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Being the capital of Europe, Brussels is an international city like no other

There are many reasons to study in Belgium: world-renowned universities, excellent opportunities for international networking, famously multicultural and multilingual cities, a host of regional cuisines and specialties, beautiful countryside, overall high quality of life, and, of course, those fantastic Belgian waffles. Being in the heart of Europe, Belgium is connected to much of the continent. You can get to Paris, London and Amsterdam by train in less than 2 hours.

The VUB offers students more than just a great educational experience. Brussels, the heart of Europe and the capital of Belgium is an open invitation to exploring a truly international city. With its 1.1 million inhabitants, of whom 31% are of foreign origin, Brussels is the centre of international politics and business. Although Dutch and French are official languages in Belgium, English is widely spoken in Brussels by native Belgians and internationals because of the numerous international political organizations. Brussels is the location for over 40,000 employees in the headquarters of the European Union, 4,000 NATO employees, more than 180 embassies, and a city counting the highest concentration of diplomatic missions in the world.

Being a student at the VUB

Being a middle sized university has its advantages. First of all, it allows frequent personal contact between students, professors and teaching assistants. This is part of a real direct-contact culture that is well embedded within the university. Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to interact with each other through group assignments within the curriculum and through the various extracurricular activities. VUB is #1 in Belgium in terms of student-staff ration (Source: QS World University Rankings).

Summer Schools to get a taste of VUB and Brussels

Learn, live and experience being a student at VUB with our intensive and rewarding summer school programmes. More info on www.vub.be/en/study/summerschools.

The academic calendar

The academic year is divided into two semesters. The fall semester represents the start of the academic year and lasts from mid-September to early-February. The spring semesters starts in mid-February and lasts until early July.

Tuition fees

All accredited bachelor and master programmes at the VUB are subsidized by the Flemish Government of Belgium, meaning that students only have to pay a small fraction of the actual cost of the education they get. This holds for students from all over the world. Bachelor and master students pay a minimum of ~900 Euros per year and a maximum of ~6.000 Euros per year, depending on their study program and university of choice. PhD students pay ~500 Euros per year.

Scholarships

The VUB participates in several scholarship programmes which offer grants at different levels of study, from Bachelor to PhD level. They are available to prospective students based on criteria such as nationality, academic performance, programme of study, and level of study. For more information please visit www.vub.be/en/scholarships.

Housing and living costs

International students have various accommodation options to choose from in Brussels. Depending on the type of international student you are, you can either arrange your own accommodation off campus, or apply for a VUB room on campus.

University accommodation, which is always cheaper, is readily available for international students at a cost of ~320 Euros/month. For those who prefer living off campus, rent can range between 300-450 Euros per month depending on the type of room and location.

An average month in Brussels costs between €800 and €1000 for a student. This includes:

• Accommodation (in a student room also known as "kot")
• Food and meals
• Study materials
• Phone and internet
• Insurance
• Local transportation
• Personal activities

As a student, you can work up to 20 hours a week to top up your budget, but financing your education through a student job is not advisable as it could harm your study progress.

Immigration

It is important to note that you need to register for a specific study program in Belgium before submitting your visa application. As a rule, your studies must be full-time and the main purpose for your residence in Belgium.