Is there anywhere better to study than Belgium? When you choose Vlerick, you get to live and study in the heart of Europe. You join our diverse international community of students, professionals and alumni from all over the world. You live and learn on our campuses in the beautiful cities of Brussels, Ghent and Leuven – and you take the leap into expat life with the full support of our international office and diversity team behind you.
Belgium is one of Europe’s most vibrant countries to study in. Expats and students from across the world live and work here – making it the ideal place to build your network. International businesses and cultural heritage sites sit side by side – giving you opportunities for both professional and personal development. And it’s a stone’s throw away from major financial hubs like London and Paris that you can easily visit by train in a weekend. What more could you need?
When it comes to studying business, there’s nowhere quite like Brussels. Belgium’s capital city is also capital of the EU – and home to the headquarters of major financial and multinational institutions. These organisations attract people from all over the world, creating a diverse, multicultural population. This makes Brussels the perfect place to build a network to support you throughout your career – wherever in the world it takes you.
Ghent is not just an architectural gem – it’s also a vibrant hub of culture, innovation and creativity. The historical capital of Flanders plays host to major music and film festivals and a diverse theatre scene – and the city’s university campuses add to its multicultural atmosphere. It’s student-friendly, pedestrian and bike-friendly and has great transport links – making it an ideal place to live and study.
Home to our partner university KU Leuven and a population of 40,000 students, Leuven has everything international students are looking for. It’s one of Europe’s top innovative cities and a well-known technology hub. And its rich cultural scene means there are always plenty of things to see and do, all year round.
Getting ready to move to Belgium? Our International Student Guide sets out everything you need to know – from applying for your student visa to finding accommodation as well as lots of other practical tips like accessing healthcare and opening a bank account. It’s a must-read before you start your Vlerick journey.
We recommend applying for a student visa type D with multiple entries that’s valid for your entire programme. It can take up to two months to get your visa, so make sure you contact the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country as soon as you get proof of enrolment from our admissions office.
You will need to pay an administrative fee of €200 to the embassy and a long-stay visa fee of €208 (or the equivalent in your local currency). If you receive a scholarship, you don’t need to pay the administrative fee.
You will also need to prove solvency. The most common methods our students use are:
Extra step for Chinese students: APS
If you apply for your student visa with a Chinese degree, then you need to provide an APS certificate. Please contact the APS administration in Beijing at info@aps.org.cn. Their screening will involve an authenticity check and an interview.
For more information, please contact your local Belgian embassy or consulate – or visit www.diplomatie.be.
Download our International Student Guide above for our accommodation tips!
Request the legalisation of your Vlerick degree via e-mail to NARIC Flanders at naric.legalisaties@vlaanderen.be. Add all documents you wish to legalise in separate pdf files, and a front and back copy of your residence card. This service is free. In case the country you wish to use your degree in requires an apostille, then mention this and the name of the specific country in your e-mail to NARIC. This service costs 20 euro per document.
For apostilles, you can also take your original documents to the FPS Foreign Affairs. You can check what the country you are traveling to requires on the following website: https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/legalisation-documents.
This largely depends on your lifestyle and type of housing, but Belgium and Brussels are cheaper than many European capitals like London, Paris and Stockholm. An average monthly cost is €950-€1,350 including housing, utility bills, food, healthcare and miscellaneous spending.