1 best boarding schools in Brussels 2025

Schools in Brussels accept students at the age of 6. When a child enters an educational institution, he is under the watchful supervision of a class teacher. The teacher monitors not only the safety of students, but also their success in learning and creative development.

The school system of Belgium is a following:

• Basic education — preschool (2.5–6 years) and primary (6-12 years);
• Secondary education (12-18 years).

The career guidance begins early enough. Students who are still at the initial stage of primary education in Brussels choose their educational profile in accordance with the direction of their future specialty. In addition, graduates of junior schools already have skills for further development in a certain profile. Therefore, secondary schools select students according to their skills.

In addition to receiving high academic studying, students of Brussels boarding schools have the opportunity for creative realization. For multilateral development, educational institutions offer various circles and sections.

Joel Venson

Russian and the CIS Students Admission Specialist at Myddelton College and Adcot School

In addition to teacher qualifications, what aspects should be considered when choosing a school?

Oh, there are many details worth paying attention to! The quality of the school premises, the size of the classrooms, the academic degrees and achievements of the teachers, the richness and themes of extracurricular activities (is there something in the interests of the child?), Opportunities for leisure and development outside the campus. Maybe there is something that cannot be found in your country? The location of the school, transport accessibility, proximity to major cities and airports are also important.

In addition to basic academic preparation, students study special subjects corresponding to their profile. Educational career guidance programs are offered in the boarding schools. Having received a certificate of full secondary education, a student has the opportunity to enroll in a Belgian university.

Obtaining a secondary education in Belgium involves studying the following disciplines:

• Exact sciences (mathematics);
• Natural sciences (chemistry, biology, physics);
• English, Spanish or any foreign language to choose from;
• Literature;
• History;
• Music theory;
• Microeconomics and many others.

The boarding schools pay a lot of attention to the history of their native country. Students also know a lot about the culture and traditions of neighboring countries. Children are often offered exchange programs with other countries, which helps to broaden their horizons.

There are not only basic educational programs. The foreign students can choose the "Middle Years Program" (MYP), which is the International Baccalaureate standard. The system has been developed taking into account the requirements of national educational authorities. Students develop the following skills:

• Critical,
• Creative,
• Analytical skills.

A lot of attention is paid to getting practice and developing research skills, as well as the ability to work in a team, including with representatives of different cultures. The MYP program provides an opportunity for foreign students to receive a foreign education with a high level of academic training and development in their chosen professional activity.

Belgian children finish primary school at the age of 12. At this age, they enter secondary school, where they can decide on further specialization and show their skills and interests. A secondary school in Brussels offers students a six-year course of study. There is a basic program with compulsory subjects for all students. Other disciplines are offered to students to choose from, and the type of secondary education depends on it. There is of two types:

• Classic traditional,
• Classic updated.

Classical traditional education consists of two program cycles, each lasting three years. It offers classical and humanitarian specializations of a general nature, prepares students for admission to universities. The classical updated education is divided into three two-year cycles. The first of them is general education, the second is orientation (where a choice of subjects for further study is provided) and the third is decisive. In the last cycle, the program is limited to the study of selected disciplines and prepares the child for admission to a higher educational institution or for vocational education. Specialization in this type of school is aimed at two possibilities:

• Obtaining basic, technical or artistic education for further education,
• Obtaining vocational education, after which the graduate immediately goes to work.

The tuition fee in Brussels depends on the age of student, the ranking of educational institution, type of studying program, and type of accommodation. On average, the cost of studying varies from 30,000 to 36,000 euro per academic year, including nutrition.