Studying in Belgium is a unique opportunity. Located in the heart of Western Europe and connected by international trains to nearby countries such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands, Belgium is well placed for students who want to experience a broad spectrum of European cultures. This is helped by the country’s internationally ranked universities and wide range of engineering programs.
Today, we will discuss some of the best engineering schools in Belgium.
Top Schools Offering Engineering Programs in Belgium
The schools below are presented in an editorial order based on the engineering program breadth, specialist strengths, and research opportunities described in this article. The numbering is our comparative recommendation among the featured schools; it is not a reproduction of a single published league table. The best choice will depend on your engineering discipline and degree level.
1. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, better known internationally as KU Leuven, is Belgium’s largest university and one of its oldest. Current university figures list 64,476 students across KU Leuven, and the university ranks 59th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
With KU Leuven being among Belgium’s leading engineering schools, its Faculty of Engineering Science is known for fundamental engineering education and a wide choice of master’s programs. At the bachelor’s level, the Faculty of Engineering Science offers two main tracks: Engineering and Engineering: Architecture. KU Leuven also offers Engineering Technology and an English-taught Bachelor of Business Engineering through other faculty arrangements. At the master’s and Ph.D. levels, students can find options in areas such as biomedical, civil, materials, mathematical, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and other engineering fields.
Outside of teaching, KU Leuven is also recognized for the impact of its research. Examples include KU Leuven-linked work on dengue antiviral drug development and research with industry partners aimed at reducing tire and road noise from cars and trucks.
What Current Students / Alumni of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Dindi Guzon
Master’s thesis placement in Tissue Engineering; subsequent PhD
KU Leuven Tissue Engineering Lab | For her master’s thesis, she bioprinted artificial skeletal muscle tissue using induced pluripotent stem cells to address muscle loss and support future disease models. She later returned to the same lab for doctoral work on vascularized skeletal muscle using responsive multiphase bioinks. | Belgium was the hardest country in her master’s pathway to manage financially. Sharing accommodation with cohort members helped reduce rent. |
Lucas Argandoña
PhD in Engineering Technology
KU Leuven supervision; industrial research hosted at PureBlue Water, Netherlands | Researches nanotechnology-based water treatment and micropollutant biodegradation under KU Leuven doctoral supervision, with the research itself hosted at PureBlue Water. He values the connection between academic research and industrial implementation, and reports mainly English doctoral activities with flexibility in selecting training credits. | Reports practical guidance from the university, program, and host institution on registration, immigration, employment documents, and settling in. |
Jiwei Lu
PhD research in Nanomaterials for Micropollutant Degradation in Anaerobic Digesters | Works on nanomaterials that improve micropollutant degradation in anaerobic digesters for wastewater treatment. His research combines materials science with biological processes and draws on his interdisciplinary chemistry and biotechnology background. | — |
Grishma Mehta
MSc in Sustainable Food Systems Engineering, Technology and Business (BiFTec-FOODs)
Study at KU Leuven and partner universities | Describes her joint program as combining food engineering, sustainability, and business with hands-on learning across different industrial and academic environments. She reports that instruction throughout her study pathway was entirely in English. | Found her Belgian stay in Ghent moderately expensive, mainly because of rent. Cooking at home and budgeting carefully helped her manage everyday costs. |
2. Ghent University
Ghent is one of Belgium’s best-known university towns, with Ghent University at the heart of both the city and its academic reputation. Founded in 1817, Ghent University became Belgium’s first Dutch-speaking university in 1930. Its Faculty of Engineering and Architecture offers Dutch-taught bachelor’s tracks in areas such as biomedical, civil, chemical and materials, electrical, electromechanical, and computer science engineering, as well as English-taught master’s programs in biomedical, chemical, civil, computer science, electrical, mechanical and electrical systems, engineering physics, photonics, and sustainable materials engineering. The faculty also offers doctoral programs across many engineering fields, making Ghent University one of Belgium’s strongest options for engineering students.
Outside of the university, the cozy city of Ghent has a lot to offer students interested in immersing themselves in Belgian culture. The city has something for many interests, including green spaces and parks, large climbing facilities, and Film Fest Gent, Belgium’s largest film festival.
