What language is required to study in Belgium?

Belgium is a multilingual country where higher education is mainly available in French, Dutch and English. Here is the language to master according to the region and the program chosen.

1. Belgium, an officially trilingual country

Belgium has three official languages:

• the frenchmen,
• the dutch,
• and The German.
According to language laws, higher education is organized by three communities: CommunityPrimary school languageExamples of institutions

French community

(Wallonia and Brussels) FrançaisUCLouvain, ULiège, UNamur, ULB

Flemish community

(Flanders) DutchKU Leuven, Universiteit Antwerpen, UGent

German-speaking community

GermanOther rarer establishments, located in the east of the country

In summary:

• If you want to study at Brussels or Wallonia, you need to talk frenchmen.
• If you choose a University in Flanders, you will have to master the dutch.
• And for studies in German-speaking community, thegerman is required.

2. Studying in French: the most common way

The majority of foreign students choose the French Community of Belgium, where French is the language of instruction. You therefore do not need to take a French test if your bac or your course has already been taken in French.However, some universities may require proof of linguistic level, for example:
• DELF B2 or DALF C1,
• Or a certificate of secondary education in French.
The most famous French-speaking institutions are:
• Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain),
• _University of Liège (ULiège),
• Free University of Brussels (ULB),
• University of Namur (UNamur)_.

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3. Studying in Dutch: essential in Flanders

If you want to enroll in a Flemish university, the language of instruction is Dutch.Universities like the

KU Leuven

Or the

Ghent University (UGent)

require a

B2 level minimum

According to the

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

.You will often need to present a language certificate such as:
• the Certificate Nederlands als Vreemde Taal (CNavT),
• or a test recognized by the university.

Good to know: more and more programs are now offered entirely in English, especially at the master's level.

4. Studying in English: an increasingly popular option

Many Belgian universities now offer bachelor's and master's degrees in English, to attract international students. This is particularly the case in the fields of science, business, engineering or international relationships. In this case, you will need to provide a recognized English language test, such as:
• IELTS (minimum score 6.0 to 6.5),
• TOEFL (at least 80/120),
• Cambridge B2 or C1.

These programs in English are available in All regions of Belgium, both in Flanders and in Wallonia.

5. Studying in German: a special case

Higher education in

german

is concentrated in the

German-speaking community

, located in the east of the country (Eupen, Saint-Vith...) .This option remains

dissenting

, but it exists for certain technical and educational curriculums.A

B2 level in German

is generally required.

6. Tips for choosing the right language of study

Before registering, check:
• The official language of your establishment,
• The linguistic conditions of admission,
• And the Language of the courses (some bilingual universities offer mixed modules).

If you want to maximize your chances of integration, choose a Language that you know already or for which you can justify a B2 level minimum.

Conclusion

Studying in Belgium means evolving in a unique multilingual environment.
The frenchmen remains the most common language of instruction for foreign students, but you can also choose courses in dutch Or in English according to your destination and your sector.
The important thing is to check the language of the program before registering and prepare your language certificate if required.