Belgium has no central application system: you apply directly to each university through its own portal. Applicants who need a visa should plan for early deadlines. In 2026, Ghent University accepted their applications until 1 April, the University of Liège until 31 March, and KU Leuven's deadline for non-EEA applicants to Dutch-taught programmes was 1 February. A bachelor's at a French-speaking institution also requires recognition (equivalence) of your school-leaving certificate, applied for between 15 November and 15 July for a $450 (€400) fee. Once admitted, you still need a national D visa, which takes from about two weeks to several months.
Below is the sequence for the 2027/28 intake, a month-by-month calendar, the rules for school certificates, degrees and language tests, and the mistakes that most often cost applicants a year. If you are still choosing an institution, start with our overview of universities in Belgium and the studying in Belgium page.
Two decisions before you apply
The procedure depends on the level you are applying for and on which system — Flemish or French-speaking — the institution belongs to.
| Route | What you need besides the application | Who assesses your documents |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's in Flanders | a school certificate giving access to university at home, an access declaration, a language certificate | the institution's admissions office |
| Bachelor's in French-speaking Belgium | an equivalence decision from the Equivalence Service (some institutions accept proof of application, UCLouvain only a final decision), then a file to the institution | the Equivalence Service and the institution |
| Master's in Flanders | a relevant bachelor's degree, transcript, language proof, sometimes GMAT or GRE | the institution |
| Master's in French-speaking Belgium | a relevant bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) and B2 in the teaching language | the institution's admissions board |
Each level has its own guide: bachelor's in Belgium and master's in Belgium. You can apply to institutions in both systems in the same year. The procedures are independent, so you will run two sets of deadlines and documents in parallel.
Application calendar for 2027/28
Universities publish exact 2027/28 dates during the autumn. The table follows the dates that applied to the 2026/27 intake; confirm them on your programme page.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| September–October 2026 | shortlist programmes, check language, requirements and fees; book a language test |
| from 15 November 2026 | French-speaking bachelor's: apply for equivalence of your school certificate (for 2026/27 the window opened on 15.11.2025) |
| November–December 2026 | Flemish institutions open online applications; gather translations and certified copies |
| by 1 February 2027 | KU Leuven: deadline for non-EEA applicants to Dutch-taught programmes (English-taught programmes set their own) |
| by 31 March 2027 | ULB, UCLouvain and ULiège close non-EU applications; in 2026 ULB's window ran from 16 February and ULiège's from 18 February, both to 31 March |
| by 1 April 2027 | UGent: deadline for everyone who needs a visa |
| by 1 May 2027 | some programmes, such as UHasselt's Master of Transportation Sciences |
| March–June 2027 | admission decisions; accept the offer and receive the admission letter |
| by 15 July 2027 | last day to apply for equivalence for a French-speaking bachelor's |
| June–August 2027 | proof of funds, medical certificate, police certificate, D visa application |
| September 2027 | arrival, registration with the local municipality, final enrolment |
Visa applicants should apply early in the year rather than on the last possible day. The admission decision, the admission letter and the visa process happen one after another, and in summer consulate processing times become the bottleneck.
Recognition of your school certificate
French-speaking institutions
Without equivalence, a French-speaking institution cannot enrol you in the first cycle. You apply to the Equivalence Service of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. A file for a non-EU certificate contains:
- certified copies of the certificate and its grade transcript;
- proof that the certificate gives access to higher education in your country — if you have already started university at home, add an enrolment certificate;
- a sworn French translation if the documents are in Russian or another language outside the exempt list;
- a copy of your passport;
- a motivation letter in French stating the field you want to study;
- original proof of payment of the fee: $450 (€400) in the 2026/27 cycle, or $170 (€150) for certificates from some countries; it is non-refundable.
Copies must be certified, and documents from Hague Convention countries such as Russia and Kazakhstan carry an apostille; the Service's website states who may certify copies. The file goes by registered post to Brussels or is handed in by appointment. Processing takes at least 4–12 weeks; for 2026/27, decisions were sent from 1 March 2026 at the earliest.
