Study in Belgium from India

Studying in Belgium from India: 10 things to know

Belgium has two systems, Dutch-speaking Flanders and the French-speaking FWB, each with its own tuition and deadlines, while the visa, the €12,744 funds rule and the 12-month search year after graduating are the same everywhere.

1. Two systems. Flanders (Dutch-speaking: KU Leuven, UGent, UAntwerpen, VUB, UHasselt) and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB, French-speaking: UCLouvain, ULB, ULiège, UMONS, UNamur) set their own tuition, deadlines and admission rules. The visa, the funds amount and the search year are federal and the same everywhere.
2. Visa-student deadlines come early: KU Leuven 1 March for most programmes (applications open 8 Oct 2026); UAntwerpen 28 Feb 2027; UGent before 1 April; ULB, UCLouvain, ULiège 31 March.
3. Tuition for Indian students (non-EEA), latest published: KU Leuven most master's €11,889.40 (2027-28). UGent €12,557.70 for all new non-EEA students (2027-28). UAntwerpen master's €7,800, UHasselt €3,900–9,493.80 and FWB universities €1,194 + €4,175 = €5,369 (2026-27; 2027-28 not yet published). India is not on the FWB exemption lists.
4. Funds: €1,062 a month = €12,744 for a year (2026-27): a blocked account (at the university, or at Studely or Ready Study Go International only), a scholarship, or an Annex 32 sponsor. A sponsor living in India must be a relative up to the third degree. Whether an Indian bank education loan counts is not stated: confirm with the Embassy of Belgium before applying.
5. Full-time only: at least 54 credits a year at a recognised institution. Part-time study, postgraduate certificates and non-recognised private schools do not lead to a study permit or post-study route.
6. Visa D from India: VisaOnWeb form, then in person at VFS. Fees: Immigration Office contribution €251 + Embassy handling fee €250 (from 1 Jul 2026) + VFS service fee INR 2,750. Decision within 90 days of a complete file.
7. Work: 20 hours a week in term, unlimited in official holidays; not during class hours and not in the summer before the first academic year.
8. After graduating: a 12-month search year with unrestricted work, applied for at the commune at least 15 days before the student card expires. Not extendable.

How do Belgian universities and master’s degrees work?

A Belgian master’s is 60–120 ECTS (1–2 years), and the year starts in mid to late September. Only full-time study (at least 54 credits a year) at a recognised institution leads to a study permit; postgraduate certificates do not.

• Flanders: 5 universities (academic bachelor's, master's, advanced master's, PhDs) and 13 universities of applied sciences (and arts) (associate degrees, professional bachelor's), plus 3 other institutions (Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp Management School, Vlerick). Programmes accredited by NVAO.
• FWB: 5 universities, 19 university colleges (Hautes Écoles), 16 schools of arts.
• Degrees: bachelor's 180 ECTS (3 years; FWB also 240); master's 60–120 ECTS (1–2 years); advanced master's (master na master / master de spécialisation) 60–120 ECTS after a master's. 60 ECTS = one year.
• Not degrees: the postgraduate certificate (Flanders, min. 20 ECTS) "does not result in a diploma"; bridging and preparatory programmes; summer courses.
• Courses that do not lead to a study permit or post-study route: part-time enrolment (under 54 credits a year); postgraduate certificates; non-recognised private institutions (decided case by case; a private-school diploma does not count for the highly skilled work permit); credit contracts for non-EEA students; Executive masters and Executive MBAs; medical specialist training.
• Language: most Flemish programmes are in Dutch; English programmes are mostly at master's level. UGent bachelor's are all in Dutch. FWB asks for B2 in the teaching language (French or English).
• Admission: each institution decides; most foreign qualifications do not give direct admission. Entrance exams for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science (Dutch, Flanders) and FWB quota studies; arts schools test candidates.
• Year: starts mid to late September; exams in January and June; resits in August–September; very few February starts. FWB "fundability" rules can block re-enrolment after weak results.

Can I apply with an Indian degree, and is a 3-year bachelor’s accepted?

Often yes: UGent accepts a foreign bachelor’s of at least 3 years (some first need a 45–90 ECTS linking course), FWB universities want 180 ECTS, and KU Leuven, UAntwerpen, VUB and UHasselt decide per programme.

