Belgium is a multilingual country with three national languages: Dutch, French, and German. Many Belgian universities also offer courses in English, and tuition fees can be relatively affordable compared with some other European study destinations.
Though living expenses in Belgium can be costly, you can reduce the overall cost by choosing a lower-cost university. Don’t worry about quality, as the education system in Belgium is strong. You can find good study options at both more expensive and more affordable institutions.
Belgium used to offer very affordable education, especially at French-speaking universities. For many students, French-speaking universities such as UCLouvain, Université Libre de Bruxelles, and the University of Liège charged €835 per year. However, tuition rules have changed. From 2025-2026 onward, many non-EU students who are not exempt must pay an additional annual contribution of €4,175 on top of the regular registration fee. In 2026-2027, the full registration fee published by several French-speaking institutions is €1,194, bringing the total for non-exempt non-EU students to €5,369. Some students, including students covered by ARES exemption lists or other exemption categories, may pay a lower amount. If you are from a country or category listed for exemption, studying at a French-speaking institution may still be one of the cheapest options for you; if not, there are other affordable options below. So, let’s go over these cheapest universities in Belgium for international students; we’ll break it down by degree and citizenship status where possible.
Affordable Schools in Belgium for International Students
1. Université Libre de Bruxelles
The brainchild of lawyer and politician Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, the Université Libre de Bruxelles, or ULB, was established in 1834. Although it started as bilingual, teaching in Dutch and French, the university is now predominantly French-speaking.
For 2026-2027, ULB states that final tuition amounts are still subject to confirmation by the competent authorities. The current scenario lists a full tuition fee of €1,194, with an additional tuition fee for non-European students who are not assimilated or exempt. Exemptions and transitional rules can change what a student actually pays, so applicants should check their exact status on ULB’s tuition page before applying.
ULB is a large French-speaking university in Brussels with 12 faculties covering a wide range of disciplines. It offers nearly 40 undergraduate programs and around 250 graduate programs, including several master’s degrees taught fully in English.
2. Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Tuition Fees: about €1,194/year to €5,369/year for bachelor’s and master’s programs; reduced, exempt, and transitional categories may apply
Saint Louis University in Brussels, now UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles, specializes in the social and human sciences. On September 14, 2023, Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles officially merged with UCLouvain and became one of UCLouvain’s campuses.
The Saint-Louis campus remains known for programs in fields such as philosophy, law, economics and management, political and social sciences, translation and interpreting, and European studies. It also offers distinctive options such as bilingual or trilingual study tracks and dual bachelor’s degree possibilities in selected disciplines.
Like other French-speaking university programs in Belgium, UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles follows the French Community tuition rules. For 2026-2027, UCLouvain lists a full registration fee of €1,194 for EU and assimilated students, while non-EU students who are not exempt generally owe an additional €4,175 contribution. This means that eligible exempt students may pay less, while non-exempt non-EU students may pay €5,369.
3. University of Liège
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Tuition Fees: about €1,194/year to €5,369/year for bachelor’s and master’s programs; reduced, exempt, and transitional categories may apply
The University of Liege, one of the cheaper universities in Belgium, is a public university in Wallonia, Belgium. It was founded in 1817 at the initiative of King William I of the Netherlands. Today, ULiège has 11 faculties, 4 campuses, and more than 29,000 students and PhD students.
Like other French-speaking universities in Belgium, the University of Liège charges an additional annual contribution to non-assimilated non-EU students from 2025-2026 onward. The university lists a full registration fee of €1,194 and an additional contribution of €4,175 for non-exempt non-EU students, bringing the total to €5,369. Exemptions apply for certain students, including those covered by ARES exemption lists and some PhD or teaching-related programs.
4. Ghent University
Ghent University, popularly known as UGent, is a public university in East Flanders. Founded in 1817, it is more than 200 years old and is organized into 11 faculties. Ghent University offers more than 200 programs, including 69 English-taught master’s programs.
