Belgium is a fascinating country known for its rich culture, multilingual society, and medieval architecture. It is also an attractive study destination for international students. In this article, we will go over universities in Belgium that offer master’s-level programs in public health, public health methodology, and global health.
What Is the Cost of Studying MPH in Belgium?
Living costs depend on the city and your lifestyle. In French-speaking Belgium, students should generally budget about €1,000 to €1,300 per month, including accommodation, food, study materials, insurance, transportation, and personal expenses.
For university tuition in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, fees depend on your nationality, student status, and program. For 2025-2026, UCLouvain lists standard registration fees of €835 for Belgian, EU, and assimilated non-EU students, with reduced rates of €374 for eligible low-income students and €0 for students receiving a Wallonia-Brussels Federation grant. Non-EU students who are not exempt generally pay an additional contribution of €4,175, which is added to the full tuition fee. UCLouvain also notes that affected non-EU applicants may be charged a €200 application fee after confirming an online application; if admitted, this fee is deducted from the enrollment fees.
Because several programs below are specialized or interuniversity programs, students should always confirm the latest tuition amount on the official program or university fees page before applying.
What Are the Requirements to Study Master’s in Public Health in Belgium?
Admission requirements vary by university and by whether the program is a regular master’s degree, a specialized master’s degree, or a subsequent/advanced master’s degree. Some programs admit students with a relevant bachelor’s degree, sometimes with additional coursework or a review of prior studies. For example, the University of Liège lists several eligible bachelor’s degrees and may admit comparable foreign degrees valued at 180 credits, while UCLouvain uses an individual application process for many international profiles.
For some non-European second-cycle degree holders applying to UCLouvain, the official requirements include a recognized second-cycle degree of at least five years, at least one year of significant public health experience, a realistic public health project in a motivation letter, very good French, passive English, and basic Office skills.
In what language is the MPH taught in Belgium?
The programs in this list are mainly taught in French or English. UCLouvain, ULB, and the University of Liège teach their public health master’s programs in French. English-taught options include the ULB/UCLouvain/UMONS Specialized Master in Public Health Methodology.
Universities in Belgium with Master’s in Public Health and Global Health
1. The Université Catholique de Louvain
UCLouvain traces its history to the University of Louvain, created in 1425 by a papal bull signed by Pope Martin V. After the linguistic split of the University of Louvain in 1968, the French-speaking part became UCLouvain. Today, UCLouvain lists seven campuses in Wallonia and Brussels and reports about 40,000 students.
The Master [120] in Public Health is offered at the Brussels Woluwe campus. It is a 120-credit, two-year program taught in French on a day schedule. The program includes a graduation project/dissertation and has an optional internship. UCLouvain is a strong option for students who want a French-language public health master’s in Brussels.
Admission depends on the applicant’s prior degree and profile. International applicants should check the official access requirements carefully; for some non-European second-cycle applicants, UCLouvain requires a recognized second-cycle degree of at least five years, at least one year of significant public health experience, a public-health-focused motivation letter, very good French, and passive English.
2. Universite Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) was founded in 1834 and is a multicultural French-speaking university in Brussels. ULB reports four Nobel Prizes in the sciences, one Fields Medal, and three Wolf Prizes, as well as 12 faculties, nearly 40 undergraduate programs, and about 250 graduate programs.
The Master in Public Health Sciences with a specialization in Environmental Health is a 120-credit, two-year program offered by ULB’s School of Public Health at the Erasme campus. It is taught in French and organized on an adapted schedule. The program includes a common core and specialized courses; ULB lists four specialized tracks in public health, including Environmental Health, and a compulsory internship in the second year.
The program is aimed at students who have already completed a first-cycle degree at ULB, another university, or a university college, and it can also be accessible to professionals through validation of prior experience. Courses are delivered in person.
3. University of Liege
Founded in 1817, the University of Liege, also known as the University of Liège or ULiège, is a public university in Belgium. Its Master in Public Health, professional focus on specialist practitioners in public health, is a 120-credit program taught in French on a specific/adapted schedule at Liège Sart-Tilman.
4. University of Mons
The University of Mons (UMONS) is a French-speaking university in Hainaut. UMONS now reports more than 11,500 students, about 2,000 staff members, seven faculties and three schools, 10 research institutes, and more than 150 university programs.
The Specialized Master in Public Health Methodology is a 60-ECTS advanced/specialized master’s program taught in English. UMONS lists the schedule as daytime and identifies Mons and Brussels as locations; the ULB program page also shows that the specialized master is organized with the ULB School of Public Health, UCLouvain, and UMONS. The program is designed for medical doctors in public health, as well as researchers and statisticians in the biomedical sector.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Available Courses in Europe for International Students and the Europe Scholarships Page.
