
It is recommended that students aspiring to study abroad take a deep dive into the entire journey, from the preparation, the courses and the admission process, to the paperwork and the visas.
| Top Courses in Belgium | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Economics | 4,175 EUR/year to 18,850 EURO/year |
| Business Management | 6000 EUR/year to 20,000 EUR/year |
| International Relations | 3,500 EUR/year to 18,850 EUR/year |
| Art and design | ~2500 EUR/year |
Belgium ranks at 20 on the Global Peace index, and is largely considered safe for residents and tourists. It also ranks 6th in the International Women's Travel Center's list of the best countries for women traveling solo, making it a safe study abroad destination for women. However, there is a moderate risk of pickpockets in big cities like Brussels. International students need to be vigilant and have a presence of mind to protect themselves and have a great experience living in the country.
Belgium has a very well-connected, cheap and accessible public transportation system. If you want to move across cities, trains take a short amount of time. Within the city public transport consists of subways, buses and trams. Most of the cities are bicycle friendly so you can move around and stay healthy at the same time.
Belgian police are extremely well trained to deal with any kind of emergency situations. You can reach out to access emergency services through the number 112, from where you will be given information and redirected to the department you need.
The education system in Belgium is ranked as the 8th best by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) among 41 countries. Higher education is divided and organized by the two majority communities – The Flemish & the French; which is categorized in three types of institutions based on the Bologna system to have a uniform framework across Europe- university, university college and art college. The institutions offer high quality bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.
Belgian universities offer cutting-edge research and world class teaching. Several of the country’s universities rank amongst the top 200 in the world. 5.8% of the country’s GDP is invested in education from primary to tertiary levels. It is vital to check the medium of instruction and language requirement before while selecting institutions.
The following universities feature in the top 200 as per QS University ranking, attracting thousands of international students to enroll every year
1. KU Leuven
Ranked 70 worldwide by QS, KUL is a leading research university and offers a range of research programs. A degree from here is greatly valued globally. Around 400-600 Indian students register in the university every year.
2. Ghent University
Established in 1817, Ghent university is a public university which boasts of being pluralist in the sense that it is not associated with a religion or political ideology. It ranks 141 on the QS list and is one of the largest Flemish universities.
3. Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
Ranked 188, UCL is the biggest French speaking university in Belgium. It’s ranked in the world’s top 50 universities for the study of philosophy, theology and religion.
Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA – EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Switzerland do need a work permit and can work freely in Belgium.
A Non-EEA or a non-EU international student in Belgium is entitled to work if he/she is studying a full-time course and has a valid residence permit. The course being pursued should also be recognized by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. If the person fulfills all these conditions, they can work up to 20 hours a week during the time of the term, provided the work doesn’t overlap with the classes at the institution. The employer needs to give the student a fixed term contract, also called “the student employment contract”. The limit to the number of hours doesn’t apply during holiday periods of the institutions and the student can work for more than 20 hours a week. However, if a person comes to Belgium before the start of the academic year during the summer holidays, they are not permitted to work in that period.
A student cannot remain in the country on completion of the course or the end of legal stay as a non-EEA student, unless they acquire a different residence permit before the expiry of stay as a student. At present, Belgian government doesn’t provide a legal opportunity to stay in the country with the purpose of seeking a job.
Belgium is rich in history and has a distinctive mix of cultures coexisting and evolving. Approximately half of the students enrolled in Belgian universities and colleges are international students. The institutions provide a high quality of education with a pronounced focus on research.
As the epicenter of European Union’s politics and global trade, Belgium is an ideal country to take courses in International Relations and Business Management. There are various study programs offered for all fields at all levels – Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD. Here are some of the popular higher education courses in Belgium:
1. Economics
Several Master’s courses are offered in various institutions with a strong focus on research. These study programs offer insight to both small scale and global economic factors and help students learn to optimize economic actions on a global scale.
There are courses like Political Economy, Financial Markets, International & Development Economics, Business Economics etc. offered by top universities, that a student interested in the field can pursue.
The fees for study programs in Economics range from 4,175 EUR/year to 18,850 EURO/year.
2. International Relations
With the ever-increasing globalization and fluidity of world citizenship, courses in International Relations pave the way to pursue a career in diplomatic institutions. These degrees introduce students to global political landscape, foreign affairs and inter country relations.
For someone with an interest in International Relations, courses like Master’s in Interdisciplinary EU studies, International Conflict and Security, International Development etc. are offered in Belgium.
The fees for study programs in International Relations vary from 3,500 EUR/year to 18,850 EUR/year.
3. Business Management:
Belgium offers several study programs with a focus on International business. These study programs teach students about goods, services and international regulations and its impact on trade and commerce.
There are courses like Global Management, International management and Strategy, Global Supply Chain Management and MBA that a prospective student can look for.
The fees for study programs in Business Management range from 6000 EUR/year to 20,000 EUR/year.
4. Art and Design
Several Belgian institutions offer education to budding creatives to hone their skills and learn a wide range of disciplines. Belgium’s rich cultural history provides backdrop to those interested to pursue courses in Art and Design.
There are top notch courses in Visual Art and Graphic design which prepare students to take up careers such as illustrator, designer, cartoonist etc.The average fees for these study programs are 2500 EUR/year approximately.
