Belgium grants temporary protection to Ukrainian refugees. Since the Russian invasion began, over 10,000 Ukrainians have entered the country, with the total number expected to reach 200,000. Additional information is available on Belgium’s UNHCR page.
Belgium is a federal state, which is split into the Flemish Region (or Flanders), the Walloon Region (or Wallonia), and the Brussels Capital Region. Combined, they are home to over 55 institutions of higher education, which host more than 8,000 non-EU students every year.
Below, you’ll find helpful support programmes and initiatives for displaced students from Ukraine:
Credential evaluation
- In the Flemish and Brussels Capital regions, local universities or colleges will evaluate your diplomas and certificates. However, NARIC Flanders oversees the official recognition.
- In Wallonia, you need to contact the Education Ministry’s Equivalence Service (website in French).
- Additional information about regional education bodies and other relevant agencies is available on Belgium’s dedicated ERIC-NARIC page.
- Learn more about the higher education system in Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia.
Scholarships and financial aid
The Walloon Region has added Ukraine to the list of countries whose citizens can be exempted from paying full tuition fees at regular universities. To qualify, you need to meet at least one of the following conditions:
- You must re-enrol for the same 1st or 2nd cycle, and you need to have achieved at least 75% of the ECTS credits from the last academic year.
- You have been awarded a grant by Wallonia-Brussels International.
- You must be enrolled in a PhD programme (3rd cycle); during the next study years, tuition will be reduced from 835 EUR to around 30 EUR.
- You must be enrolled in a Certified Upper Secondary Education Teacher (AESS) programme.
- You must study for 2 years and receive a certificate of upper secondary education from an educational institution recognised by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
University colleges and schools of arts in Wallonia also offer tuition exemptions. While several conditions are listed, here are a couple that you might meet as a Ukrainian citizen:
- You reside in Belgium and enjoy the same benefits and status as refugees or asylum-seekers.
- You have been awarded a study grant based on development cooperation.
At Ghent University, Ukrainian students with low incomes and an official refugees status or a subsidiary protection status pay 113 euros less for tuition fees. You can also apply for regular scholarships and grants as long as you meet the criteria:
Check out our scholarships page for relevant opportunities. The application deadline is 31 May.
Study programmes and opportunities
- UCLouvain has opened its Access2University programme to Ukrainian refugees, allowing them to participate in courses, seminars, and socio-cultural activities on the university’s campuses.
- The University of Antwerp will give all Ukrainian students an EEA status. This status means they will enjoy the same tuition costs as EEA citizens if they are under temporary protection at the time of enrolment. Application deadlines have also been extended until 15 May 2022.
- As a Ukrainian student, you can find affordable study programmes in Belgium, which cost less than 1,000 euros per year. Most are available at Master’s level, but you can find some Bachelors as well.
Other support resources
- The KU Leuven university has set up an Emergency Fund to offer accommodation and support to Ukrainian students and scientists. The university also provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) and relevant information for Ukrainians.
- Ghent University has created a platform where fundraising initiatives can be published. The institution also has a Language Centre, where students can prepare for and pass English or Dutch language tests. These tests are among the admission requirements.
- The Université Libre de Bruxelles offers emergency accommodation and guidance to students, researchers, and academic staff from Ukraine. The same support is available to members of the academic communities in Russia and Belarus who are against the war.
- The Info-Ukraine website is a database with resources about shelter, medical care, psychological support, legal aid, rights, etc.
- Visit the Immigration Office page to discover how to receive temporary protection in Belgium.
- Additional details on temporary protection and accommodation in Brussels can be found on the city’s dedicated Ukraine page.
- RTBF, a public service broadcaster in Belgium, has launched a Ukrainian radio station with practical information and news.
*We recommend using the automatic Google Translate function for pages with information in French.
** Please note we give our best to constantly update the information posted here, but we may not be able to track all specific changes that may occur.
