Studying in BelgiumStudying in Belgium from Africa: the complete 2027 procedure
No Campus France and no single platform: diploma equivalence from 15 November 2026, admission before 31 March, 1,062 euros a month to prove and a D visa 90 days before classes. Countries exempt from the 4,175-euro surcharge, filing centre by country and full calendar.
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Information checked on 20 October 2026.
To study in Belgium from Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, Togo, the DRC or Guinea, there is no Campus France (the French agency for international students) and no single platform. The procedure has five steps, in this order: the equivalence of your diploma from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (the French-speaking Community of Belgium; filing opens on 15 November 2026), the admission application to each institution (before 31 March at the three large universities checked), proof of 1,062 euros a month in means of subsistence, the D visa filed at least 90 days before classes, then registration at the commune (the local town hall) within 8 days of your arrival. Good news for most French-speaking sub-Saharan countries: their nationals are exempt from the 4,175-euro surcharge that universities charge other non-European students. Coming from the Maghreb? Read our guide to studying in Belgium from Algeria, Morocco or Tunisia instead.
Studying in Belgium: universities, hautes écoles and language of instruction
Belgian higher education is run by the Communities: the language you choose decides the rules.
- The Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles teaches in French, in Brussels, Liège, Louvain-la-Neuve, Namur or Mons. This guide details its rules. The official course portal is mesetudes.be.
- The Flemish Community teaches in Dutch, sometimes in English (KU Leuven, UGent, VUB, UAntwerpen). Its institutions set their own admission requirements: check them on studyinflanders.be and on the institution's website.
In the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, two families of institutions coexist: the universities (ULB, UCLouvain, ULiège, UNamur, UMONS) and the hautes écoles (universities of applied sciences), more career-oriented, alongside the schools of arts. Their dates and fees differ: read the page of the institution you are aiming for.
Step 1: the equivalence of your diploma
For a first enrolment in the first cycle (bachelier, the bachelor's degree), the Office des étrangers (Belgian Immigration Office) requires the equivalence of your baccalauréat (secondary-school leaving diploma). The Service des équivalences for secondary education, in Brussels, issues it (equivalences.cfwb.be). For a master's, this secondary equivalence is not required: the university assesses your higher-education degree during admission.
| Item | What the Service des équivalences publishes |
|---|---|
| Filing period (2027-2028 intake) | From 15 November 2026 to 15 July 2027 |
| Fee | 150 euros, to be paid before 15 July 2027, never refunded |
| Filing | Registered mail to Brussels (the postmark counts) or an appointment on site |
| Decision | Sent by post, at the earliest from 1 March 2027 |
| Processing time | 4 to 12 weeks minimum |
The documents vary with the country of the diploma. Select yours on the service's "J'ai terminé mes études secondaires" (I have finished secondary school) page:
Everywhere, add a copy of your identity document, a motivation letter in French and the original proof of payment. The service warns: a diploma obtained outside the European Union will probably receive an equivalence with restrictions, limited to certain fields. Proof of access to higher education in your country can open the field you are aiming for.
Step 2: the admission application before 31 March
No central platform: you apply on each institution's website, and universities close early for non-Europeans who need a visa.
| University | Published window (latest known cycle, 2026) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| ULB | From 16 February to 31 March | 200-euro application fee, one application per year, average of 13/20 required for a bachelor's |
| UCLouvain | Until 31 March | For non-Europeans who do not live in Belgium and need a visa |
| ULiège | From 18 February to 31 March | 200-euro deposit, deducted from fees if you are admitted; quota programmes outside this calendar |
The 2027 intake dates are not published yet: be ready to apply in February and March 2027. Hautes écoles set their own dates.
This calendar overlaps with the equivalence one: the decision does not arrive before 1 March. ULB has planned for it. It asks for proof that you have filed the equivalence application by 31 March at the latest if your diploma is one year old or more, and by 15 July at the latest if you are in your final year of secondary school. So do not delay filing.
