Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Overview

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a dynamic and modern Flemish university with four campuses in the Brussels Capital Region: the main campus in Etterbeek is home to seven faculties, and in Jette you can find the medical campus and the University Hospital.

The university is organised into 8 faculties that cover a broad range of study fields including the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, humanities and engineering. The wide variety of English-taught programmes is supported by high-quality interdisciplinary research.

The system of majors and minors enables students to plan and personalise the curriculum in a way that best meets your interests. The university offers many joint and double-degree programmes at master’s and PhD level, giving students the opportunity to study at both VUB and partner institutions in Belgium or overseas.

The university is an excellent research centre having contributed to many patents, spin-offs, international publications, top researchers, PhDs, and having a strong presence on the European research scene and several renowned transdisciplinary research teams.

The university has been a pioneer in internationalisation in Belgium. Thanks to its strong international orientation VUB is home to a vibrant community of international scholars. Over 24% of the university’s 21,600 students are of foreign origin, representing 152 countries.

Advantages

• The university has been ranked a place within the best 250 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education world university ranking 2019 (VUB is in the top 6%)
• 195th in the QS World University Rankings (2019), putting VUB in the top 18% best universities worldwide;
• great location - Brussels is situated in the heart of Europe and due to the mix of people living there, it is truly an international city;
• it is a perfect place to do research - The Brussels-Capital region is one of the European hubs of scientific research and advanced technologies.
• the university has excellent facilities to practice all kinds of sport: among other possibilities there are numerous interesting sport programs such as underwater hockey, Ju Jitsu, water polo, badminton and many others;  

Tuition Fees

All bachelor and master programmes at the VUB are accredited and therefore subsidized by the Flemish Government of Belgium, meaning that students only have to pay a small fraction of the actual cost of the education they get. This holds for students from all over the world.

Tuition fees for 2022-2023:

· EEA nationals pay min. 835 EUR and max. 980 EUR per year, depending on their study programme.

· Non-EEA nationals pay min. 980 EUR and max. 3,850 EUR per year, depending on their study programme.

The exact amount payable is stipulated to the student in the letter authorising him to enrol with the institution of his choice.

Scholarships 

The Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) participates in several scholarship programmes which offer grants at master and PhD level. They are available to prospective students based on criteria such as nationality, academic performance, and study programme. For more information see here

More information about Studying in Belgium.

Living Expenses

Besides the VUB-tuition fee, you should provide at least around 1000,- EUR a month.

Accommodation

International students will have equal access to on-campus housing as local students. Please keep in mind that the deadline to apply for an on campus room is 1 May. Rooms are allocated on a first-come first-serve basis, so the sooner you apply the better. The standard rent for a VUB room is around €370 EUR/month, with the rates being below the average private market price in Brussels.

More information: www.vub.be/en/housing

You can also rent a private accommodation, though this can take up some time and energy. The easiest way to do that is though an organisation called MyKot which consist of reliable landlords who have met certain criteria and standards in order to be registered in the database. MyKot has been made to create a safe and reliable network of housing. (You can find more information on www.brik.be)

When to apply (for Autumn 2023).

All non-EEA students have to submit their online application before 1 April 2023

All EEA students, with a non-Belgian degree, have to submit their online application before 1 September 2023.  

These are the general application deadlines. Please be aware that some programmes have earlier deadlines. 

The enrolment deadline is 30 September 2023.

Country

About Belgium 

Fine chocolates, delectable waffles, assortment of beers, glitzy diamonds, and one could go on about the infinite things that describe and make up Belgium. Nestled amongst France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, Belgium is rich in history, culture, and earthly beauty. Comprised of a varied landscape, which includes rivers and gorges, contrasted by endless rolling plains and long stretches of wide, sandy beaches, Belgium is the nature lover's fantasies come true.

After having been the fief of Germanic, Spanish, Austrian, French and Dutch powers down the centuries, in 1830 Belgium was recognised as an independent state. Stamped by a tradition of openness, its inhabitants’ mother tongue can be any of the three official languages: French, Dutch or German.

It is hardly surprising therefore that Brussels, the capital of Belgium, should have been chosen as the capital of Europe. Today, it has grown into an extraordinary city, where the European institutions rub shoulders with the major international organisations. While in the capital, Brussels, one can visit important political institutions like NATO, the European Commission, the European Council.

Being the capital of an expanding Europe, Brussels is an international city like no other. 35% of its population is of foreign origin, and this makes for a unique atmosphere in which cultures interact easily with one another. English is rapidly becoming an important language in Brussels because of the numerous international political organizations.

While Belgium is known for its numerous exported goods, it is also recognized for its open-minded and foreigner-friendly attitude.

Career opportunities 

During the academic year, international (non-EU) students are entitled to work maximum 20 hours per week. They can work on a full time basis only during the summer holiday period (July-September). The money earned from student jobs should be considered as a supplementary source of income, not as main financial means for living in Belgium.

Student Jobs 

It goes without saying that Brussels offers unique career opportunities. As the home to more than 2,000 international organisations and companies, it offers a wide range of internship possibilities and future career options. 

The VUB helps you to make your first step in the job market with workshops, networking events, job fairs, tips ‘n tricks for job interviews. All an ambitious student needs!

You can find more information from here.

Jobs Search Year

Working as a highly qualified person is now also more flexible for non-EU nationals via the professional orientation year. It is a stay of 12 months to search for a job in Belgium or to carry out an independent activity.

You have to meet the following eligibility criteria in order to receive a residence permit for an orientation year.

· You are a non-EU/EEA student in possession of a residence permit
· You are a non-EU/EEA student who obtained a graduate degree (bachelor, master or postgraduate) or doctorate at a Belgian Higher Education Institution
· Or you are a non-EU/EEA student who obtained a diploma in another EU member state but studied in Belgium as part of a mobility programme (e.g. Erasmus Mundus).

You can find more information on www.vub.be/en/professional-orientation-year

Interested?

To learn more about the university, your study options, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.