Masters degree - Postgraduate in English in Belgium for international students

Wide Range of Specializations
Belgian universities offer a broad selection of relevant and in-demand specializations, ensuring an excellent level of preparation across all fields, from social and humanities studies to pharmacology, medicine, and law. Over 30% of Belgian bachelor's and 24% of master's graduates are in medicine, pharmacy, or veterinary sciences (for comparison, the average in the EU is between 10-18% and 5-6%, respectively).

Flexibility
Course and semester divisions in the Belgian system are quite flexible. Generally, students need only accumulate enough credits to obtain their diploma within the program’s time frame. This flexibility allows students to successfully combine work and study.

Affordability
EU citizens pay around $900 per year for tuition, while international students pay between $4,000 and $4,500. This makes Belgium one of the most affordable higher education systems in the world (ranked 6th in the 2020 international ranking). All of this makes bachelor's and especially master's degrees in Belgium particularly attractive for international students.

Limited Financial Support for Students  
While tuition fees in Belgium are relatively low for all three levels of education, the government and local communities offer comparatively few opportunities for grants, scholarships, or other forms of financial assistance. Less than a third of students (and less than 15% of international students) benefit from additional funding.

Lack of Incentive Structures
The absence of strict deadlines can lead to procrastination, with only about a third of students earning the necessary credits within the expected time frame. Many are forced to take an extra year to complete their studies.

Open-Door Policy
Belgium competes with France for the top spot in terms of the number of successful university applicants. However, this initial success can lead to disappointment, as a quarter of students drop out during their first year, and only 30-35% of students graduate, which is a third lower than in other European countries. Although dropout rates are lower in master's programs, 15-18% of students still do not complete their studies.

Admission requirements for universities vary across different regions in Belgium, reflecting the country's federal system. For example, when applying to universities in Wallonia or Brussels, candidates must first obtain a certificate confirming the equivalency of their diploma. This document is issued by the Equivalency Service located in Brussels.

A key feature of the master's degree system—and higher education in general—is that applicants who submit the correct documents, have a validated diploma, pay the required fees, and pass the entrance exams are automatically admitted. This makes the admission process one of the simplest in the European Union.

To confirm the equivalency of your education, you must submit several documents and pay for the certificate of attestation ($150-250):

- Original diploma or other educational certificates and transcripts,
- Birth certificate,
- Application form or motivational essay,
- Admission letter from the Belgian university.

After that, you can proceed with submitting your documents (in Flanders, documents can be submitted directly). The required documents include:

- Diploma or certificate, transcript with a notarized translation,
- Proof of payment for the application fee,
- Language proficiency certificate (depending on the language of instruction: for English, this could be TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge English Exams; for Flemish, CNaVT, ITNA, or STRT; for French, FLE: DELF, DALF, TCF, CEFP, TEF; for German, TestDaF. The minimum required level for bachelor's programs is B2+, and for master's programs, it is C+),
- Copy of your passport,
- Motivational essay.

All documents must be submitted in PDF format.

An important step in the admission process for a master's program is the translation of your diploma into one of the official languages or English (students planning to study in English are advised to choose English). The translation must be apostilled and validated. The validation process—confirming the relevance of the bachelor's degree to the master's program—is carried out by the target university. Once the university gives approval, the diploma will be sent to the appropriate Academic Recognition Center (NARIC) for formal recognition of equivalency—équivalence des diplômes.

Documents should be ready by September. Processing can take up to 3-4 months, so it is recommended to submit your diploma between November 15 and July 15 of the current academic year.

Belgium is a federation of several linguistic and territorial communities, each with its own higher education structure. The Flemish community distinguishes between universities (universiteiten) and colleges (hogescholen), while the French-speaking community offers universities (universités), colleges (hautes écoles), and art schools (Écoles supérieures des Arts). The German-speaking community in the eastern part of the country has a single college that provides higher education in medical and teaching fields.

Flemish Universities
Flemish universities rank high in international rankings: out of Belgium's eight universities, five are located here, with students generally demonstrating higher academic performance. There are several hundred different programs available at Flemish universities.

The higher education institutions in this part of the country can be divided into four groups:

- Universities, which offer all three levels of higher education. The education here is theoretical and academic, with a strong emphasis on scientific research;
- University colleges, which offer bachelor’s and master’s programs but do not engage in scientific research, focusing on preparing graduates for quick career advancement;
- Art schools, which can be either universities or university colleges, with 80% of their programs centered on creative fields such as media, music, or traditional crafts;
- Specialized institutions like the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Protestant University of Theology in Brussels, and the Evangelical University in Leuven.

Walloon Universities
Despite lower rankings, Walloon universities also offer high-quality education (three universities are in the TOP 500 global universities). These universities are organized into three types, all overseen by the Academy for Research and Higher Education (AREC):

- Universities: Six universities offer three levels of higher education across five fields—philosophy and humanities, natural and applied sciences, law, and medicine. Additionally, structural divisions with different names and organizational forms provide education in other areas, from agriculture to arts and artificial intelligence research.
- Colleges,
- Art schools, which differ slightly from those in Flanders, as they have more autonomy and can conduct entrance exams of their choice.