Non-EU certificates often receive a restricted equivalence that opens only some fields, for example only the humanities. Passing the Community's maturity exam (DAES) lifts the restriction, and proof that you already study a related subject at university at home may widen the decision.
Institutions treat a pending procedure differently. UCLouvain considers a non-EU school leaver only with a final equivalence decision and an overall average of at least 13/20, and rejects files without that decision automatically. A current final-year pupil receives the school certificate at the end of June and cannot hold a final decision by 31 March, so for UCLouvain the realistic plan is to apply a year later. Check each institution's admission conditions for its rule on current school leavers.
Flemish institutions
In Flanders, the institution itself decides whether your certificate is sufficient. Alongside the certificate you submit a declaration that it grants access to university in the issuing country; the form is usually downloaded from the institution's site and completed by your school.
KU Leuven publishes country-specific minimums. For Russia, that is the Attestat of secondary (complete) general education plus Unified State Exam (EGE) results in at least three subjects; for Kazakhstan, the Attestat plus Unified National Testing (UNT) results. UGent verifies foreign documents through Qualification Check, and an application without a verified degree is treated as incomplete.
Recognition of your degree for a master's
A separate equivalence procedure is usually not needed for a master's: the university assesses your bachelor's degree itself. It checks how closely your previous studies match the programme and may offer a bridging or preparatory year if subject content is missing.
In French-speaking Belgium, the ENIC-NARIC centre issues a statement on the level of a foreign degree; in 2026/27 it costs $79 (€70). It is not recognition in itself, but some institutions ask for it.
Language requirements
| Programme language | Typical requirement | Example certificates |
|---|---|---|
| English, Flanders | B2 for most programmes | IELTS 6.0+, TOEFL iBT 72–94 (Study in Flanders guideline) |
| English, French-speaking institutions | B2 | IELTS or TOEFL; the minimum score is set on the programme page |
| Dutch | B2, C1 for some programmes | certificates on the institution's list; KU Leuven publishes its own |
| French, bachelor's | no certificate, except teacher-training programmes (B2) | DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF |
| French, master's | B2; C1 for teaching master's | DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF |
Your certificate must be valid when you apply; the programme page states how many years after the test date a result is accepted.
Documents for your application
Most universities ask for the same core set; format and details vary.
- Passport valid through the application and visa period.
- School certificate or degree with transcript; for a Flemish bachelor's, the access declaration; for a French-speaking one, the equivalence decision or proof of application.
- EGE, UNT or other national exam results if the university requires them.
- Translations into Dutch, French or English where needed.
- Language certificate.
- Motivation letter; for a master's, a CV and often references.
- Proof of payment of the application fee, if any.
French-speaking institutions also ask for a financial plan showing where your money will come from. Both the institution and the Immigration Office check it. For 2026/27 the minimum is $1,210 (€1,062) per month, or $14,470 (€12,744) per year, plus tuition.
Entrance exams and special routes
Most programmes admit on documents, with exceptions:
- medicine and dentistry — an entrance exam in Flanders and the ARES competitive exam in French-speaking Belgium, with a 15% cap for non-residents;
- veterinary science, physiotherapy, speech therapy at French-speaking institutions — limited non-resident places and a random draw;
- civil engineering (ingénieur civil) at French-speaking universities — an admission exam;
- schools of arts — an artistic admission test;
- positioning tests in Flanders — compulsory for some programmes but usually not binding.
To sit an exam in Belgium you need a short-stay visa, supported by confirmation that you are registered for the exam.
Application fees and the university's answer
You complete the application online and upload scans. Some institutions charge a fee (amounts for the 2026/27 intake): UCLouvain and ULiège charge non-EU applicants $230 (€200), deducted from tuition if you enrol and not refunded otherwise. KU Leuven charges a non-refundable $100 (€90) per application, while UGent charges no application fee.
Assessment can take from four weeks to several months; if something is missing, the admissions office will ask for it. After a positive decision you must accept the offer before the university issues the official admission letter. French-speaking institutions issue an authorisation to enrol (autorisation d'inscription), which also states the amount due.
