Belgium is the perfect study environment for university students struggling with deadlines and the amount of research work to do. The beautiful weather, tourist attractions, and natural landscapes ease away the study-related stress. What’s more, Belgium also offers attractive scholarship offers to international students, giving students the chance to study the growing discipline of computer science.
Computer science is taught in almost every university, yet facilities, philosophical diversity, and industry partnership all make a difference in the quality of education you receive. As an international hub for education, innovation, and societal impact, Belgium delivers some of the world’s most advanced computer science programs. Below, we organized a list of the best computer science schools in Belgium.
Top Schools Offering Computer Science in Belgium
1. Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or KU Leuven, is a leading institute for higher education in Belgium. It consistently ranks in the top 100 university rankings, and researchers under KU Leuven’s wing successfully file more patents than any other research facility. The insitution’s academic reputation holds as it delivers a top-notch computer science program.
This field’s programs are exclusively offered at the graduate level, where students can choose to specialize in either artificial intelligence or digital humanities. The Department of Computer Science’s dedication to research initiatives where students and faculty collaborate is noteworthy.
2. Ghent University
Ghent University is among the largest universities in Belgium. It was also the first educational institution to adopt Dutch as the primary language of instruction. This school, internationally recognized for its academic reputation and an esteemed research funding beneficiary of the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO), also offers excellent computer science programs.
The Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, and Mathematics is an outstanding faculty in Belgium that handles this field’s formal education. Undergraduate and graduate computer science programs require proficiency in Dutch, as the classes are only taught in this language. This school is your best bet if you want to learn computing theory and database management while polishing your language skills.
3. Catholic University of Louvain
The Catholic University of Louvain, or UCLouvain, is Belgium’s most prominent institution, and French is the primary language of instruction. It is a center of excellence for various academic disciplines, including computer science. Among the best schools in Belgium, the Louvain School of Engineering organizes computer science course offerings for undergraduate and graduate students.
Fortunately, English is the language of instruction. UCLouvain students train to sharpen their analytical thinking skills in preparation for job offers in data analytics, database management, and information systems. The school also presents students the option to continue immediately with their master’s studies right after completing their undergraduate degree.
4. Université libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is the French-speaking half of the Free University of Brussels. ULB welcomes international students with open arms, allowing them to study a globally competent computer science program in a prized foreign institution. The ULB Faculty of Sciences is one of Belgium’s top computer science institutes and supervises the computer science curriculum.
Like most Flemish universities, undergraduate schools are taught in French or Dutch. Bachelor’s students can study the foundations of computer science while learning and understanding a foreign language. The university’s master’s program entices students from overseas with English-taught classes.Â
After completing the mandatory computer science modules, graduate students can opt to focus on specialized modules for software, algorithms, or optimization.
5. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel is ULB’s partner institution, offering mainly Dutch programs. As a university dedicated to publishing impactful research, it regularly ranks among the world’s top universities. This Belgian higher education school also offers a credible computer science program. It is typical of Flemish universities to offer undergraduate degrees in French or Dutch.
VUB, in this case, offers bachelor’s programs in Dutch. Graduate programs are taught in English, where international students can quickly assimilate regardless of their origin. Its master’s degree equips students with a higher level of computer science fundamentals in theory and application. Specializations are what sets graduate degrees apart from undergraduate programs.
VUB also offers computer science students the choice to specialize in artificial intelligence, multimedia, software languages, engineering, or data management. Students have free reign in the university’s laboratories, specifically in AI, software languages, and information systems.
6. University of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp is one of the best computer science schools in Belgium, being internationally renowned for its rigorous academic programs and competitive entrepreneurial spirit. It is Flanders’ third-largest institution, with a cutting-edge computer science program to offer Flemish and international students.
Dutch-only undergraduate programs do not stop this university from attracting a foreign audience. The Department of Computer Science also facilitates three English-taught graduate programs. With the department, international students can advance their studies at lower costs but with more excellent educational quality.Â
After completing the mandatory advanced computer science concepts, students can specialize in computer networks, software engineering, data science, or artificial intelligence.
7. University of Mons
The University of Mons provides tertiary education through cooperative efforts with the Université Libre de Bruxelles. It also offers an internationally acclaimed computer science program. UMONS’ Computer Science Department enriches graduate students’ scientific knowledge and practical skills in computer science.
The graduate program offers a professional track preparing students in this top computer science school to join the workforce and research tracks focusing on doctoral degree opportunities. The department provides a range of topics in which students can choose to specialize, such as software development and optimization.
Computer science is undoubtedly one of the most highly sought-after programs worldwide because of how prominent and present technology is in our lives. As tech progresses, the demand for professionals in this field also increases. So, if you want to pursue this degree in Belgium, consider the universities listed above and learn more about them through the links provided.
We hope this article on Belgium’s best computer schools was helpful. To learn more information about studying abroad, make sure also to check out the Belgium Page and some of the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
