Belgium is a historic country with many UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is also a multilingual country with three official languages—Dutch, French, and German—and a growing selection of higher education programs taught in English. Belgian cities are also well known as welcoming places for international students and tourists.
Studying in Belgium gives students access to high-quality higher education and the experience of living in a multicultural country at the heart of Europe. In this article, we will look at some of the top universities offering English-taught programs in Belgium.
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Belgium
1. KU Leuven
KU Leuven, locally known as Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, is Belgium’s largest university and one of Europe’s oldest universities. Founded in 1425, it celebrated its 600th anniversary in 2025 and is recognized as the oldest university in the Low Countries and the oldest extant Catholic university in the world. While KU Leuven has a Catholic heritage, it is a comprehensive research university that welcomes students from different backgrounds.
The university offers academic and research programs across fields such as computer science, engineering, natural sciences, humanities, medicine, law, business, and social sciences. KU Leuven is also highly ranked internationally and is a founding member of the League of European Research Universities.
KU Leuven has a large international community. According to its September 2025 figures, 16,791 of its 64,476 students were international students, representing more than 140 countries. Although the university’s main language of instruction is Dutch, it offers more than 100 English-taught programs across 15 faculties, including bachelor’s, master’s, advanced master’s, and PhD pathways.
2. Ghent University
Ghent University is a major public research university and a strong option for English-taught study in Belgium. Founded in 1817, it is more than 200 years old and is described by the university as a top-ranking institution.
In 1930, Ghent University became the first institution in Belgium to offer educational programs in Dutch. During its early years, instruction was in Latin; from 1830 to 1930, the university shifted through French and a bilingual system before Dutch became the official language of instruction.
Ghent University is open, pluralistic, and socially engaged. It offers more than 200 programs, including 69 English-taught master’s programs. At the bachelor’s level, most programs are taught in Dutch; the English-taught bachelor’s option is the Bachelor of Social Sciences, for which application and enrollment are handled through VUB. PhD candidates can apply for an open PhD position or contact a Ghent University professor directly.
The university is based in and around Ghent, with additional locations in Courtrai, Bruges, Ostend, and a Global Campus in Songdo, South Korea. Its broad academic offering and international profile make it one of Belgium’s key universities for students seeking English-taught postgraduate options.
3. Catholic University of Louvain
The Catholic University of Louvain, known today as UCLouvain or the University of Louvain, is one of Belgium’s leading comprehensive academic institutions offering English-taught programs. It is Belgium’s leading and largest French-speaking university and one of Europe’s oldest universities.
UCLouvain traces its heritage to the University of Louvain, created on December 9, 1425, by Pope Martin V. In 2025, the university celebrated 600 years of history. After the 1968 split of the Catholic University of Leuven, the French-speaking Université catholique de Louvain developed separately from the Dutch-speaking KU Leuven.
The university offers academic and research programs in fields such as law, criminology, management, architecture, engineering, sciences, humanities, social sciences, and health. It has a dynamic and culturally diverse learning community that welcomes students from around the world.
Although UCLouvain is primarily French-speaking, it offers English-taught master’s programs, bilingual French-English master’s programs, and many courses in English or “English Friendly” formats. At the bachelor’s level, English is generally available through selected bilingual programs rather than fully English-taught undergraduate degrees. With rare exceptions, PhD studies at UCLouvain can be pursued in French or English.
4. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Dutch- and English-speaking university in Brussels. It grew out of the multilingual Free University of Brussels tradition associated with Université Libre de Bruxelles, founded in 1834, and VUB has operated as a separate Dutch-speaking university for more than 50 years.
VUB’s education and research are based on academic freedom, critical thinking, free inquiry, and humanism. The university currently reports more than 24,000 students from 145 countries, more than 150 programs, and more than 4,000 staff members.
The university offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in both Dutch and English, including English-taught bachelor’s options and a broad range of English-taught master’s programs. Students interested in doctoral study can also apply for PhD opportunities through VUB’s doctoral system.
VUB’s academic offering covers fields such as natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, humanities, business, engineering, and health-related fields. Its location in Brussels gives students access to an international and multilingual environment in the heart of Europe.
5. University of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp is a public, research-oriented Belgian university and a recognized institution for English-taught study options. Its current form was established in 2003 after the merger of three university institutions, with roots dating back to 1852.
UAntwerp offers a broad range of academic programs through nine faculties. Its latest facts and figures list 154 programs, including 35 English-language programs: two bachelor’s programs, 22 master’s programs, six advanced master’s programs, and five postgraduate programs. Doctoral study is also available across the university’s research areas.
The university is known for its international outlook, student-centered approach, and strong position among young universities. In the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, UAntwerp placed 12th. In the 2026 global university rankings, it is listed at 170th by Times Higher Education and 280th by QS.
UAntwerp’s research activity spans many institutes and centers, including areas such as health, infectious diseases, neuroscience, sustainability, materials, imaging, urban studies, transport, and social policy. It reports more than 25,000 students and over 2,500 PhD students.
If you plan to study in Belgium as an international student, you will find several universities with English-taught programs, especially at the master’s and doctoral levels. At the bachelor’s level, availability varies by institution, so always check the official program page before applying.
We hope this article on the best English-taught universities in Belgium was helpful. For more information about studying in Belgium or Europe, make sure to check out the Belgium Page and the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
