19 Best Universities In Brussels For International Students 2025

Brussels is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in Belgium. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 19 universities and colleges in Brussels, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 19 universities in Brussels, Free University of Brussels and Royal Conservatory of Brussels are the top-performing schools in Brussels. This list covers both public and private institutions in Brussels.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Brussels. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Brussels.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Brussels?

Applying to the universities in Brussels involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Brussels to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Brussels?

Tuition fees at Brussels’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 835 Euros to 13,000 Euros , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 835 Euros to 17,000 Euros. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Brussels!

As we cover the best universities in Brussels for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Brussels for International Students

The Free University of Brussels is a multicultural and modern educational institution recognized as one of the top universities in Europe and the world. It is known for producing several notable alumni with significant contributions in different fields of research and services to the community. Living up to its name, the university strives to facilitate an atmosphere that promotes free inquiry and critical thinking to develop intellectual, independent, and self-disciplined individuals to shape the future of society. 

The Royal Conservatory of Brussels is a French-speaking institution known for its long history of teaching performing arts in Belgium. Indeed, the conservatory has been operational since 1813, which has given it centuries of experience and expertise in the field. Such is evident in its long list of prominent alums, consisting of Belgium’s top directors, musicians, actors, and artists.

Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts (EhB) is an institution of higher learning located in Brussels, the heart of Europe. Students will experience a multicultural city while studying in an inclusive university with top-notch research and training facilities.

The university has eight campuses in Brussels and three other campuses in various locations in Flanders. All these campuses are fully loaded with amenities and the necessary infrastructure for a smooth and engaging learning experience.

Odisee was established in 2014 and is among the largest universities of applied sciences in the Flanders region. It calls itself a “co-university” that strives to facilitate an open environment among its learners and faculty and encourages the spirit of collaboration and co-creation. The university provides practice-oriented education that allows students to gain skills that are sought after by different industries.

Brussels School of Governance is a specialized public institution that concentrates on teaching and conducting research on policy-relevant fields. Specifically, it covers the following disciplines: digitalization, democracy, innovation, environment, economy, energy, migration, diversity, justice, security, diplomacy, and strategy. Its close relationships with Vrije Universiteit Brussel’s Institute for European Studies and Vesalius College also open many opportunities for its students and help advance its research projects and knowledge.

La Cambre National School of Visual Arts, an institution more shortly known as La Cambre or ENSAV, is one of Belgium’s premier art schools. It covers various disciplines, including ceramics, photography, art restoration, design, and more. It was aptly founded by Henry van de Velde, a Belgian artist who helped establish the art style called Art Nouveau in Belgium. Besides honing students’ natural inclinations, the school’s teaching also pushes them to explore other disciplines, making them multi-skilled and multi-talented graduates.

LUCA School of Arts is a college in Brussels specializing in training art and design professionals. This exceptional school is the only university in Flanders solely committed to art and design. It was formed in 1880 as a combination of four distinct art and design schools. This special history imparts four additional campuses spread across Brussels, Genk, Ghent, and Leuven, with the main campus located in Brussels.

ICHEC Brussels Management School is one of the leading business schools in Belgium known for its research-oriented and transformative business education. It is also the first French-speaking business school in the country to be granted accreditation by AACSB International, a prominent accrediting body for business schools around the world. The university’s main objective is to produce open-minded, forward-looking, and responsible managers with an international perspective. 

The Galilee University College is a French-speaking higher education institute in Brussels, the capital city of the European Union. It aims to train students to become ethically responsible individuals who will actively promote and contribute to the development of society, specifically in the socio-economic sector.

Hugely benefitting from its location, students will have countless opportunities, including participating in some of the most prestigious conventions and events, training, internships, and possible expansion of network connections.

In 1996, six separate institutes came together to form the roots of a present-day, multi-campus, non-profit university called Leonardo da Vinci University College. Like the maestro himself, the university college promotes innovation, cultivates talent, and hones creativity, so its students and graduates may help provide solutions for 21st-century problems. The institution employs a program-based and project-based teaching method and focuses on three key sectors: health, human and social sciences, and science and technology.

The School of Graphic Research in Belgium is also known as Ecole de Recherche Graphique in Belgium; hence, it is often shortened to ERG. It is a specialized, French-speaking, private institution that offers bachelor’s and master’s courses in the arts. Some of the disciplines it covers are painting, design, illustration, and typography.

The University College of Bruxelles-Brabant is a public, French-speaking higher education institution located in Brussels, Belgium. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and specialization programs focused on equipping students with practical skills to increase their chances of employability after graduation. The university also provides several services that support its students throughout their academic journey. 

EPHEC University College is a multi-campus, French-speaking institution with four locations across Belgium’s Brussels Capital Region. EPHEC is the acronym for the institution’s French name: L’école pratique des hautes études commerciales. It primarily offers bachelor’s programs, and its teaching is guided by its values of humanism, respect, accountability, empowerment, equity, proactivity, and ambition.

Francisco Ferrer University College, known as Haute École Francisco Ferrer in Belgium, is a non-profit public institution. The college was founded in 1995 by merging five institutes. It is ranked among the top 50 Belgian institutions by ranking sites Edurank and 4icu. Both bachelor’s and master’s programs are available, which provide quality training students need to integrate and contribute to the working world efficiently.

Higher National Institute of Performing Arts and Diffusion Techniques is dedicated to raising creative, intellectual, and critical professionals in the audiovisual and theater industry. It was established in 1962 and has been providing accessible education and training in contemporary performing arts for several decades. The university’s faculty consists of notable artists and experts with vast knowledge and experience in Belgium and abroad.

The Higher Institute of Social Training and Communication is a university that specializes in providing high-level training to future social workers and professionals in the communication and media industry. It greatly values and actively promotes equality and respect among its faculty and student community. The university also has several industry links where its students can undergo practical training and gain relevant industry experience. 

Brussels Free University College-Ilya Prigogine is a public institution dedicated to producing knowledgeable, skilled, and adaptable professionals to compete in the international labor market. It is known for its strong commitment to carrying out various sustainability initiatives. Internationalization also plays a vital role in the university’s strategy and encourages its students and faculty to engage in different mobility programs. 

Haute Ecole Lucia de Brouckere is a French-speaking public school in Belgium’s capital. It is also known as Lucia de Brouckere University College in English and offers bachelor’s and master’s programs. Its namesake was a female Belgian chemist who earned a reputation as Belgium’s first female chemistry teacher and a fighter for people’s rights. Thus, it is evident that the institution has chosen an excellent figure to model and honor.

The Institutes Saint-Luc de Bruxelles is an art school in Brussels. The founders of the Institutes Saint-Luc de Bruxelles are members of the Congregation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded in 1680. One of the achievements of this school is the introduction of the teaching of Architecture into the University, which has led to a higher form of learning in this school. It aims at training young people for responsible and productive citizenship, making them professionals and leaders globally.