Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Belgium

Belgium funds students through 2 regional grant systems

Belgium has no single national scholarship agency. Instead, each language community runs its own means-tested grant program for students enrolled in recognized higher education, on top of whatever your chosen university offers directly. Which system applies to you depends on where you study, in Flanders or in the French Community, not on your nationality alone.

The Flemish study grant (studietoelage)

The Flemish government pays a study grant to eligible students in higher education, sized to household income and living situation. According to the official Flanders study grant page , the maximum grant reaches around 6,922 euros a year for students who live away from the family home while studying, and around 3,086 euros a year for students who continue living with their parents. Actual amounts scale down from that ceiling based on family income and family size, so most recipients receive less than the maximum.

EU/EEA students can apply if they meet the financial and residency conditions the Flemish government sets, alongside enrolling in a recognized program. Apply well before the academic year starts, since the grant office needs time to assess your file, and reapply each year since eligibility is reassessed annually.

The French Community allocation d'études

The French Community runs a parallel system, the allocation d'études, administered by the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles allocations d'études service . Grant amounts range from about 400 to 6,000 euros a year, again scaled to household income, with the assessment for the 2025-26 academic year based on 2023 income figures. Submit your application to the community's grant office, and check the annual deadline directly on the portal, since it shifts slightly year to year.

What these grants cover and who should apply

Both systems pay directly toward the cost of living and studying, and neither is a loan you repay. Eligibility hinges on family income thresholds and, for students coming from outside Belgium, on meeting residency or family-link conditions set by the relevant community. If you are an EU/EEA student planning to move to Belgium for your studies, contact the grant office for your target community before you commit financially, since not every incoming EU student automatically qualifies and the assessment depends on your specific situation.

University-level and program-level scholarships

Beyond the 2 regional grants, individual universities and university colleges run their own scholarship funds, often tied to academic merit, a specific faculty, or a partner program. Coverage and amounts differ by institution and change from year to year, so check the scholarships or financial aid page of your specific university directly rather than relying on a general list. Students moving to Belgium through an Erasmus+ exchange should also check with their home university's international office, since Erasmus+ mobility grants run separately from Belgium's national grant systems and follow EU-wide rules.

Practical tips for applying

• Apply to the grant office matching where you will study, Flanders or the French Community, not where you currently live.

• Gather income documents for your household early, since both systems assess family income.

• Reapply every academic year. Neither grant carries over automatically.

• Check your specific university's own scholarship or financial aid office for institution-level funding on top of the regional grant.