ULiège reports that students, mainly Cameroonian, have been defrauded by intermediaries who sometimes produce forged documents. Always apply yourself.
The minerval: is your country exempt?
In the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, universities charge non-European students a supplementary contribution of 4,175 euros on top of the tuition fees (the minerval). Circular no. 2026-001 of ARES (the umbrella body of French-speaking higher education), applicable from 2026-2027, exempts nationals of three lists of countries. Your nationality is what counts.
| Your nationality | List in the circular | Fees at ULB in 2026-2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, DRC, Senegal, Chad, Togo | Annex 1, least developed countries | 1,194 euros |
| Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo-Brazzaville, Ghana, Nigeria | Annex 2, bottom of the Human Development Index | 1,194 euros |
| Gabon, and any country missing from the annexes | None | 1,194 + 4,175 = 5,369 euros |
The circular only covers universities: hautes écoles apply their own amounts, so ask for them. The 2027-2028 amounts are yet to be confirmed.
D visa: the procedure for studying in Belgium
Campus France only handles studies in France. For Belgium, you apply for a national long-stay visa (D visa) at the Belgian post responsible for your place of residence. The Office des étrangers lists the documents:
Two amounts are added. The Office des étrangers redevance is 251 euros in 2026 for a public institution, and it is revised every 1 January. Scholarship holders who prove it are exempt. Long-stay visa fees have been 250 euros since 1 July 2026, plus the service provider's fees.
Timing matters above all. The authorities have 90 days from the acknowledgement of receipt to decide. The Office des étrangers asks you to file at least 90 days before classes resume. For a mid-September start, aim for June at the latest.
Where to file depending on your country
| You live in | Where to file | What the embassy specifies |
|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | TLScontact Yaoundé | Only centre authorised for student visas; appointment via Visa On Web; criminal record legalised before filing |
| Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo | VFS Global centre in Abidjan | The consulate general in Abidjan is the only competent post; Visa On Web form first |
| Senegal, Guinea | TLScontact Dakar | The embassy in Dakar also covers Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania |
| DRC | European Visa Centre, Kinshasa | The embassy refers to the centre's website for the procedure |
| Other country | - | See the website of the competent Belgian embassy |
Means of subsistence: 1,062 euros a month
For 2026-2027, the Office des étrangers sets the minimum at 1,062 euros net a month. The 2027-2028 amount is yet to be confirmed. Four proofs are accepted.
| Proof | Amount | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked account opened by the institution | 12 × 1,062 = 12,744 euros | ULiège offers it to admitted students |
| Blocked account with a specialised company | 12,744 euros | Only certificates from Studely and Ready Study Go International are accepted to date |
| Scholarship or loan certificate | Depending on the scholarship | Issued by an authority, an international body or an institution |
| Undertaking of financial support (annexe 32) | Sponsor's income | 3,279.47 euros net a month required for 2026-2027 |
The annexe 32 sponsor must be an adult and Belgian, an EU citizen residing in Belgium, a foreigner with unlimited residence, or a family member up to the 3rd degree. Their spouse's income does not count, and only one person can act as sponsor. ULiège warns against fake sponsors.
Working during your studies
The student residence card bears the mention "Marché du travail : limité" (labour market: limited). The FPS Employment states that you may work during school holidays and, outside them, up to 20 hours a week, provided the work remains compatible with your studies.
Arrival: the commune within 8 days
Within 8 days of your arrival, report to the commune administration where you live. If you are enrolled, insured and actually living at the declared address, the commune issues an A card (residence card) valid for one year and renewable. So you need a real home from day one.
For the private market, our guide to finding housing in Belgium lists reliable sites and the scams that target newcomers. Also read the rules on flatsharing in Belgium and what to know about the rental deposit in Belgium. Never pay for a home nobody has visited.
