Belgium is one of the most beautiful countries in Central Europe; popular for its picturesque architecture, divine chocolates and proximity to countries like Germany, France and Netherlands. Belgium is a living paradise for every international student because of its affordable programmes, top-notch universities and international network. Regardless of whether you’re a vacationer or a student, Belgium will make you feel at home with its excellent scenes, amazing engineering, and exceptionally multicultural climate. It is also popular for its educational system, infrastructure, low cost of living and excellent accommodation choices. In this blog, we will cover the cost of living, studying and accommodation in Belgium to help you pick your dream destination.
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University Cost in Belgium
Belgium is located in the heart of Europe and divided into three main districts such The Flemish Region (or Flanders), The Brussels – Capital Region and The Walloon Region (or Wallonia). Before we jump into the cost of accommodation in Belgium and other living expenses, let’s look at the college and tuition expenses at some of the best universities in Belgium:
- KU Leuven – educational cost between 835 – 9,000 EUR/year
- College of Namur – educational cost between 835 – 4,175 EUR/year
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) – educational cost between 835 – 4,500 EUR/year
- College of Liége – the normal educational cost of 835 EUR/year
Explore: Top Universities in Belgium
Living Expenses in Belgium
Living expenses in Belgium for the most part fluctuate between 700 – 950 EUR/month depending upon the area and university location. Living expenses generally include expenses like accommodation, transformation, food and utility bills. Tuition fees and personal shopping is not included in daily expense calculation. Cities in Belgium offer a more expensive lifestyle as compared to rural areas. Though living in cities can be expensive, it is also an amazing way to explore the city and understand the culture, lifestyle and people.
Here are a couple of instances of normal living expenses in some Belgian study urban areas:
- Antwerp: between 780 – 1,230 EUR/month
- Brussels: somewhere in the range of 890 and 1,300 EUR/month
- Gent: somewhere in the range of 750 and 1,200 EUR/month
- Leuven: around 800 and 1,300 EUR/month
- Lord: around 700 and 1,100 EUR/month
Accommodation in Belgium
Universities in Belgium offer a wide variety of accommodation to international students from living on campus in dormitories to sharing lofts or studios apartments with friends or living alone in a private apartment. Students can opt for whichever accommodation option in Belgium that suits their interest and falls under their financial budget. Accommodation in Belgium can cost students anything between -200 EUR per month to 300-500 EUR per month. The cheapest option for international students is to live in student dormitories, these are great common points to meet new people and form lifelong friendships as well. Costs for accommodation in Belgium also depends upon the area and the university one is studying at-
You have four choices with regards to discovering accommodation in Belgium:
- College lobbies of home – a room in student grounds can be around 200 – 400 EUR/month
- By and large, a space for a student can associate with 500 EUR/month
- Leasing/Sharing a loft or a studio will cost you around 600 – 700 EUR/month. Costs are higher for condos that are nearer to the downtown area.
- Home stays: Homestays are a great way to meet the locals and learn about the culture. It is also the cheapest option of accommodation in Belgium.
- Likewise, remember about service bills! In study corridors of home, they are remembered for the cost. On the off chance that you lease a private spot, power, water, web, and different utilities can cost between 100 – 400 EUR/month.
Food Costs in Belgium
Apart from securing safe and comfortable accommodation in Belgium, another major expense for students is food. The monthly expense for food in Belgium is somewhere between 300 EUR/month to 400EUR. It is cheaper to cook your meals than eating out daily so students can visit local supermarkets in the country like Lidl, Aldi, or Colruyt to get everyday essentials and reduce the cost of food in the country.
While the cost of eating out in Belgium is nearly 24EUR/per meal, it is also a grand experience. The country is known for its food delicacies that all international students must try on special occasions. There are various cheap restaurants and cafes that students can visit and enjoy the ambience.
Transportation in Belgium
Transportation is the least expensive while living in Belgium. A month to month public transportation pass for students costs 50 EUR/month. Another alternative is leasing or purchasing a recycled bike. It’s an incredible method to work out, appreciate some outside air, and find the Belgian city where you’ll live.
Miscellaneous Expenses
Apart from cost of living and accommodation in Belgium, there are various other expenses that students need to address while studying in the country. There are certain necessities like food, health care, books, stationary and every-day travel expenses that international students may need to meet. Here are some major areas of expense that all international students must know-
Books | 35 – 50 EUR/month (INR 4,429.79) |
Health care coverage | 20 – 30 EUR/month (INR 2,657.87) |
Transport | 50- 20 EUR with a student discount (1,771.91 ) |
Utilities Cost | 125 EUR/ month |
University books can be expensive; each book can cost an international student nearly INR 5,000 or more so an effective tip would be to buy second-hand books from seniors or borrow books from the library rather than purchasing new ones. There are various online libraries where students can find relevant books and study material to ace their classes.
Scholarships and Grants in Belgium for International Students
There are various scholarships for International students who wish to ease the burden of cost of living and accommodation in Belgium. Here are some scholarships listed below-
Here are a few instances of grants for worldwide students:
- Brains Scholarships – given by the public authority of Flanders
- ARES Scholarships in Belgium – for students coming from non-industrial nations
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) program – for every single worldwide study, paying little mind to their nation of beginning. The EMJMD grant takes care of costs like educational expenses, protection, and a portion of the movement costs. students additionally get a month to month recompense for the whole length of the investigation program.
- Science at Leuven Scholarships for International Students
- Ghent University Top-up Grants for Developing Countries
- Liege Heritage Foundation Scholarships for International Students
- VLIR-UOS Training and Masters Scholarships
Popular Courses for Masters in Belgium
- Development, societies, and environment.
- Human rights
- Aquatic resources management and aquaculture
- Risk and Disaster management
- Integrated management of health risks in developing countries.
- Transfusion Medicine
- Microfinance
- Public Health Methodology
- Public health sciences – research methods applied to global health
- Science and environmental management in developing countries
- Transport and logistics
This was all about accommodation in Belgium. Belgium is one of the best countries offering quality education in Europe and excellent universities, if you are planning to study in Europe then exploring this country is a must. For more useful content, follow Leverage Edu on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and LinkedIn.