Belgium has long been a popular study abroad destination for many people around the world. It offers several benefits that make it an excellent choice for students. In this article, we’re going to explore some of the reasons why you should study abroad in Belgium.
The Belgium System of Education
Higher education can only be administered by universities in Belgium after the decree of 13 July 2012. Only the universities have the sole responsibility of organizing the Bachelor’s, Master’s, advanced Master’s, and doctorate programs in the country.
The system of education in Belgium is divided into two through its primary language communities which are French and Flemish. They both offer exclusively mutual programs which mean there are some programs that you can only find in French institutions and not in the Flemish institutions.
Undergraduate degrees usually last for about three to four years depending on the institution or program. Post-graduate degrees such as master’s degrees last for about one to two years in Belgium. You can also decide to complete an internship as part of your program which can earn you credits.
The Belgian educational system also allows you to gain practical knowledge by working with some of their partner institutions which are often businesses, research institutes, or studios.
It is also important that you prove that your previous studies qualify you to study in a Belgian institution. It may qualify you for some programs or schools but it may not qualify you for this. This is why it is important to check with your school or program-specific requirements to be sure if your undergraduate studies qualify you to take up a degree in Germany.
German educational institutions use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) for easy comparison, measure, and transfer of credits across schools in Europe and beyond. Since you are coming from another country, you may need to calculate the equivalent of the credits you have earned in the country you studied previously.
This is so you can know if you meet the requirement of the school or program you are applying to. Each year of your study program is worth 60 credits which means each semester is worth 30 credits. Most Belgium school programs usually last for three years except for special degree programs.
You will most likely be assessed on activities such as presentations, projects, assignments, group work, practicals, and of course your thesis.
Many international students have studied abroad in Belgium with the German educational system so you too can.
Schools you can study abroad in the Belgium
Now that you know how the educational system in Belgium works, you may also want to know the specific schools you can apply to study in Belgium. Here are some notable schools that you want to check out and include in your plans of studying abroad in Belgium.
- Ghent University: this is one of the notable schools in Belgium that are open to international students. The school has over 40,000 students which include international students from different countries of the world. You will find lots of people to relate to. Luckily, you may find people from your home country with whom you can build meaningful relationships.
There are over 50 master’s degrees available at Ghent University. From law, communications, behavioral and social sciences, management, philosophy, and economics, you can choose to learn in English or French.
The language of instruction at the university is French which is expected since the school is in the French community. As a result, you will have to show proficiency in French by taking a French Language Proficiency Test. You may also have to show proof of proficiency in the English language also if you are taking English-taught courses either as an elective or a main course.
- University of Antwerp: this is another top university that you can enroll in as an international student looking to enroll in Belgian schools. It is a Belgian university located in Antwerp, Belgium. There are more than 20,000 students with 9% of the number being international students so you can be sure that you will meet other people like you who are foreigners in the school.
There are over 30 international bachelor’s and master’s programs at the University of Liege. From law, communications, behavioral and social sciences, management, philosophy, and economics, you can choose to learn in English or French.
The language of instruction at the university is French which is expected since the school is in the French community. As a result, you will have to show proficiency in French by taking a French Language Proficiency Test. You may also have to show proof of proficiency in the English language also if you are taking English-taught courses either as an elective or a main course.
- University of Liege: this is a university a public university located in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium. It has notable alumni such as Albert Claude and Jean Rey. Jean Rey was a politician who served as the second President of the European Commission from 1967 to 1970. It is based in the French community and so has its official language as French.
There are about 20,000 which includes international students from different countries of the world at the university. You can enroll in the school and get the chance of meeting people of diverse cultures and nationalities.
There are over 30 bachelor’s degrees and 10 master’s degrees available at the University of Liege. There are also other programs that you can check out and apply for.
The language of instruction at the university is French which is expected since the school is in the French community. As a result, you will have to show proficiency in French by taking a French Language Proficiency Test. You may also have to show proof of proficiency in the English language also if you are taking English-taught courses either as an elective or a main course.
- University of Namur: this is a private Catholic school in the French community of Belgium. It has over 6,000 students which include international students from different countries of the world. The notable alumni of the school are Paul Janssen and Mathias Cormann. Mathias Cormann is a politician and diplomat who served as the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
There are over 10 English-taught bachelor’s degree programs that you can choose from if you are looking to enroll in English-taught program. Although the language of instruction at the university is French which is expected since the school is in the French community. As a result, you will have to show proficiency in French by taking a French Language Proficiency Test. You may also have to show proof of proficiency in the English language also if you are taking English-taught courses either as an elective or a main course.
There are also over 60 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs at the university so you have many options to choose from as an undergraduate or postgraduate applicant.
- University of Mons: this is a French-community university in Hainaut, Belgium. The school has about 10,000 students with 25% of the number as international students. The school has over 40 degree programs that are taught in English. This means that you will find more master’s programs taught in English than you would find in bachelor’s programs.
The language of instruction at the university is French which is expected since the school is in the French community. As a result, you will have to show proficiency in French by taking the French Language Proficiency Test. You will have to show proof of proficiency in the English language also if you are taking English-taught courses either as an elective or a main course.
There are about 3000 international students at the university so you may get to meet lots of like-minded people to relate with. Luckily, you may find people from your home country with whom you can build meaningful relationships.
Opportunities Available for International Students in Belgium
While some people have been able to benefit from opportunities available for international students in Belgium, others are yet to find amazing opportunities for students in Belgium. Here are some of the opportunities;
- You can work for up to 20 hours per week as an international student in Belgium while you can work full-time during summer or holiday periods if you don’t have classwork scheduled.
- You get internship opportunities that can go towards your credits accumulation and also build relevant connections that can help you in the future. You can do an internship as long as it is relevant to your program. Your school or program will have connections or partnerships with renowned institutions or organizations where you can have a credible internship.
- You can get both off-campus and on-campus jobs as an international student. Off-campus jobs that are available to you as an international student include caring, housekeeping, store attendants, substitute teaching, PR and communications, tech jobs, marketing, and many others. You can also work as a research assistant or substitute teacher on campus.
- You can extend your stay in Belgium for up to 1 year after your study. If your employer is willing to sponsor your visa to stay for a longer period after the 1-year post-study stay.
- There are numerous scholarship opportunities available for non-EU students to study in Belgium either for master’s or doctorate programs. Other scholarship opportunities have Holland as one of the study destinations. You can benefit from this as an international student. One of them is the Erasmus Mundus scholarship which is open to European and non-European countries.
