List of Tuition Fees and Living Costs in Belgium

Belgium is one of the European countries frequently visited by tourists from all over the world. Besides being a travel destination, Belgium also offers quality education, often at affordable rates.

See also the easiest and most convenient way to send money to Belgium with Transfez App

If you’re curious about affordable tuition fees and the cost of living in Belgium, check out the full breakdown below.

List of Affordable Universities in Belgium

1. KU Leuven

KU Leuven is one of the highest-ranked and oldest universities in Belgium. Since 2016, it has been ranked among the top 7 most innovative universities in Europe.

The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs through 15 faculties divided into three research groups: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Biomedical Sciences.

Tuition fees are approximately €922 per year.

2. University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp, located in the city of Antwerp, was established in 2003 through a merger of three older institutions. It’s now the third-largest university in Belgium.

It offers 33 undergraduate programs, 69 master’s programs, and 23 postgraduate programs, including Literature and Philosophy, Law, Political and Social Sciences, and Medicine.

Tuition fees: Around €938 per year for undergraduate programs and €1,445 per year for master’s programs.

3. Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain)

UCLouvain is a public Catholic university founded in 1425 in Louvain-la-Neuve. It is the largest French-speaking university in Belgium, with campuses in Brussels, Mons, and Charleroi.

It has 12 faculties, including Theology, Law, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Medicine, and Agriculture.

Although government-funded, students still need to cover some supporting costs depending on their chosen field.

4. Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)

ULB is a private, French-speaking university located in Brussels. Founded in 1834, it is part of the University of Brussels.

It offers programs in European Studies, Bio-Engineering, Public Health, Physical Education, Labour Sciences, Statistics, and Astronomy.

Tuition fees: Around €4,175 per year for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

5. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

VUB is also part of the University of Brussels, as mentioned earlier. It has eight faculties covering Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering.

It offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs and has four campuses in Ixelles, Jette, Anderlecht, and Gooik.

Tuition fees: Approximately €3,850 per year for undergraduate and €3,000 per year for postgraduate programs.

6. Ghent University

Founded in 1817, Ghent University is a public university located in Flanders, the economic heart of Europe. It was the first university in Belgium to adopt Dutch as the official language of instruction.

It offers 11 faculties and over 130 programs, including Arts, Philosophy, Bioscience Engineering, Law, and Medicine, and serves more than 40,000 students.

Tuition fees: About €1,000 per year for undergraduates and €5,000 per year for postgraduate students.

7. University of Namur

The University of Namur is a popular Catholic university located in the city of Namur, the capital of Wallonia. It offers teaching and research across six faculties: Philosophy, Law, Economics, Social Sciences, Management, Computer Science, and Medicine.

Tuition fees: Approximately €2,835 per year.

8. University of Liège

The University of Liège is a public institution in the French-speaking region of Belgium. French is the primary language, and the university is active in both basic and applied research.

It has more than 20,000 students, including over 460 international staff and faculty members.

Tuition fees: Around €4,175 per year for undergraduate programs.

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Cost of Living in Belgium

Living costs in Belgium vary depending on the city. As the capital, Brussels is the most expensive place to live, so budget planning is important.

Here’s a breakdown of living expenses:

1. Accommodation

There are several student housing options in Belgium:

University Dormitories

Prices range from €200 to €450 per month, depending on the facilities.

Apartment Rentals

A one-bedroom apartment costs around €400/month, not including utilities (electricity, water, garbage, internet).

Homestay

Homestay accommodation includes home-like amenities and typically at least one meal per day.
Rent ranges from €400 to €600 per month.

If you’re bringing a partner or children, expect to add around €100/month, excluding utility bills.

2. Utilities

General monthly costs for utilities like electricity, water, internet, and garbage: €150/month (standard across most regions).

3. Food Costs

Buying groceries and cooking at home is the most affordable option. On average, monthly food expenses are about €150.

Meals at budget restaurants range from €4 to €16 per bowl, depending on the location.

4. Transportation

Trains and buses are the easiest modes of transportation in Belgium:

• Monthly student bus pass: Around €20
• Train ticket: Approx. €7.50 per trip
• Taxi fare: Around €25 per trip

5. Entertainment

• For entertainment, you can visit cinemas, parks, or libraries (often free).
• Cinema and other entertainment activities cost around €11 to €50.

From the summary above, we can see that tuition fees and living costs in Belgium are relatively affordable compared to other European countries. Don’t forget to prepare an emergency fund for unexpected expenses!

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