• Master's (information only): UGent: a foreign bachelor's of at least 3 years; some must first do a 45–90 ECTS linking course. FWB: a 180 ECTS bachelor's in a similar field (ULB: no equivalence needed if the jury values the degree for at least 180 credits). KU Leuven, UAntwerpen, VUB, UHasselt decide per programme. Advanced master's need a master's (some UGent programmes accept a 4-year bachelor's).
• Marks: no university checked publishes an Indian grade conversion or minimum percentage.
• GRE/GMAT: UGent Engineering and Architecture and five Sciences master's need GRE; UGent Economics and Business GMAT or GRE; KU Leuven Computer Science GRE.
• English: KU Leuven IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 79, no Duolingo, a test needed unless the earlier degree was taught on a campus in AU, CA, IE, NZ, UK or US. VUB IELTS 6.5 (6.0 per part) / TOEFL 79, or 4.5 on the new scale from 21 Jan 2026; VUB accepts a degree taught only in English. Study in Flanders general level B2 (IELTS 6.0); FWB B2 (IELTS 5.5–6.5).
• Final-year students: apply before the deadline with a graduation-date declaration and latest transcript (UGent); no enrolment without the diploma. KU Leuven admits "on the condition of graduating".
• Documents: Indian public documents need one apostille. UGent uses Qualification Check (€59) instead of legalisation; UAntwerpen wants legalised hard copies by 31 May; KU Leuven verifies degrees electronically or in person. Sworn translation if not in English, Dutch, French or German.
• Recognition: to study, the university decides (NARIC-Vlaanderen not needed in most cases); to work in a regulated profession, recognition is required.
• Bachelor's from Class XII: KU Leuven names CBSE (AISSC), ISC and the Senior Secondary School Examination. FWB bachelor's always need an equivalence of Class XII from the FWB service (2027-28 files: 15 Nov 2026 – 15 Jul 2027).

How do I apply to a Belgian university?

You apply on each university’s own portal, and visa-student deadlines come early: UAntwerpen 28 Feb 2027, KU Leuven 1 March, ULB, UCLouvain and ULiège 31 March, UGent before 1 April.

• Apply on each university's own portal; Flemish portals open around November–December (KU Leuven 8 Oct; UAntwerpen 4 Nov).
• Fees to apply: KU Leuven €120 per application; FWB universities €200 per file (non-refundable; UCLouvain deducts it from tuition if you enrol); UGent and UAntwerpen free.
• Usual documents: transcripts and degree, English test, passport, motivation letter, CV, recommendation letters (KU Leuven), GRE/GMAT where asked. FWB: a detailed financial plan (€12,744 + fees).
• Decisions: UGent about 3 months; UAntwerpen up to 6 weeks for the content check plus up to 4 weeks for authenticity; ULiège by 30 June.
• UAntwerpen: one application at a time; no third-party involvement. No deferral at KU Leuven (re-apply); UGent deferral needs a new application.
• Agents: UCLouvain and ULiège warn of intermediaries and false documents; a falsified FWB file can mean a 3-year ban.

How much does it cost, and how much money must I show?

KU Leuven charges most non-EEA master’s students €11,889.40 and UGent €12,557.70 (2027-28), FWB universities €5,369 (2026-27). You must also show €12,744 for a year: a blocked account, a scholarship or an Annex 32 sponsor.

• Tuition details: see Key fact 3. UGent 2027-28: students already enrolled in 2026-27 keep their A/B rate (indexed). UHasselt continuing students are not charged the new categories. UAntwerpen asks for an advance of the 60-credit fee after enrolment; instalment plans exist. ULB: €50 by 31 October, balance by 1 February. VUB non-EEA students pay the full year at once (54 credits).
• Funds for the visa: €12,744 for 12 months (2026-27). India sponsor (Annex 32): relative up to the third degree; Annex 32 legalised by the Embassy (New Delhi) or Consulate (Mumbai); family-composition affidavit and relationship certificates with apostille; payslips, latest income-tax return and 6 months of bank statements. Guarantor income at least €3,279.47 net a month (from 1 Sep 2026). A university-held deposit paid out monthly also counts.
• Living costs: €800–1,000 a month (Study in Flanders); €1,000–1,300 (Study in Belgium); €1,050–1,400 (KU Leuven). Room €450–600 (Flanders); €465 university residence / €590 private (FWB).
• Health insurance fund: about €100–120 a year membership (plus a possible legal contribution); the public HZIV/CAAMI is free.
• Scholarships: Flemish Master Mind Scholarships; Erasmus Mundus; VLIR-UOS (29 countries); university funding. FWB: WBI "MASTER IN" grants (application by 31 March; India is not a priority country).
• Payments: from India pay all bank charges ("OUR"); visa contribution and application fees are never refunded.

How do I get a Belgian student visa from India?

You apply for a visa D on VisaOnWeb, then in person at VFS, paying €251 + €250 + INR 2,750. The decision comes within 90 days of a complete file.

