Brussels College is the founding institution behind Northwood University - Brussels and BCBT - Brussels College of Business and Technology, and the Brussels hub for students choosing a route. With Brussels College you can follow a UK degree top-up pathway with WINC or prepare in English or Dutch, with advisers who help you find the route that fits your qualifications and goals.
No. Brussels College arranges the routes and supports students in choosing them. Degrees and qualifications are offered and awarded by the institution or partner named on each route, as set out below. Brussels College itself offers English and Dutch preparation courses.
That depends on your previous qualifications, your English level and the degree you are aiming for. Our route finder gives an overview, and an adviser can review your profile with you: contact us.
It depends on the route. U.S. degrees are awarded by Northwood University. The UK degree pathways lead to UK degrees awarded by the University of Greater Manchester via WINC. At BCBT, NCC Education qualifications are awarded by NCC Education (UK), offered through Brussels College’s NCC Education Accredited Partner Centre (SCH005), and French RNCP qualifications are awarded by Paris Education (ESTIAM).
Northwood University - Brussels, founded by Brussels College, is an authorized International Program Center of Northwood University (Midland, Michigan, USA). It runs its own programmes, admissions and accreditation.
BCBT - Brussels College of Business and Technology, founded by Brussels College, offers NCC Education qualifications from Level 3 to Level 6 and French RNCP qualifications, and runs its own admissions: explore BCBT or read about its accreditation. The Belgian VKS Level 6 programmes are in preparation and not yet open for enrollment.
Yes. Every route welcomes international applicants. For the UK degree pathways and language preparation, Brussels College advisers guide you through the application; the institutions Brussels College founded handle applications to their own programmes.
Intakes and deadlines are set per route and per academic year. For the UK degree pathways and language preparation, contact us for the next start date; the institutions Brussels College founded publish their own intakes. If a deadline has passed, contact the relevant admissions team: late applications are often considered case by case.
There is no strict upper age limit. The minimum age for undergraduate routes is generally 17/18 years old, and mature students who bring professional experience, especially in business and technology, are welcome.
You complete the core years in Brussels, then top up to a UK Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with our partner WINC. The degree is awarded by the University of Greater Manchester. See UK Degree Pathways and our WINC partnership.
Typically, you will need to submit:
The institutions Brussels College founded set their own document requirements.
Yes. The Brussels College Global Access Scholarship provides a tuition fee reduction determined through case-by-case evaluation for eligible students from low and lower-middle income countries as classified by the World Bank, on the routes arranged through Brussels College.
Important exclusions: Students holding permanent residence or a second citizenship in a developed country (EU, USA, Canada, Australia, etc.) are not eligible, even if their primary citizenship is from one of the listed countries.
Visa requirement: the scholarship reduces tuition fees, but students who need a visa must still prove sufficient means of subsistence for their living expenses in Belgium.
Requirements depend on the route. For the UK degree pathways (local & EU students), we typically require IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent). The institutions Brussels College founded set the English requirements for their own programmes.
Several other English tests are accepted as equivalents (TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge, Duolingo, and more) — contact us for the current equivalency table for your target route.
Brussels College offers intensive English preparation on campus, designed to bring your language skills up to the required level before you begin your main studies.
Yes. Brussels College offers Dutch courses for students who want to live and work in Flanders, a real advantage on Belgium’s bilingual labour market. See all English & Dutch preparation.
If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, you will generally need a Type D student visa. To obtain it, you must prove you have sufficient financial means.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the minimum amount set by the Belgian government is €1,062 net per month. You can prove this via:
You will also need to pay your tuition fees before applying for the visa.
An Offer Letter (or Admission Letter) confirms you meet the academic requirements. The Enrollment Certificate (Registration Letter) is the official document required for the visa. It is issued only after you have paid the first semester fees in full.
Yes, though it is often more complex than a blocked account. You can use a specific "Annex 32" form where a sponsor (family member) guarantees to cover your costs. The sponsor must meet strict solvency requirements set by the Belgian government. The blocked account method is generally recommended for a faster visa process.
