Belgium is a developed country with a sizable health system, and nursing is an important regulated profession in the country. Belgium has a higher density of practicing nurses than the OECD average, but hospitals still report difficulties recruiting and retaining enough nurses. This makes nursing an important field of study for students who want to build a career in healthcare.
Nursing education in Belgium is offered through universities, universities of applied sciences, and partner institutions. Many nursing programs are taught in Dutch or French, although some institutions also offer English-taught options or selected courses in English. Because language, admission, and professional authorization requirements vary, students should always check the official program page before applying.
According to Belgian health-system data, the number of new nursing graduates per 100,000 population has been above EU averages in recent years. However, this comparison is partly affected by the number of foreign students in Belgian nursing schools, especially in the French Community, where many graduates are international students.
Information about the nursing programs available at each school is discussed below. Each school has its own strengths, program structure, and language requirements, so the final choice will depend on your academic background and career goals.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Belgium
1. Ghent University
Ghent University offers a Master of Science in Nursing and Midwifery. This 120 ECTS academic master’s degree is designed for nurses and midwives who want to prepare for the evolving challenges of healthcare.
The program combines a common core with three specializations: Advanced Practice Nurse, Implementation Science in Healthcare, and Researcher in Care and Health Sciences. It was developed in collaboration with national and international stakeholders and aims to build advanced knowledge and skills in research, clinical leadership, advanced practice roles, and healthcare innovation.
Most courses in the full program are taught in Dutch, while selected courses are taught in English. Students should check the official program page for current language, admission, and exchange requirements before applying.
2. University of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp offers a Master of Nursing and Midwifery through the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Campus Drie Eiken. The master’s program is worth 60 ECTS credits and is taught in Dutch.
Admission is normally for students with a professional bachelor’s degree in nursing or midwifery who have completed the required bridging program. Compared with Ghent University’s 120 ECTS master’s degree, Antwerp’s 60 ECTS master’s program can be shorter after the bridging requirements are met.
The university also offers a Postgraduate of Nursing in General Practice. This is a post-bachelor training course for registered nurses who want to take up tasks in primary care.
3. KU Leuven
As one of the highest-ranked universities in Belgium, KU Leuven also offers nursing-related graduate study. Its Master in Nursing and Midwifery is a Dutch-taught Master of Science program offered in Leuven through the Faculty of Medicine.
The program is worth 60 credits and aims to train academically educated nurses and midwives who can take on professional and leadership roles in healthcare. Students complete lectures, guided self-study, assignments, case discussions, clinical lessons, a master’s thesis, and an internship.
Students choose one of three tracks: nursing specialist, midwifery specialist, or management in nursing and midwifery. The master’s program is accessible after the required bridging program, and students with non-Flemish qualifications must follow the official admission procedure and meet the language requirements.
4. Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers a four-year bachelor’s program in Nursing. The program combines theory with practical training from the start and prepares students to work in healthcare settings.
KdG emphasizes hands-on learning through clinical training, simulation, coaching, and skills-lab experience. Students should also expect to develop Dutch-language skills, since Dutch is important for communicating with patients and healthcare teams in Flanders.
After completing the bachelor’s degree, graduates can pursue further study. A master’s degree in Nursing and Midwifery is possible through a bridging year, and KdG collaborates with the University of Antwerp for this pathway.
5. UCLouvain
UCLouvain participates in 120-credit master’s programs in Nursing offered through consortium partnerships in Brussels and Namur. These programs are taught in French and are designed for holders of a bachelor’s degree in general nursing care.
The master’s program prepares students for clinical and policy leadership within the health system. It emphasizes quality, research, innovation, evidence-based practice, care coordination, coaching, leadership, and ethical decision-making.
UCLouvain is also active in nursing sciences research through the Institute of Health and Society. Students interested in UCLouvain should check whether they need to register through the partner institution responsible for the program’s administrative management.
If you want to study nursing in Belgium, review each school’s language requirements, admission rules, tuition information, and professional requirements carefully. A Belgian nursing degree can help open career pathways, but working as a nurse in Belgium may also require meeting professional authorization, diploma recognition, and immigration requirements, depending on your situation.
We hope that this article on the best nursing schools in Belgium was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Belgium and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages for more informative articles.