German University
The German-speaking community has one institution, the Autonomous University of the German-speaking Community. Unlike other universities, applications must be submitted in person, and entrance exams include tests in mathematics, language, and an interview. Three programs are offered: medicine, education, and accounting.

Private universities in Belgium are often established to fill gaps in the market and cater to the needs of the economy, which is why they frequently offer programs in business, tourism, economics, and similar fields.

Private universities can receive state accreditation from NVAO in the Flemish part of the country or AEQES in the French-speaking part. NVAO has accredited only two universities, while AEQES has not accredited any. Accreditation is also handled by private NGOs like Qfor, ACBSP, and ECBE. Unaccredited universities do not receive state funding, leading to higher tuition costs compared to public institutions: $15,000-20,000 versus $4,000 per year. A significant advantage of private education is that courses are often taught in English, and there is a wide range of programs of varying lengths.

There are preparatory programs for expatriate students offered by universities in Belgium. It allows them to enjoy the full benefits of student life and the facilities of a higher education institution.

The most important objective of these courses is to help applicants who do not fully meet the language requirements to improve their skills. These programs are offered by 7 out of 10 universities in the country. This option is available to applicants to 90% of English-language programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

There is a number of documents required for enrolling in a preparatory course:

• a copy of your passport;
• a copy of the bachelor's diploma and the annex containing the marks (with a notarized translation into one of the official languages of Belgium, or English);
• TOEFL 66+/120 or IELTS 5.0+/9.0;
• a document confirming the fact of admission to a Belgian university.

In some cases, universities and university colleges in Belgium interview or interview applicants to assess their motivation and readiness to complete the program.

Upon completion of the courses, the student receive a certificate or diploma serving as proof of proficiency in English (or another language) at the C1 level.

Preparatory program students may be granted a long-term D visa only if they apply for a Master's program. Otherwise, no long-term visa will be issued.

Master's degree programs are offered by universities and colleges. Usually the program lasts 2-4 semesters, but there are exceptions: veterinarians are trained for 6 semesters, and medics and pharmacists for 8 semesters. To enter a Belgian master's program, you need a bachelor's degree, partially or fully coinciding with the chosen direction. An additional advantage will be the presence of work experience in the profile. In some cases it can be counted as the equivalent of a bachelor's degree.

Master's programs are designed for 60-120 academic credits, which is equivalent to one or two years of study. Upon successful completion of the program, the student receives a master's degree and a chance to enter doctoral programs. Some universities offer one-year courses for advanced masters. Here a specialist can acquire new competencies and improve his/her professional level.

Teaching at the master's level is mainly conducted in Flemish or French, but in the last 10-15 years the amount of English-language programs has reached 30-40% and continues to grow. Despite the peculiarities and high pace, Master's programs in Belgium remain attractive for international students because they are relatively affordable.

Studying in a Master's program in Belgium resembles a Bachelor's degree: most of the knowledge and competencies students master in the process of independent study, working with sources, and the rest is obtained in lectures and seminars. Master's students have access to all kinds of internships of varying duration, from 2 months to a year.

A significant advantage will be smaller groups than in Bachelor's or Master's programs, for example, in France, and greater involvement of the supervisor in the student's fate.

The Master's program culminates in the preparation of a thesis. Students are free to choose their topics, but the research work should not go beyond the scope of the discipline studied. Usually the dissertation reaches 70-80 pages. The peculiarity of the Belgian model is that at least a quarter and up to half of the credits are given for the dissertation, which allows combining study and work. The defense is held at the end of the second year of study, and an international master's degree is awarded.

The year starts in September and ends in late June-early July lasting 2-3 semesters. After the end of each semester it is necessary to pass exams.

International students must obtain a category D visa to study in Belgium, with a validity period corresponding to the length of the study program. The visa fee for master’s students is $220, and for doctoral students, it is $350. Within a week of arriving in the country, international students must obtain a temporary residence permit from the local authorities.

To apply for the visa, the following documents must be submitted:

- Original passport, visa application form, and birth certificate;
- Original proof of payment for the application fee;
- Two passport-sized color photos;
- Original letter of admission from the university;
- A financial statement or document proving the applicant's financial capability: bank statements, proof of participation in a scholarship program, or sponsor guarantees (the required income is at least $1,283 per month, plus $162 per month for each dependent and $718 per month for applicants);
- Original higher education diploma (bachelor’s or master’s) with a notarized translation into French or Flemish;
- Medical certificate from a medical center approved by the consulate;
- Police clearance certificate;
- Copy of the applicant's passport;
- Consent to the processing of personal data;
- Declaration of the preferred language for processing the application.

Belgian laws are quite accommodating to international students, allowing them to work provided that the working week does not exceed 20 hours and the job does not negatively impact their studies.

To apply for a job, students must visit the local labor migration office and obtain a class C work permit. This document is issued for 12 months with the option for renewal or for the entire duration of the study program. The permit is free of charge. No work permit is required for employment during holiday periods.

International students are subject to minimum wage regulations, meaning employers cannot pay them less than €1,510 per month.

Additional opportunities are available through the status of a "working student." This status can be obtained if the student works more than 80 hours per month. It offers significant benefits, such as increased flexibility in the academic schedule and exam periods.

Students can also seek job opportunities through the university employment center.