A blocked account is a secure way to prove your financial means for your student visa application. One provider is Studely, a financial service provider specializing in blocked accounts for international students; according to studely.com, its service is accepted by the Belgian Immigration Office (IBZ), Belgian consulates and municipalities. It provides a blocked account certificate for the visa application and monthly release of funds once you arrive in Belgium.
Required deposit: €12,744 (12 months × €1,062) for the 2026-2027 academic year, as mandated by Belgian immigration regulations. Full details, fees and terms: studely.com/en/belgique.
Disclaimer: Brussels College provides this information for educational purposes only. We are not affiliated with, do not endorse, and receive no compensation from Studely. For official visa requirements, consult the Belgian Immigration Office at dofi.ibz.be or contact us at [email protected].
The process can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks depending on your country of origin and the time of year. We strongly advise applying at least 3 months before your intended start date.
Yes. Renewal is generally a formality as long as you are progressing in your studies. You will need to register at your local commune and prove you still have sufficient financial means and a valid lease contract. You do not need to return to your home country.
Refund rules are set out in the terms and conditions of the institution you enrol with. Tuition fees are generally non-refundable once the semester has started or you have attended classes; refunds are typically considered in specific cases such as a visa refusal before the start of studies (minus administrative fees). Check the terms in your offer letter.
Yes. Belgium allows international students to work:
Brussels is very affordable compared to other major European capitals. You can live comfortably for approx. €1,062 - €1,500 per month (including rent, food, transport).
Healthcare is excellent and affordable. Student health insurance typically costs around €25 per month, covering most medical expenses.
Students in Brussels under the age of 24 can get a STIB/MIVB season ticket for just €12 per year, with unlimited travel on trams, buses and metro across the city. Student rates are also available for train travel across Belgium.
Start your search early, as demand in Brussels can be high. Students often find these independent platforms useful:
Family reunification visas exist but are subject to strict conditions regarding accommodation and financial means. As a student, bringing family members immediately can be challenging. We advise consulting a visa expert or the embassy for family reunification specifics.
Brussels College is an NCC Education Accredited Partner Centre (SCH005), works with WINC on the UK degree top-up pathways, is an academic mobility and exchange partner of Paris Education (ESTIAM), an Associate Member of the Knowledgucate Education Consortium, and an official partner of Revistia. See all partnerships.
Brussels College holds the WSE Kwaliteitsregistratie, awarded by the Flemish policy domain Werk, Economie, Wetenschap, Innovatie en Sociale Economie, and the Qfor WSE certificate at conditional starter level, following an independent audit by CertUp. They recognise Brussels College as a quality-registered provider of training, guidance and labour market services; they are quality registrations, not degree accreditation.
Recruitment agencies and institutions are welcome to partner with Brussels College.
No, and that is by design. Brussels College does not award Belgian degrees, so it is not listed on the registers reserved for institutions that do.
Our model: transnational education. Most higher education in Belgium is state-funded and taught in French or Dutch, leading to a Belgian degree. Brussels College was established to connect students with English-taught routes that lead to international credentials, awarded by the institutions and partners named on each route.
Our legal status. Brussels College operates under Belgian law as a "Private Higher Education Institution" in Flanders, under Article II.75, §5 of the Higher Education Law ("Codex Hoger Onderwijs," 2013) — the standard legal basis for private higher-education providers in Flanders. This is a baseline operating status, not a quality accreditation. On this basis, students can study physically in Belgium on transnational routes that lead to degrees awarded by foreign institutions.
The recognition of your degree is determined by the institution that awards it: for example, UK degrees from the University of Greater Manchester (via WINC) on the UK pathways.
No, not currently. NVAO (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie) accreditation is a long-term ambition of Brussels College, not a current credential: no formal NVAO procedure has started, and it should not factor into your decision to study here today. Brussels College does hold two achieved Flemish quality marks, the WSE Kwaliteitsregistratie and the Qfor WSE certification, which are quality registrations, not degree accreditation.