Calendar for the September 2027 intake
| Step | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Choose your programmes, have diploma and transcripts certified | October and November 2026 | mesetudes.be, your town hall |
| File the equivalence application | From 15 November 2026, by 15 July 2027 at the latest | Service des équivalences, Brussels |
| Apply to each institution | February and March 2027, before 31 March (dates to be confirmed) | Website of each university or haute école |
| Receive the equivalence decision | At the earliest from 1 March 2027 | By post |
| Gather proof of means, pay the redevance | As soon as you have the admission certificate | Blocked account, sponsor, Office des étrangers |
| File the D visa | At least 90 days before classes, so June at the latest | TLScontact, VFS Global or CEV depending on your country |
| Register at the commune | Within 8 days of arrival | Commune administration |
Belgium or France?
If you are hesitating, our comparison for studying in Europe from Africa puts the countries side by side. For France, the free Campus France simulator places your file against admitted applicants; it does not cover Belgium.
Finding your compatriots before you arrive
On Compatri, join your country's community in your future city before you even get the visa: Cameroonians in Belgium, Congolese in Belgium, every community present in Brussels and in the other cities of Belgium. Also read the portrait of Beninese people in Belgium and how to join your community before leaving.
Compatri is neither a Belgian government service nor Campus France, and does not support applications in Belgium. The Office des étrangers, the Service des équivalences, your institution and the embassy remain the only authorities.
Official sources
- Immigration Office: sufficient means of subsistence (1,062 euros a month in 2026-2027)
- Immigration Office: first residence permit for studies, D visa
- Immigration Office: administrative fee (redevance)
- Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles: applying for a secondary-school equivalence
- ARES: circular no. 2026-001 on the supplementary contribution
- ULB: tuition fees
- ULB: application deadlines
- ULB: criteria of the central admissions committee for bachelor's programmes
- UCLouvain: application deadlines
- ULiège: non-EU student
- Belgian embassy in Cameroon: study in Belgium
- Belgium in Côte d'Ivoire: visa for Belgium
- Belgian embassy in Senegal: visa for Belgium
- Belgian embassy in the DRC: visa for Belgium
- Belgian consulate general in Paris: long-stay visa (250 euros from 1 July 2026)
- Belgian consulate general in Paris: financial support, annexe 32
- FPS Employment: employment of foreign workers with a specific residence status
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to go through Campus France to study in Belgium?
No. Campus France only handles studies in France. For Belgium, you apply yourself for the equivalence of your diploma from the Service des équivalences of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, you apply directly on each institution's website, then you file a D visa with the Belgian post responsible for your country of residence.
How much does the diploma equivalence cost and when should you apply?
The fee is 150 euros, never refunded. For the 2027-2028 intake, the file is submitted from 15 November 2026 to 15 July 2027, by registered mail or by appointment in Brussels. Decisions are sent at the earliest from 1 March 2027 and processing takes 4 to 12 weeks minimum: file from November.
Which African countries are exempt from the 4,175-euro surcharge?
ARES circular no. 2026-001 exempts, among others, nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, the DRC, Senegal, Chad and Togo (least developed countries), as well as Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo-Brazzaville, Ghana and Nigeria. Gabon is not on the list. It only applies to universities: hautes écoles have their own amounts.
How much money must you prove for a Belgian student visa?
For 2026-2027, the Office des étrangers requires 1,062 euros net a month, i.e. 12,744 euros in a blocked account opened by the institution or by Studely or Ready Study Go International. A scholarship or an undertaking of financial support (annexe 32) is also accepted; the sponsor must then prove 3,279.47 euros net a month.
Where do you file a student visa application for Belgium?
At the Belgian post responsible for your place of residence, through its service provider: TLScontact Yaoundé in Cameroon, the VFS Global centre in Abidjan for Côte d'Ivoire, Benin and Togo, TLScontact Dakar for Senegal and Guinea, the European Visa Centre in Kinshasa for the DRC. File at least 90 days before classes start.
Can you work in Belgium with student residence?
Yes, within a limit. According to the FPS Employment, an international student with residence may work during school holidays and, outside them, up to 20 hours a week, if the work remains compatible with their studies. Their A card bears the mention "Marché du travail : limité" (labour market: limited).