What Current Students / Alumni of Ghent University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Tuo Sern
Master’s in Textile Engineering (WE-TEAM)
First-semester study at Ghent | Reports that his textile engineering classes were taught in English throughout WE-TEAM. His subsequent automotive-seat research internship and thesis on protective knee sleeves using 3D printing on textiles took place in Dresden. | — |
Gizelle Jamero
Master’s in Fire Safety Engineering (IMFSE)
2021–2023 | Describes the joint program involving Ghent as progressing from fire-science fundamentals to professional applications, with hands-on fire experiments and computer modelling. Her classes were conducted in English. | — |
Paula Vallarta
Joint Master’s in Textile Engineering (WE-TEAM)
Study at Ghent and partner universities | Describes specialized textile engineering teaching by international professors, organized into intensive weekly modules with examinations roughly every six weeks. She found this schedule demanding but engaging; instruction was primarily in English. | Ghent was the most expensive of her study locations, particularly for housing and food, requiring careful budgeting. |
Ralph Carlo Evidente
Joint MSc in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management (SINReM) | Reports sustainability-focused research in Ghent and Freiberg that integrated materials science, process engineering, and environmental assessment. His master’s training required connecting technical work with environmental and economic evaluation. | Across the institutions he attended, he valued orientation activities and international classmates who helped him adjust and build a support network. |
Marta Yabar
PhD in Bioprocess Engineering
Ghent doctoral school; research hosted at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant | Describes industry-oriented doctoral research at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, with access to pilot-scale infrastructure supporting scalability and industrial application, alongside supportive supervision. Her working environment, doctoral courses, and training activities use English. | — |
Nemer
MSc in Fire Safety Engineering (IMFSE) | Reports that his fire safety engineering classes across the consortium involving Ghent were conducted entirely in English, allowing him to study without an academic barrier from the local languages. | Found the international study environment enriching and says interacting across cultures strengthened his communication and leadership skills. |
Abdul Moeed
MSc in Advanced Textile Engineering (WE-TEAM)
Entered the program in 2021 | Specifically reports studying smart textile manufacturing at Ghent, followed by sustainable textile processes in Greece and advanced fiber science in Japan. He describes the curriculum as connecting technical innovation with international textile-industry perspectives. | Belgium was the most expensive country in his study pathway, so he adjusted his spending and prioritized essentials. |
3. Université de Liège
Based in the French-speaking city of Liège, with engineering activity closely associated with the Sart Tilman campus, the Université de Liège has been part of Belgian higher education since 1817. Its Faculty of Applied Sciences offers engineering education for students interested in fields such as chemical, biomedical, civil, computer science, geological, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
At the undergraduate level, the Bachelor of Engineering is a 180-credit, three-year program built around core courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, social sciences, and English. Students can use electives to prepare for more specific master’s-level fields such as civil or mechanical engineering, so early academic choices matter for later specialization.
The University of Liège is also home to a broad student life. Its sports service offers nearly 70 physical and sports activities at student prices, and the university’s international guide lists 75 student associations. In the Faculty of Applied Sciences, student association membership can provide benefits such as training opportunities, free access to some student publications and events, and discounts from sponsors.
What Current Students / Alumni of Université de Liège Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Sandra Babu
European Master’s in Biological and Chemical Engineering for a Sustainable Bioeconomy (BIOCEB)
Bioprocesses specialization; semester at Gembloux Agro-BioTech | Describes her BIOCEB specialization as applying green chemistry, life cycle assessment, and techno-economic analysis to sustainable processes from laboratory to industrial scale. She reports English instruction without academic language barriers across her study pathway, including Liège. | Belgium was the most expensive of her three study countries. She found frequent moves, accommodation searches, and administrative arrangements challenging. |
4. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Faculty of Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) provides education and research in industrial technology and applied sciences. Its master’s options include programs such as biomedical engineering and photonics engineering, and the wider engineering portfolio includes areas such as civil, chemical and materials, electrical, electromechanical, architectural, and nuclear engineering. VUB is internationally ranked, including 295th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, so it remains a strong engineering option in Belgium.
The university campus is also worth talking about. VUB now reports more than 24,000 students from 151 countries in more than 170 programs. Student services include basic medical and dental care on and around campus, medical and psychosocial services, and access to the VUB hospital UZ Brussels.
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) also benefits from its international connections through partnerships with universities worldwide, mobility programs, and its role in EUTOPIA. Students may have opportunities for international exchange through these networks.
5. University of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp is a relatively young institution in its current form: it was created in October 2003 through the merger of three institutions, although its roots go back further. The university presents itself as an active pluralist institution and is internationally ranked, including 170th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 and 277th in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Its applied engineering programs include chemical and biochemical engineering technology, civil engineering technology, electromechanical engineering technology, and electronics and ICT engineering technology.
The more than 24,800 students attending this top engineering university in Belgium are supported by services such as orientation and buddy-system activities for international students, Mind Matters Week for mental well-being, and information on time credit or career breaks for students combining work and study.
The city of Antwerp is also well worth spending time in. As one of the world’s most international cities, with more than 170 nationalities and over 400 languages represented, Antwerp offers a wide selection of cultural activities to experience. From the Royal Museum of Fine Arts to the Antwerp Jazz Club, the city has something to offer many of its visitors.
6. University of Mons
The University of Mons is a French-speaking university in Belgium. Its Faculty of Engineering, also called Polytech Mons, has trained engineers since 1837. The faculty provides an engineering education spanning undergraduate foundations, specialized master’s programs, and doctoral research, with subject areas extending from mechanical and electrical engineering to materials and mining.
Undergraduate options include bachelor’s degrees in Engineering and Architectural Engineering. The Engineering bachelor’s program comprises 180 credits and prepares students to progress to specialized master’s study. These first-cycle qualifications should be distinguished from the subsequent master’s degrees that provide more advanced professional and disciplinary training.
Master’s options include Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Computer Engineering and Management, Mechanical Engineering, and Geology and Mining Engineering. The faculty also offers an Electrical Engineering master’s taught in English and comprising 120 ECTS credits. Students interested in research can pursue a PhD in Engineering Sciences, with research opportunities connected to the faculty’s engineering laboratories and university research institutes.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Mons Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Nadim Ahmed
Joint Master’s in Smart Cities and Communities (SMACCs)
2024–2026; second semester in Mons | Reports hands-on experience in renewable energy systems, smart mobility, and urban sustainability during his first two semesters in Spain and Mons. His program combines engineering, data science, energy management, and urban planning, with English instruction across the study locations. | Belgium had the highest living costs in his comparison. He found everyday communication easier there because many people spoke English, and French courses were available. |
In conclusion, Belgium offers many opportunities for students interested in studying engineering, all of which give prospective students the chance to develop their skills and make lifelong connections in preparation for their engineering careers.
Hopefully, this guide on the best engineering schools in Belgium was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
