Belgium offers international students a strong study environment, with multilingual cities, cultural attractions, and access to universities that offer computer science and related technology programs. Many Belgian universities also list scholarships or financial aid options for international students, giving students more ways to explore the growing field of computer science.
Computer science is available at many Belgian universities, but program language, degree level, research strengths, facilities, and industry connections vary by institution. As an international hub for education, innovation, and research, Belgium offers several strong computer science programs. Below, we have organized a list of 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 institution for higher education in Belgium. It is ranked 59th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and the European Patent Office’s Patent Index 2024 listed KU Leuven as the second-largest patent applicant among European universities. The institution’s academic and research reputation supports its computer science offerings.
Computer science is offered at different levels, including a Dutch-taught Bachelor in Informatics and the 120-ECTS Master of Engineering: Computer Science. At the master’s level, students can choose from specialization areas such as artificial intelligence, secure software, software engineering, distributed systems, human-machine communication, and computational informatics. The Department of Computer Science also lists English-taught master’s and advanced master’s programs.
2. Ghent University
Ghent University is among the largest universities in Belgium. Its official history notes that it became the first institution in Belgium to offer educational programs in Dutch in 1930. The university’s Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics is involved in computer science education and research.
Computer science offerings vary by faculty and program. The Faculty of Sciences offers Dutch-taught programs, including Computer Science, and the Master of Science in Computer Science is also taught in Dutch. Ghent University also offers an English-taught, 120-ECTS Master of Science in Computer Science Engineering. This makes the university suitable for students who want either a Dutch-taught computer science route or an English-taught engineering-oriented master’s route.
3. Catholic University of Louvain
The Catholic University of Louvain, or UCLouvain, is the leading and largest French-speaking university in Belgium. It is a center of excellence for various academic disciplines, including computer science. Among Belgian universities, the Louvain School of Engineering organizes computer science course offerings for undergraduate and graduate students.
The language of instruction depends on the level of study. Bachelor’s courses are mainly taught in French, while the Master [120] in Computer Science is a two-year, 120-credit program taught in English. Master’s students can focus on areas such as software engineering and programming systems, artificial intelligence and big data, or networks and security. The university also supports doctoral research through its science and technology research ecosystem.
4. Université libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles, or ULB, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel share a common origin in the Free University of Brussels, but they are separate universities today. ULB is a French-speaking university in Brussels. It welcomes international students and offers computer science programs through its science and engineering education structures.
The Bachelor in Computer Science is a three-year daytime program taught in French. Bachelor’s students study foundations such as programming, algorithms, databases, operating systems, and software engineering while developing their French-language academic skills. The Master in Computer Science is a 120-credit, two-year daytime program taught in English, with only a few elective exceptions.
After completing the mandatory computer science modules, graduate students can choose optional modules such as software and critical systems, computational intelligence, optimization, algorithms, and web and information systems.
5. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel and ULB share a common origin and continue to cooperate, but VUB is a separate Dutch-speaking university in Brussels. As a research university, VUB regularly appears in global university rankings and offers computer science programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
VUB offers its Bachelor in Computerwetenschappen in Dutch. After the bachelor’s program, students can continue to master’s options such as the one-year Master in Toegepaste Informatica or the two-year Master in Computerwetenschappen. For international students, VUB also lists the Master of Applied Sciences and Engineering: Computer Science in English, which prepares students for research and development or ICT careers.
VUB’s computer science master’s pathways include areas such as artificial intelligence, data management and analytics, multimedia, and software systems. Students can also benefit from the university’s research environment in areas such as AI, software, and information systems.
6. University of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp is a recognized research university and is described in official university materials as Flanders’ third-largest university. It offers computer science programs for Flemish and international students.
The university lists its Bachelor of Computer Science as Dutch-taught. It also offers Dutch-taught Master of Computer Science specializations and three English-taught master’s specializations: Computer Networks, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Software Engineering. Through the Department of Computer Science, students can develop both theoretical and practical experience through advanced coursework, research, and a master’s dissertation.
After completing advanced computer science coursework, students can specialize in areas such as computer networks, software engineering, data science, or artificial intelligence.
7. University of Mons
The University of Mons offers computer science programs through its Faculty of Sciences and Computer Science Department. The department is involved in computer science research and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral-level study opportunities in the field.
The French-taught Bachelor’s in Computer Science is a three-year, 180-ECTS program. At the graduate level, UMONS lists a 60-ECTS Master’s in Computer Science and 120-ECTS master’s pathways, including a Research Focus that prepares students for scientific research and doctoral studies. The university also lists a 120-ECTS specialist professional focus in Charleroi, offered in collaboration with ULB.
Students can study topics such as algorithms, programming, databases, operating systems, artificial intelligence, networks, software development, optimization, and research methods, depending on their chosen program and focus.
Computer science is one of the most highly sought-after programs worldwide because of how prominent technology is in daily life and across industries. As technology progresses, the demand for professionals in this field also increases. 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 the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
