Studying in Belgium: bac equivalence, enrolment and costs

French-speaking, close by, affordable and open to health studies: Belgium is a solid alternative to France for Tunisian students. But the procedure is long and relies on an unavoidable step, the bac equivalence, with a timeline you must not miss. Here is how to study in Belgium from Tunisia: equivalence, enrolment, visa and budget.

Why study in Belgium?

• Studies in French in Wallonia and Brussels.

• Moderate enrolment fees compared with many European countries.

• Renowned universities, well ranked and open to international students.

• Accessible health studies (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical sciences), with specific conditions.

• Proximity to Tunisia and a reasonable cost of living outside Brussels.

University or haute école?

• Universities (UCLouvain, ULB, ULiège, UMONS, UNamur, UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles…) offer bachelor's degrees (bacheliers, 3-year degrees), master's degrees and doctorates, with a more theoretical, research-oriented approach.

• Hautes écoles (university colleges) offer more practical, career-oriented programmes: paramedical, industrial engineering, management, communication, teaching…

• Écoles supérieures des arts (arts colleges) train students for artistic careers.

Flanders (Dutch-speaking) has its own system, with programmes in Dutch and English.

Step 1: the bac equivalence

To enter the first cycle (bachelor's) in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, the Tunisian bac must be recognised by the equivalence service of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. This is mandatory, and it is often the step that costs latecomers a year.

• The application is made online, with legalised documents and, if necessary, translations.

• An application fee is charged.

• The deadline is generally in the middle of summer for the September intake, but students who need a visa must act much earlier, since the equivalence (or proof of submission) is required for enrolment and the visa.

Depending on your bac section and the intended field, the equivalence may be general or restricted to certain fields. For some programmes, an admission exam may be required.

For a master's, it is not the bac equivalence that counts but admission by the university: it assesses your bachelor's degree directly.

Step 2: the enrolment application

Each institution has its own online procedure. For students from outside the European Union who need a visa, the deadlines are much earlier than for Belgian students: often in spring, sometimes as early as winter. Start preparing your file from the autumn of your final year of secondary school.

Usual documents:

• passport;

• bac and transcripts (or school enrolment certificate);

• proof of the equivalence application;

• motivation letter;

• possibly proof of French proficiency.

Step 3: the student visa

With the certificate of enrolment (or admission), you apply for the long-stay study visa with the Belgian consular services and their service provider. You need in particular:

• proof of means of subsistence: either sponsorship (prise en charge) by a guarantor (official form), or a blocked account or a scholarship, for a minimum monthly amount set each year;

• a medical certificate;

• a criminal record extract;

• the certificate of enrolment and the equivalence (or proof of its submission).

Appointments and processing take time in summer: submit your application as early as possible.

How much does Belgium cost?

• Enrolment fees: for non-EU students, they range from a few hundred to a few thousand euros per year depending on the institution and your situation (some universities apply higher fees).

• Daily life: allow on average €800 to €1,100 per month depending on the city, Brussels being the most expensive. Louvain-la-Neuve, Liège, Mons or Namur are more affordable.

• Administrative costs: equivalence, visa, residence permit, insurance.

What about medicine?

Medicine and dentistry studies in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles are open to foreign students, but with an entrance exam and specific rules for non-residents. This is a project to prepare well in advance. Read our dedicated article: Medicine in Belgium for Tunisian students.

Recommended timeline

• September – December (final year of secondary school): choice of programmes, building your file, legalisations.

• Winter – spring: enrolment applications, equivalence application as soon as you have the required documents.

• Summer: visa, housing, departure.

• September: start of the academic year.

Choosing your city

• Brussels: ULB, UCLouvain Saint-Louis, many hautes écoles; an international city, but more expensive.

• Louvain-la-Neuve: a university town built around UCLouvain, with a very strong student atmosphere.

• Liège: ULiège, a large student city with a moderate cost of living.

• Mons: UMONS, a human-scale city.

• Namur: UNamur, a pleasant and affordable setting.

Documents to prepare in Tunisia

• transcripts from the last years of secondary school and the bac diploma;

• legalisations or apostilles, and translations if necessary;

• valid passport;

• recent criminal record extract (bulletin n° 3);

• medical certificate in the format required for the visa;

• proof of means of subsistence (sponsorship, blocked account or scholarship);

• motivation letter for enrolment.

Mistakes that cost you a year

• Waiting until summer to start the equivalence application.

• Not realising that deadlines for non-EU students are earlier.

• Submitting a sponsorship whose guarantor does not meet the income requirements.

• Choosing a programme with limited access without a plan B.

• Not checking whether the equivalence obtained is general or restricted to certain fields.

Our support

Worldwide Studies helps you choose between a university and a haute école, submit the equivalence application, meet the institutions' deadlines and put together the visa file. See our page Studying in Belgium and our guide Equivalence of the Tunisian diploma abroad.

👉 Deadlines differ depending on the institution and nationality: talk to an advisor to get the up-to-date Belgium timeline.