The 2026-2027 tuition fee for EEA students is €305.40 plus €14.60 per credit, or €1,181.40 for a 60-credit year. Non-EEA students in many English-taught programs pay a higher fee, such as €7,079.40 for a 60-credit year in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Ghent University can still be a good choice if you are eligible for the lower rate, are applying to a Dutch-taught program, or cannot get an exemption from non-EU tuition fees at a French-speaking institution.
5. Hasselt University
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Tuition Fees: from €1,181.40/year for EEA students and eligible categories; €3,900/year to €9,493.80/year for non-EEA students in English-taught master’s programs
Hasselt University began after the legal foundation of the university in 1971. The Limburg Universitair Centrum started its first academic year in 1973 and changed its name to Hasselt University in 2005. Today, the institution has campuses in Hasselt and Diepenbeek.
The university offers various graduate programs through fields such as medicine and life sciences, sciences, engineering technology, business and economics, law, architecture and arts, and transportation sciences. English-taught master’s options include the Master of Management, Master of Interior Architecture, Master of Transportation Sciences, and Master of Energy Engineering Technology.
Hasselt University’s 2026-2027 tuition fees depend on residency status, grant status, and program. EEA students in English UHasselt master’s programs pay €1,181.40 for a 60-credit year, while non-EEA students in English-taught master’s programs pay category-based fees ranging from €3,900 to €9,493.80 for a 60-credit year. For PhD students, the 2025-2026 tuition fee is €578.50 in the first year, re-registration is free, and the final-year fee is again approximately €578.50, subject to indexation.
6. University of Antwerp
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Tuition Fees: €1,181.40/year for EEA students; €4,300/year for most non-EEA bachelor’s programs; €7,800/year for most non-EEA master’s programs; PhD first enrolment and thesis defense are €591 each
Universiteit Antwerpen is a public university whose roots include Antwerp commercial institutes founded in 1852. These institutions gained university status in 1965, began cooperating as the University of Antwerp in 1973, and later formed today’s University of Antwerp.
The University of Antwerp offers a broad range of study options, including English-taught master’s and advanced master’s programs. For 2026-2027, the standard EEA rate for a 60-credit bachelor’s or master’s year is €1,181.40. Students with other nationalities generally pay €4,300 for a 60-credit bachelor’s year and €7,800 for a 60-credit master’s year, although some programs have exceptions. PhD students pay €591 for first enrolment, €0 for re-enrolment, and €591 for the thesis defense.
7. UC Leuven-Limburg
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Tuition Fees: €8,600/year for non-EEA students based on a study visa in English-taught bachelor’s programs; €1,181.40/year for all other students
UC Leuven-Limburg, or UCLL, is one of Belgium’s largest universities of applied sciences.
Founded through a merger that led to UCLL in 2014, it brought together Katholieke Hogeschool Limburg, Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven, and Group T. Today, UCLL operates across multiple campuses and serves more than 16,000 students.
UCLL offers English-taught programs, including bachelor’s programs such as International Business Management and Applied Computer Science, as well as continuing education programs. For 2026-2027, non-EEA students who need a study visa pay €8,600 for English-taught bachelor’s programs, while all other students pay €1,181.40. This is a major increase from the 2025-2026 non-EEA study visa rate of €5,800.
FAQs: Studying in Belgium
Do Universities in Belgium Offer English-taught Programs?
Yes, some Belgian universities offer certain courses in English. The Belgian federal government notes that many schools and universities in Belgium offer courses in English. For example, Ghent University offers 69 English-taught master’s programs, ULB offers several master’s degrees fully taught in English, and UCLL offers English-taught bachelor’s and continuing education programs.
As an international student, if you are looking for quality higher education in Belgium while keeping tuition fees manageable, the universities above are worth considering. Check each university’s current fee page before applying, because tuition can vary by nationality, residence status, degree level, program, credits, and exemption category.
We hope this article on cheap universities in Belgium for international students was helpful. For more information like this, check out the Study in Belgium and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages.