After admission: funds, visa, housing
The admission letter starts the visa stage: a blocked account or other proof of funds, a medical certificate, a police certificate and the Immigration Office fee. The full procedure, including where Russian citizens apply, is in our guide to the Belgium student visa. Look for housing at the same time: Study in Flanders advises searching several months before arrival rather than on the spot. If you need to pay a deposit or tuition from Russia, read about lawful ways to pay for studies abroad early.
Mistakes that cost a year
- Using the EU deadline. Many institutions close applications for visa applicants two months earlier.
- Leaving equivalence until summer. The window runs to 15 July, but the consulate expects the decision or proof of application when you file your visa.
- Taking EGE subjects at random. KU Leuven requires at least three subjects, and a programme may require specific ones.
- Sending plain photocopies without an apostille. The Equivalence Service works only with certified copies, and while you rebuild the file the window may close.
- Applying to UCLouvain in your final school year. Without a final equivalence decision the application is rejected, and a current school leaver cannot obtain one by 31 March.
- Applying to the wrong system. ULB and VUB, or UCLouvain and KU Leuven, sound alike but follow different rules.
FAQ
Yes. A Russian or Kazakh school certificate lets you apply. In Flanders the institution assesses it; KU Leuven, for example, requires EGE results in at least three subjects for Russian applicants. In French-speaking Belgium you need equivalence, which for non-EU certificates is often restricted to certain fields.
Not for most programmes, which admit on documents and a language certificate. Exams apply to medicine and dentistry, schools of arts and civil engineering at French-speaking universities, and quotas apply to non-residents in veterinary science, physiotherapy and speech therapy.
UCLouvain and ULiège charge non-EU applicants $230 (€200) per file, and a French-speaking bachelor's also involves the equivalence fee, $450 (€400) in the 2026/27 cycle. In Flanders, KU Leuven charges $100 (€90) per application and UGent nothing. On top come the language test, translations and apostilles.
Aim for November to March. In the 2026/27 cycle, ULiège closed non-EU applications on 31 March and UGent accepted visa applicants until 1 April. The earlier your admission letter arrives, the smoother the visa stage.
At master's level, yes, on an English-taught programme with a B2 certificate. At bachelor's level English options are scarce, so many students take a preparatory language year, for example at Ghent University, and then enter a Dutch-taught programme.
Usually not. The university reviews your degree and transcript and decides whether your background is sufficient, sometimes offering a bridging programme. An ENIC-NARIC statement is only needed if the institution asks for it.
Sources
- Study in Flanders: admission requirements and how to apply — checked 29.09.2026
- Study in Belgium: bachelor's admission, master's admission, certificate equivalence, quota studies, ENIC-NARIC and ECTS — checked 29.09.2026
- Wallonia-Brussels Federation Equivalence Service: $450 (€400) fee, window and processing time and Bruxelles-J: certificate equivalence, $170 (€150) and $450 (€400) fees — checked 29.09.2026
- KU Leuven: country-specific eligibility, how to apply and deadlines, Dutch language requirements — checked 29.09.2026
- UGent: deadlines and Qualification Check — checked 29.09.2026
- ULiège: non-EU admission and $230 (€200) fee, UCLouvain: application fee and requirements for non-EU certificates, ULB: application dates, KU Leuven: $100 (€90) application fee — checked 29.09.2026
- UHasselt: Master of Transportation Sciences, 1 May deadline — checked 29.09.2026
- L'Avenir, 24.08.2026: medicine and dentistry entrance exam — checked 29.09.2026
- Dollar figures use the ECB reference rate of 29.09.2026 (€1 = $1.1355), rounded to the dollar below $100 and to $10 above.
Programme shortlisting, requirement checks and preparation of equivalence and university applications are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission is decided by the university, certificate equivalence in French-speaking Belgium by the Equivalence Service, and visas by the Belgian consulate and the Immigration Office.
Next steps
- Bachelor's Degree in Belgium for International Students: Admission After School, Language and Cost
- Master's Degree in Belgium for International Students: English-Taught Programmes, Requirements and Cost
- Belgium Student Visa: Documents, Fees and Application Steps
- Universities in Belgium for International Students: Full List, Languages and 2026/27 Fees
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
- Studying in Belgium for international applicants
