Checklist · Belgium
Documents you need to study in Belgium
What Belgian universities typically ask for — French-speaking or Flemish, Bachelor's or Master's, from application to registration. Tick items off as you go; your progress stays in this browser. Rules differ between the French- and Dutch-speaking communities and between programmes, so compare with your programme's own list. Each item links to the official source.
Checked against official sources: October 2026
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Before you apply
0/2You apply to each university or university college directly. French-speaking and Flemish institutions follow different rules — check which community your programme belongs to.
Source: Study in Belgium · Study in Flanders
Programmes are taught in French or Dutch; many Master's are in English. Each institution sets the language proof it requires.
Application documents
0/5Your school-leaving certificate (and your degree for a Master's) with transcripts. For a Master's, the institution itself usually assesses your previous studies.
Source: Study in Belgium
Documents not in French, Dutch or English need a translation by a sworn translator.
Source: Study in Belgium
Proof of French, Dutch or English at the level your programme sets.
Both sides of your ID or the passport photo page — needed for the equivalence request and the visa.
Source: Study in Belgium
If requested
Motivation letter
Common for Master's programmes and selective courses. Belgian committees expect a formal, structured letter, in the language of the programme.
Depending on your situation
0/1A foreign secondary diploma must be declared equivalent to the Belgian CESS. Apply to the equivalence service of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles before 15 July; the fee depends on the country of your diploma. Programmes with an entrance exam are an exception.
Source: Study in Belgium · FWB Équivalences
After admission: visa and money
0/2Only for students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.
Apply at the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country with your enrolment or admission certificate before you travel.
Source: Immigration Office · Belgian embassy
For 2026/27 at least €1,062 a month — for example in a blocked account at your institution, through a scholarship or through a sponsor who signs a financial guarantee (Annex 32) and earns enough. Some institutions ask for more.
Source: Belgian embassy · Belgian embassy
After arrival
0/2Within 8 days of arrival, register with the commune where you live and apply for your residence card. Bring your passport with visa, certificate of enrolment, proof of health insurance, photos and your housing contract.
Source: Belgian embassy · Study in Flanders
Proof of health insurance is needed for your residence card. Without it, you only get a temporary certificate.
Source: Belgian embassy
Questions
Do I need a diploma equivalence?
For a Bachelor's in French-speaking Belgium, yes — apply before 15 July. For a Master's, the institution usually assesses your previous studies itself. Flemish institutions have their own procedure.
How much money do I need for the visa?
For 2026/27 at least €1,062 a month. The amount is indexed every academic year, and some institutions require more.
Is this list complete for my programme?
No list can be. Medicine, dentistry and some other programmes have entrance exams or quotas. Always compare with your programme's own requirements.