Tuition Fees and Cost of Living for Students in Belgium
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 03, 2026 • Study Abroad, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides, Money & Budgeting
Part of the guide Tuition Fees and Cost of Living for Students in Europe by Country
EU/EEA students pay around 1,157 euros a year in Flanders and up to 1,194 euros a year in the French Community, far below the non-EU rate. Add 900 to 1,300 euros a month for rent, food, and daily costs depending on the city.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| 💶 Tuition, EU/EEA, Flanders | ~1,157 euros/year |
| 💶 Tuition, EU/EEA, French Community | up to 1,194 euros/year |
| 💶 Tuition, non-EU, Flanders | 2,300-9,500 euros/year |
| 💶 Tuition, non-EU, French Community | 835-5,369 euros/year |
| 🏠 Rent, Leuven residence hall | ~525-553 euros/month |
| 🏠 Rent, Brussels, median | ~550 euros/month |
Tuition fees by community
Belgium sets tuition through its 2 language communities, not through a single national rate, and EU/EEA nationals pay the same low rate as Belgian students in both.
| Community | EU/EEA students | Non-EU/EEA students |
|---|---|---|
| Flemish Community | ~1,157 euros/year | 2,300-9,500 euros/year, program-dependent |
| French Community | up to 1,194 euros/year | 835 euros/year with an exemption, otherwise 5,369 euros/year |
In Flanders, EU/EEA students pay around 1,157 euros for a full-time 60-ECTS program, according to Study in Flanders , while non-EU/EEA students pay between 2,300 and 9,500 euros a year depending on the institution and program. Students taking a partial course load pay per credit instead: a credit contract costs a 299 euro fixed fee plus 14.30 euros per ECTS credit, and an exam-only contract costs a 136.50 euro fixed fee plus 5.20 euros per credit.
In the French Community, EU nationals and Wallonia-Brussels Federation students pay a maximum of 1,194 euros a year, per Wallonie-Bruxelles Campus . Non-EU students without an exemption pay 5,369 euros a year, made up of the standard 1,194 euro tuition plus a 4,175 euro additional contribution. Students who hold long-term residence status, refugee status, a work permit, or a WBI scholarship can qualify for the reduced 835 euro rate instead. Contact the admissions office of your specific university to confirm your category, since exemptions vary by institution.
Compulsory fees on top of tuition
Most Belgian universities add small compulsory charges beyond the headline tuition figure, covering student services, insurance, or a student union contribution. These typically run to a few dozen euros a year and appear on the invoice at enrolment. Check your specific university's fee schedule, since amounts and names differ by institution, for example on ULB's tuition fees page .
Monthly cost of living by city
Rent is the largest line in a Belgian student budget, and it swings sharply by city. Housing costs are covered in detail in a separate housing guide, but here is what to expect for rent alone.
| City | Typical monthly rent (student room) |
|---|---|
| Brussels | ~550 euros median, up to 800 in central areas |
| Leuven (university residence) | 525-553 euros |
| Ghent | roughly 350-650 euros |
Brussels student room rent runs to a median of 550 euros a month without utility charges and 640 euros with charges included, according to Brukot's Brussels rent statistics , with the most expensive neighborhoods (Ixelles, Uccle) running higher and outer neighborhoods running lower. Leuven's university residence halls charge 525 or 553 euros a month for the 2026-27 year, according to KU Leuven's housing office , with utilities included in that price.
Beyond rent, budget for food, transport, phone, books, and leisure. A realistic total monthly budget outside rent runs from 350 to 500 euros for a student who cooks at home and uses a student transport pass, though Brussels and other larger cities push toward the higher end. Combine rent and daily costs and a full monthly budget in Belgium lands between roughly 900 and 1,300 euros, with Brussels at the top and smaller cities like Ghent or Leuven below it.