Universities in Belgium

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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The Higher Education System in Belgium

The higher education system in Belgium is managed by the three language communities: Flemish, French and German-speaking. Each community oversees its own institutions and qualifications, ensuring a diverse and multilingual educational landscape.

In the Flemish Community, higher education is divided into two main types of institutions:

1. Universiteit: universities that offer a wide range of academic programs and conduct research. They provide bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
2. Hogeschool: university colleges that focus on professional education and training. They offer bachelor's and master's degrees, emphasizing practical skills and applied knowledge.

The French Community recognizes several types of higher education institutions:

1. Université: universities that provide academic education and research opportunities, awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
2. Haute École: university colleges offering professional education and training, granting bachelor's and master's degrees with a focus on practical application.
3. École supérieure des Arts: arts colleges dedicated to specialized education in the arts, offering programs leading to bachelor's and master's degrees.
4. Établissement d'enseignement de promotion sociale: institutions of social advancement education that provide adult education and training programs, including higher education courses.

The German-speaking Community has a single higher education institution:

1. Hochschule: a higher education institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees, focusing on professional education and applied research.

Access to higher education in Belgium requires the completion of secondary education, culminating in a diploma such as the Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur (CESS) in the French Community or the Secundair Onderwijs in the Flemish Community. This diploma grants eligibility to enroll in higher education institutions, with specific requirements varying by program and institution.

The primary languages of instruction in Belgium are Dutch, French and German, corresponding to the respective communities. Most programs are taught in the regional language, though English is often used for postgraduate courses and international programs.

1. First stage: the first stage typically lasts 3 years and leads to a bachelor's degree.
2. Second stage: after earning a bachelor's degree, students can pursue a master's degree, usually taking 1 to 2 years to complete.
3. Third stage: the third stage is focused on research and leads to a doctoral degree, typically lasting 3 to 4 years, depending on the field of study.

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.