4 Best Universities in Brussels for International Students
Angelina
Updated on Dec 13 • 5 minute readThe city of Brussels boasts more than 30 excellent colleges and universities that offer programmes and courses in English. So, picking from the many English universities in Brussels can be a difficult decision to make.
For those looking for the best of the best, we’ve compiled a list of the top universities in Brussels, based on their reputation, internationality, and teaching.
But first, let’s see which factors should influence your decision.
What should you consider when choosing a university in Brussels?
Education in Belgium is of top-notch quality. You get to learn from teachers who worked in the field or are researchers themselves.
The name of your university doesn’t play a big role for the majority of employers in Belgium. So, focus on the programs offered by each institution, read their descriptions and choose the course that resonates with you the most.
If your ambition is to later do a postdoctoral research or work in a very competitive field, like politics or in a Fortune 500 company, the prestige of your alma mater might play a role. Also, consider the connections the university might provide for your future career.
Another thing to consider is the language of the university. While you’ll be studying in English, taking language courses at your university is a great way to brush up on your Dutch or French. That might be critical for landing a job in Belgium after graduation. Note that Dutch speakers are generally more proficient in English than French speakers.
So what are the best universities in Brussels?
The top-ranked universities offering English-taught programs in Brussels and its surrounding are:
- KU Leuven
- Université Catholique de Louvain
- Universite Libre de Bruxelles
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
1. KU Leuven
Times Higher Education Ranking (2023): #42
Acceptance rate: 73%. For certain disciplines, such as medicine and law, the acceptance rate is as low as 11%.
Number of students: 60,057
International students: 20% (more than 150 nationalities)
Locations: Most of the English-taught programs are taught at the Leuven campus and some in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Geel and De Nayer.
Main language: Dutch
Number of English-taught programmes: 7 Bachelor’s and 68 Master’s programmes
Tuition fees:
- EU students: €1,092
- Non-EU students: €1,092 – €8,000
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The Catholic University of Leuven was founded in 1425 and it was Belgium's first official university. In 1968, this initially bilingual institution split into 2 sister universities: Dutch-speaking KU Leuven and French-speaking UCLouvain.
Since then, KU Leuven has unarguably become the best university in Belgium and a leading research centre worldwide. It’s been recognised as the most innovative university in Europe for 4 consecutive years by Reuters.
KU Leuven has 13 campuses across the Flanders region of Belgium. The main campus is in the lively, safe student town of Leuven, half an hour away from Brussels by train. There, you’ll find an incredibly huge sports centre that includes a gym, tennis and beach volleyball courts, a swimming pool, etc. All in all, you can participate in more than 80 activities on campus! If you’d like to pursue economics, business or law, you can study at the KU Leuven campus in the city centre of Brussels.
2. Catholic University of Louvain (UCL)
Times Higher Education Ranking (2023): #201-250
Acceptance rate: 30%
Number of students: 33,500
International students: 20% (over 119 nationalities)
Locations: Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels, Charleroi, Mons, Tournai and Namur.
Main language: French
Number of English-taught Master’s programmes: 21
Tuition fees for Master’s programmes:
- EEA students: €835/year
- non-EEA students: €4,175/year or €835 if you're from one of the least developed countries
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UCLouvain is an excellent research-based university to study medicine, biology, chemistry and engineering, and it ranks as the best destination for nuclear physics in Belgium. It’s also the second-best-ranked university in the surrounding of Brussels.
The 21 English taught Master’s programmes are mainly in the fields of law, economics and management, social sciences, and science. There’re also some programmes taught partially in English, in which case you need to take intensive French lessons.
Student life in at UCLouvain is fantastic because after UCLouvain became independent from KULeuven, a whole new city was built to house the university — Louvain-la-Neuve. As a result, you’ll see various cultural activities and parties taking place regularly. You’ll also find museums, theatres, cinemas, concert halls, a fitness centre, a swimming pool and even a beautiful lake in the area. And the best part is that each place is merely a 15-minute walk away!
The university also has various student associations, such as those related to your faculty and project kots, an organisation where students live together and work on a collective project related to society and culture.
3. Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Times Higher Education Ranking (2023): #201-250
Acceptance rate: not provided
Number of students: 30,880
International students: 33%
Locations: Brussels, Charleroi
Main language: French
Number of English-taught Master’s programmes: 23
Tuition fees:
- EU students: €835
- Non-EU students: €835 – €4,175
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Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is a French-speaking university that used to be part of the same educational institution as the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) until 1969.
Both VUB and ULB are quite similar in terms of quality, but ULB’s been making bigger waves in terms of research and innovation. In 2019, it ranked 40th among Europe’s most innovative universities. Its researchers have won 4 scientific Nobel Prizes, 1 Fields Medal, 3 Wolf Prizes and 24 Francqui Prizes across disciplines such as physics, medicine and chemistry.
ULB boasts a great selection of Master’s courses in English. Plus, you can take advantage of French courses offered by the university to get a hang of the local language.
5 of ULB campuses are located in Brussels, some of which are in the vibrant neighbourhood of Ixelles.. The main Solbosch campus lies right next to the immense park Bois de la Cambre and many shops, restaurants and supermarkets are around the corner.
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Besides studies, you can join one of the many student societies and cultural events to meet like-minded students.
4. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Times Higher Education Ranking (2023): #201-250
Acceptance rate: 30%
Number of students: 19,245
International students: 25%
Location: Brussels
Main language: Dutch
Number of English-taught programmes: 3 Bachelor’s and 30 Master’s programmes
Tuition fees:
- EU students: €1,092.10/year
- Non-EU students: €1,092.10 – €8,000
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VUB is one of the best universities to pursue social sciences in Brussels. Besides that, it’s earned the 59th spot on Reuters’ list of the most innovative universities in Europe. All thanks to its research in the areas of Big Data, environmental and societal challenges, brain and behaviour, city dynamics, and smart engineering.
The 3 Bachelor’s programmes taught at VUB are Business Economics, Linguistic and Literary Studies, and Social Sciences. They're taught on the main campus in Etterbeek, which has direct access to the VUB sports centre with multiple pools, tennis courts, a football pitch, a gym, etc.
Other VUB locations include the Health Campus in Jette, the Photonics Campus in Gooik and some extra classrooms in the heart of Brussels. And, together with the sister university ULB, they’re building a new campus in the former military complex in Ixelles (Elsene) that will include an international welcome centre.
Just like at other universities, VUB has countless student associations based on the faculty or common goals and interests. They organise parties and cultural events where you can meet like-minded people and maybe even make difference!
When comparing VUB to KU Leuven, few students find that the curriculum at VUB less challenging and the administration is less helpful. But overall, most students graduate from VUB full of positive experiences. They have more personal interactions and learning opportunities due to small class sizes. Outside the classroom, they have access to countless student associations based on the faculty or common goals and interests. They organise parties and cultural events where you can meet like-minded people and maybe even make difference!
Has one of the best universities in Brussels caught your attention? Go ahead and apply! The deadline for non-EEA citizens is on 1 april but EEA students can enrol until 1 september. Once you get your confirmation letter, search for student housing options in Brussels and arranging your student visa if you need one!
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