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Belgium
STUDY IN Belgium

Aside from its rich culture influenced by the Regions and Communities, Belgium serves as home as well to some of the world’s most iconic tourist spots (think Atomium or the Grand Place) and gastronomy favorites such as the Belgian Waffles, Chocolates and Beer. But Belgium is more than just its fries or beer. It is also a well-known destination for students pursuing higher education.

Belgian Higher education is organized and regulated at the Community level. There are three Communities in the country: the Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking), the French Community and the German-speaking community. While the official languages of teaching are Dutch, French and German, plenty of universities and university colleges for higher education offer a variety of programs that are entirely taught in English. Students can opt to enroll to a wide array of study domains, both academically and professionally oriented. In general terms, the bachelor’s degree programmes are 3 years in duration, 1 or 2 years for the master’s and 3 to 4 years for the doctorate.

Several Belgian universities appear in the top 200 of international rankings, including Reuters' Most Innovative European Universities, which is topped by a Belgian university and Times Higher Education rankings. This 2023, 69 Filipino students will be going to Belgium to pursue their higher education. 

"This in itself is a testament to the quality of Belgian education. Because whether or not you are on a scholarship, student life in Belgium will equally be as fulfilling and rich, both in the cultural and academic aspect", Belgian Ambassador to the Philippines Michel Parys addressed during his Welcoming Remarks at the 2022 Student Send-Off Party for Filipino Students going to Belgium. 

Meanwhile Brussels, Belgium's capital, is home to many international businesses and organizations, including NATO and the EU institutions. Brussels also houses the world's largest press communities and it is the city with the 2nd most diplomats globally. Consequently, the top/highly recommended Fields of Study are International Relations, Diplomacy and Global Politics, Art (BE has 16 colleges exclusively for Art in the French Community and 13 for applied sciences and the arts in the Flemish Community), Medicine and Research (Belgium was a leading producer/contributor in WHO’s COVAX Facility and medicine development), and Engineering (Belgium is also a pioneer in technology-research, aviation/aerospace, and automotive). With this multilingual and multicultural environment, studying in Belgium, as you would expect, is certainly, as Ambassador Parys mentioned, an ultimate and well-rounded international experience.

EDUCATION IN THE FLEMISH COMMUNITY

Flemish institutions are in the northern, Dutch-speaking part of Belgium and in Brussels. You will find a comprehensive overview of all possibilities here:

www.studyinflanders.be

www.vlaanderen.be/en/studying

In order to find out if your diploma receives the same recognition in the Flemish Community as in the Philippines, you may consult the NARIC website.

 

EDUCATION IN THE FRENCH COMMUNITY

French-speaking institutions are in the southern part of Belgium and in Brussels. You can find an overview of opportunities for studying in French-speaking Belgium on these links:

www.studyinbelgium.be/en

www.enseignement.be

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

Most Belgian universities take part in multi-county scholarship programmes of the European Commission such as Erasmus Mundus, where students study in 2 or more universities. Belgian universities usually offer courses or internships of one or two semesters. More information can be found here.

The Belgian Development Cooperation also funds scholarships and internships through two umbrella organizations: ARES (French-speaking universities) and VLIR-UOS (Flemish universities). Their scholarship award programmes are specifically aimed at students from developing countries like the Philippines.

 

LIVING IN BELGIUM

Many schools and universities have rooms available for students. As such, it is advisable to contact your educational establishment to request for a comprehensive list of accommodations.

Located at the heart of Europe, Belgium is well-connected to much of the continent. You can quickly go around the country as well as visit neighboring countries by train. With the rich Belgian heritage of cycling, it is common for students to use bicycles as well to go to the university and around the city. Other pluses of the country are green spaces, healthcare and social services.But most importantly, students can enjoy reasonable living costs while making the most out of their stay.

Belgium has a varied climate. Rainfall is mild and stable throughout the year. Summer days are sunny. Winters are mostly overcast. Average temperatures: January 1°C; March 7°C; May 13°C; July 19°C; September 17°C; November 7°C.

 

https://philippines.diplomatie.belgium.be/en
manila@diplobel.fed.be
+63 2 8845 18 69
Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Manila, 9F Multinational Bancorporation Center, 6805 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1226, Philippines
Id: 43
Scholarship Name:
VLIR-OUS
Coverage of Scholarship:
Fully-funded
Amount of Scholarship Covered:
Tuition fees, travel, insurance and living expenses (board and lodging).
Qualifications:
Must be part of the 29 eligible countries. The following criteria will be checked: Motivation. Professional Experience. Gender Balance. Regional Balance. Previously-awarded Scholarship/s.
Id: 44
Scholarship Name:
ARES
Coverage of Scholarship:
Fully-funded
Amount of Scholarship Covered:
International travel costs, Living allowance, Indirect mission costs, Registration fees and Insurance costs.
Qualifications:
Admissibility requirements include: Residency in one of the eligible countries. Diploma. Relevant professional experience of at least 2 years. Complete application in the language of the training course. Application made to only 1 course.
Id: 45
Scholarship Name:
Erasmus+
Coverage of Scholarship:
Fully-funded
Amount of Scholarship Covered:
Scholarships cover the cost of a student’s participation in the program, travel and a living allowance.
Qualifications:
Must be registered in a HEI and enrolled in studies leading to a recognized degree or tertiary-level qualification. For students in the first cycle (Bachelors), must be at least in the 2nd year of studies. Relevant educational background.