• Visa D for full-time studies at a recognised institution, from the Belgian post for your place of residence: VisaOnWeb form (valid 30 days), then in person at a VFS centre (photo, fingerprints, and a questionnaire on the coherence of your studies and plans).
• Fees: contribution €251 paid to the Immigration Office before submitting (€242 for a private institution; free under 18 or with a listed scholarship) + handling fee €250 + VFS INR 2,750. Not refunded on refusal.
• Checklist: passport valid at least 12 months; photos; admission or enrolment certificate on the standard form; the diploma giving access; funds; health insurance covering all risks in Belgium; medical certificate from an Embassy-listed doctor; police clearance from the passport office with apostille (18+); fee proofs. Missing documents: 30 days to add them.
• Processing: decision within 90 days of a complete file; late files may not be decided in time. Track with the Immigration Office file number or on VFS.
• Validity: with an enrolment certificate, at least one year; with only an admission letter, or without insurance, 4 months (then show enrolment/insurance at the commune).
• Refusal: appeal, or apply again with a new contribution.
• Fraud: official visa e-mails come only from newdelhi.visa@diplobel.fed.be or mumbai.visa@diplobel.fed.be; no payments to private Indian accounts.
• Family: spouse or registered partner and minor children can apply for family reunification (visa D from India; fee €218 each). Under the law in force since 18 Aug 2025: both partners 21+, sponsor income at least €2,408.79 net a month (+10% per extra dependant), sufficient housing, health insurance, medical certificate and police certificate. Which income test applies to a student sponsor, and whether the spouse may work: confirm with the Immigration Office before applying.

When should I start preparing?

Start about 12 months before a September intake: KU Leuven opens on 8 Oct, the earliest deadlines fall from 28 February, and the visa decision can take 90 days.

Can I work while studying, and what happens on arrival?

You can work 20 hours a week in term and without limit in official holidays. Register at the commune within 8 days of arriving, and join a health insurance fund: insurance is compulsory.

• Commune registration within 8 days (towns usually want a permanent address first). Bring passport with visa, enrolment certificate, health insurance, photos, rental contract and proof of funds. You receive an A card "Student / Labour market: limited", valid one year.
• Health: insurance is compulsory; join a health insurance fund (ziekenfonds / mutualité: CM, Helan/Partenamut, Neutraal Ziekenfonds, LM, Solidaris) or HZIV/CAAMI; funds reimburse about 75% of doctor and hospital costs. Fire and civil-liability insurance recommended.
• Housing: most students rent a "kot" on the private market; 12-month leases are standard; flats need a 2-month deposit on a blocked account. Prefer official university platforms (e.g. Kotwijs in Leuven) and watch for internet fraud.
• Work: 20 hours a week in term, unlimited in official holidays; 650 hours a year at reduced social contributions (2.71%); compulsory internships are allowed automatically; self-employment needs a professional card. Over 20 hours in term can cause problems at renewal.
• Keep the permit: renew at the commune at least 15 days before expiry with an enrolment certificate, funds, insurance and a study-progress attestation. The permit can end if studies are "excessively" prolonged or you work beyond the limit. An Annex 15 is not valid for travelling and re-entering.
• Emergency: 112; police 101. Discrimination: Unia.

Can I stay and work in Belgium after graduating?

Yes: a 12-month search year with unrestricted work, applied for at the commune at least 15 days before your student card expires. It cannot be extended.

• Search year: up to 12 months to find a job or start a business; apply at the commune at least 15 days before the student A card expires, with the Belgian degree, insurance and funds. Work freely from the Annex 15; no unemployment benefits; from 3 months the Immigration Office may ask you to show a reasonable chance of a job. Not extendable, and no route to come back later for it.
• Work permits (Flanders): highly skilled single permit: degree of 3+ years from a state-recognised institution; salary at least €39,129.60 under 30 or €48,912 at 30+ (figures as printed); you can apply up to 6 months before starting. EU Blue Card: €63,586 a year. Brussels and Wallonia set their own thresholds.
• Permanent residence: EU long-term residence after 5 years; study years count half; means of €1,038 a month.
• Citizenship: Belgian rules not confirmed in this pass. Indian citizenship ends on taking another citizenship.
• Regulated professions need diploma recognition (NARIC-Vlaanderen in Flanders). Back in India: AIU equivalence.

Common mistakes Indian students make

The costliest mistakes: missing the early visa-student deadlines (28 Feb – 1 April), budgeting with old fees, and funds through an unaccepted blocked-account company or a sponsor in India who is not a close relative.

1. Missing the early visa-student deadlines (28 Feb – 1 April).
2. Budgeting with old fees (KU Leuven and UGent 2027-28; Study in Belgium's cost page still shows €5,010).
3. A blocked account at an unaccepted company, a sponsor in India who is not a close relative, or an Annex 32 without Embassy legalisation.
4. Part-time study, postgraduate certificates or non-recognised private schools (no study permit or post-study route).
5. Degree verification not finished before the deadline (UGent Qualification Check, UAntwerpen legalised copies).
6. Applying for the visa late (90-day processing).
7. Using agents or intermediaries; any false document.
8. Missing the 8-day commune registration or the A-card renewal.
9. Working over 20 hours in term, or in the summer before the first year.
10. Travelling on an Annex 15; letting the student card expire before applying for the search year.
11. Assuming the spouse can work without checking the card.