Universities in Belgium ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 63 Universities in Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium is divided into 3 regions: the Brussels Capital Region, the Flemish Region (Dutch: Vlaams Gewest), and the Walloon Region (French: Wallonie). The Flemish and Walloon regions are each further subdivided into 5 provinces. The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are located in the Brussels Capital Region, situated in the central part of the country. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables consider all provinces with at least one Belgian higher education institution that fulfill the uniRank selection criteria.

Antwerp (7)  
Brussels (21)  
East Flanders (4)  
Flemish Brabant (3)  
Hainaut (7)  
Liege (8)  
Limburg (2)  
Luxembourg (1)  
Namur (5)  
Walloon Brabant (2)  
West Flanders (3)  

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Overview of Belgium Universities

Belgium's higher education system offers internationally recognized degrees through a bilingual network of Dutch-speaking (Flemish) and French-speaking (Walloon) institutions. The country has 63 universities and university colleges categorized as either public (65%) or private non-profit (35%). Public universities receive government funding while private institutions operate independently. Belgium universities emphasize research-intensive programs across comprehensive and specialized fields, with bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees following the Bologna Process. Notable characteristics include multilingual education options, strong industry partnerships and affordable tuition fees.

Top 10 Belgium Universities

1. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven) - KU Leuven
   Ranked #1 in Belgium (#108 globally). Established 1425. Public research university in Leuven, Flemish Brabant. Comprehensive institution offering bachelor's to PhD programs across humanities, sciences, engineering, medicine and social sciences.
2. Universiteit Gent (Ghent University) - UGent
   Ranked #2 in Belgium (#165 globally). Founded 1817. Public research university in Ghent, East Flanders. Comprehensive programs spanning arts, life sciences, medicine, engineering, law and economics at all academic levels.
3. Université de Liège (University of Liège) - ULiège
   Ranked #3 in Belgium (#200 globally). Established 1817. Public research university in Liège, Liege. Comprehensive French-speaking institution offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in sciences, medicine, humanities and management.
4. Université Catholique de Louvain (Catholic University of Louvain) - UCLouvain
   Ranked #4 in Belgium (#220 globally). Founded 1425. Private non-profit research university in Louvain-la-Neuve, Walloon Brabant. Comprehensive French-speaking programs across health sciences, engineering, arts and social sciences.
5. Université Libre de Bruxelles (Free University of Brussels) - ULB
   Ranked #5 in Belgium (#349 globally). Established 1834. Private non-profit research university in Brussels. Comprehensive French-speaking institution offering bachelor's to PhD programs in law, medicine, sciences and humanities.
6. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels) - VUB
   Ranked #6 in Belgium (#381 globally). Founded 1970. Private non-profit research university in Brussels. Dutch-speaking comprehensive programs across engineering, social sciences, life sciences and medicine at all academic levels.
7. Universiteit Antwerpen (University of Antwerp) - UAntwerpen
   Ranked #7 in Belgium (#395 globally). Established 2003. Public research university in Antwerp, Antwerp. Comprehensive Dutch-speaking institution offering bachelor's to PhD programs in applied sciences, medicine, arts and social sciences.
8. Université de Namur (University of Namur) - UNamur
   Ranked #8 in Belgium (#990 globally). Founded 1849. Private non-profit university in Namur, Namur. Specialized French-speaking institution focusing on sciences, humanities and social sciences at bachelor's and master's levels.
9. Universiteit Hasselt (Hasselt University) - UHasselt
   Ranked #9 in Belgium (#1458 globally). Established 1973. Public university in Hasselt, Limburg. Specialized Dutch-speaking institution offering programs in business, medicine, engineering and architecture from bachelor's to PhD.
10. Hogeschool Gent (University College Ghent) - HoGent
    Ranked #10 in Belgium (#1791 globally). Founded 1995. Public university college in Ghent, East Flanders. Specialized Dutch-speaking institution offering professional bachelor's and master's degrees in applied arts, health care and technology.

Analysis of University Types

Belgium has 63 higher education institutions categorized by governance structure:

• Public universities: 41 institutions (65% of total)
• Private non-profit universities: 18 institutions (35% of total)

The majority of top-ranked institutions are public universities, though several prominent private non-profit universities feature in the national top 10.

Global Ranking and Standing

Belgium universities demonstrate strong global competitiveness:

• 3 institutions rank in the global top 200 (4.8% of Belgium's universities)
• 8 institutions rank within the global top 1,000 (12.7% of Belgium's universities)

With nearly 13% of its universities ranking among the world's top 1,000, Belgium maintains a disproportionately high concentration of elite institutions relative to its size.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are tuition fees at Belgium universities?
Tuition for EU students ranges from €835-€1,100 annually. Non-EU students typically pay €1,750-€6,000 per year depending on the program and institution.

Is English widely taught in Belgium universities?
Yes, over 500 English-taught programs are available, particularly at master's and PhD levels. All top 10 universities offer English-track degrees.

How does Belgium's bilingual system affect universities?
Institutions operate in either Dutch (Flemish region) or French (Walloon region), with bilingual options in Brussels. Language requirements vary by program and region.

What are the admission requirements for international students?
Requirements include secondary education equivalency, language proficiency (Dutch/French/English) and program-specific prerequisites. Some universities require entrance exams.

Do Belgium universities offer scholarships?
Yes, government scholarships (like VLIR-UOS and ARES), university-specific awards and Erasmus+ funding are available for international students.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Belgian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Belgium
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Belgian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Belgium
  Search for Belgian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Belgian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Belgian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Belgium
  Discover Belgian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Belgium
  Find out about Belgian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Belgium
  Explore Belgian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Belgium
  Look for Belgian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Belgian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Belgium have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Belgian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Belgium that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Belgian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Belgium are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Belgian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Belgium with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.