Many Belgian universities have a strong international outlook and organization and a strong position in international rankings. A total of nine universities in Belgium feature in the QS World University Rankings® 2022, with all but one, ranked within the global top 500.
Higher education in Belgium is generally classified into two groups, divided into the country's two main language communities: the Flemish (variety of Dutch) community and the French community. Along with Dutch and French, German is the official language of the country, although spoken by a very small percentage of the population. German-speaking students usually attend a university in the French community or travel to study in Germany. Although French and Dutch are the standard languages of instruction, many international programs are taught in English.
Higher education institutions in Belgium include universities; university colleges (called Hautes écoles in French society); art colleges (called écoles supérieures des arts and offered only in French society); Architectural Institutes (only available in the French Community) and the Royal Military Academy.
As in most European countries, a bachelor's degree usually takes three years to complete, and a master's degree takes one to two years. Bachelor's degrees are classified as professional bachelor's or academic bachelor's. The first of these has a professional component, and the second is more academic in nature and is designed to prepare students for a postgraduate degree.
After obtaining a master's degree, students may pursue research projects leading to a doctoral degree. Bachelor's and Master's degrees can be awarded by colleges and universities in Belgium, while PhDs are awarded only by universities.
Study in Belgium in Top Universities
Ranked 70th in the world in the 2022 ranking, KU Leuven is the highest-ranked Belgian university. Translated into English, its full name is the Catholic University of Leuven, but it is often referred to by its Dutch name.
KU Leuven was Belgium's first university, founded in 1425 (although it was closed during the Napoleonic era and reopened in 1834). KU Leuven taught around 58,000 students in 2019, making it the largest university in Belgium.
