This is a list of universities in Belgium. In

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

, which is a federal state, the constitution attributes legislative power over higher education to the Communities. The

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

-speaking Flemish Community, the French Community and the German Community thus determine which institutes of higher education they organise or recognise, and which diplomas may be legally issued by these institutes. Below is a list of recognised institutes of higher education in Belgium sorted by the responsible Community.

Institutes of higher education in the Flemish Community

Universities

Five Flemish universities issue academic bachelor, master and doctoral degrees: *

University of Antwerp The University of Antwerp ( nl, Universiteit Antwerpen) is a major Belgian university located in the city of Antwerp. The official abbreviation is ''UA'', but ''UAntwerpen'' is more recently used. The University of Antwerp has about 20,000 stud ...

, Antwerp *

Vrije Universiteit Brussel The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) () is a Dutch and English-speaking research university located in Brussels, Belgium.The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is one of the five universities officially recognised by the Flemish government. listof all ...

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

Ghent University Ghent University ( nl, Universiteit Gent, abbreviated as UGent) is a public research university located in Ghent, Belgium. Established before the state of Belgium itself, the university was founded by the Dutch King William I in 1817, when th ...

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded i ...

* Hasselt University, Hasselt and

Diepenbeek Diepenbeek (; li, Diepenbik) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. On January 1, 2012, Diepenbeek had a total population of 18,337. Its total area is 41.19 km² (15.9 sq mi) which gives a population dens ...

* Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven As a result of an international treaty between the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

and

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to cultu ...

, a co-operation between the Hasselt University (Flanders) and the

Maastricht University Maastricht University (abbreviated as UM; nl, Universiteit Maastricht) is a public research university in Maastricht, Netherlands. Founded in 1976, it is the second youngest of the thirteen Dutch universities. In 2021, 22,383 students studied at ...

(the Netherlands) is recognised as the * Transnational University Limburg, Hasselt According to the

Webometrics Ranking of World Universities The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, also known as Ranking Web of Universities, is a ranking system for the world's universities based on a composite indicator that takes into account both the volume of the Web content (number of web page ...

and the THES - QS World University Rankings, four Flemish universities (University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ghent University and KU Leuven) are among the top 150 universities in Europe and top 300 universities worldwide.

University colleges

All recognised Flemish university colleges (''hogescholen'') are associated with a Flemish university. The following university colleges, which issue professional bachelor, academic bachelor's and master's degrees, are recognised by the Flemish government: Antwerp University Association: university colleges associated with the

* Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen ( Antwerp), public * Hogere Zeevaartschool Antwerpen (Antwerp), public * Karel de Grote-Hogeschool - Katholieke Hogeschool Antwerpen (Antwerp), Catholic Ghent University Association: university colleges associated with

* Arteveldehogeschool (

), Catholic * Hogeschool Gent (Ghent, Aalst,

Melle Melle may refer to: People * Basil Melle (1891–1966), South African cricketer * Gil Mellé (1931–2004), American artist, jazz musician and film composer * John van Melle (1887–1953), Dutch-born South African author * Melle Mel (born 19 ...

), public * Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (

Bruges Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the country by population. The area of the whole city a ...

Kortrijk Kortrijk ( , ; vls, Kortryk or ''Kortrik''; french: Courtrai ; la, Cortoriacum), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It is the capital and large ...

), public University Association Brussels: public university college associated with

Erasmushogeschool Brussel The Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Dutch: ''Erasmushogeschool Brussel'') is an institute of higher education based in Brussels, Belgium. Like the EU student exchange programme ERASMUS, EhB is named after the humanistic ...

(

) K.U.Leuven Association: catholic university colleges associated with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven * Odisee (

Dilbeek Dilbeek () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Dilbeek proper, Groot-Bijgaarden, Itterbeek (with Sint-Anna-Pede), Schepdaal (with Sint-Gertrudis-Pe ...

, Aalst, Brussels, Ghent, Sint-Niklaas) * LUCA School of Arts (

Genk Genk () is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the town of Genk itself. It is one of the most important industrial towns in Flanders, located on the Albert Canal, ...

, Ghent, Leuven, Brussels) * Thomas More Kempen (

Geel Geel () is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp, which acquired city status in the 1980s. It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns: Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum. Further on around the ce ...

, Lier,

Turnhout Turnhout () is a Belgian municipality and city located in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. In 2021, Turnhout had a total population of 45,874. The total area is . The agglomeration, ho ...

, Vorselaar) * Thomas More Mechelen-Antwerpen (Antwerp, Mechelen,

Sint-Katelijne-Waver Sint-Katelijne-Waver (, old spelling: ''Kathelijne-Waver''; french: Wavre-Sainte-Catherine, ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver and Sint-Katelijne-Waver ...

) * UC Leuven-Limburg (

, Leuven, Genk, Hasselt,

Diest Diest () is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Situated in the northeast of the Hageland region, Diest neighbours the provinces of Antwerp to its North, and Limburg to the East and is situated around ...

) * Katholieke Hogeschool VIVES (

Roeselare Roeselare (; french: Roulers, ; West Flemish: ''Roeseloare'') is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke. Th ...

Ostend Ostend ( nl, Oostende, ; french: link=no, Ostende ; german: link=no, Ostende ; vls, Ostende) is a coastal city and municipality, located in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerk ...

) Limburg University and College Association: public university college associated with Hasselt University * Hogeschool PXL (Hasselt, Diepenbeek, Genk)

Registered institutes of higher education

Finally, the Flemish government has recognised a number of "registered" institutes of higher education, which mostly issue specialised degrees or provide education mainly in a foreign language: *

Antwerp Management School The Antwerp Management School ( nl, Antwerp Management School) is the University of Antwerp's autonomous business school. It is located in the historical center of the city of Antwerp. The school offers eight full-time master programs and more th ...

( Antwerp) *

College of Europe The College of Europe (french: Collège d'Europe) is a post-graduate institute of European studies with its main campus in Bruges, Belgium and a second campus in Warsaw, Poland. The College of Europe in Bruges was founded in 1949 by leading ...

(

) * Continental Theological Seminary ( Sint-Pieters-Leeuw) * Evangelical Theological Faculty ( Leuven) * Brussels Faculty for Protestant Theology (

) * Flanders Business School ( Antwerp) *

Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine The Institute of Tropical Medicine ( nl, Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, ITG; french: Institut de médecine tropicale, or IMT), officially known as Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, is one of the world's leading institutes for ...

(Antwerp) * Vesalius College (Brussels) *

Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School Vlerick Business School ("Vlerick") is a Belgian business school with campuses in Ghent, Leuven and Brussels. It is a result of a merger of the MBA programmes of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and of the ''Instituut Professor Vlerick voor Ma ...

( Leuven,

)

Institutes of higher education in the French Community

The French Community distinguishes between universities, colleges (''Hautes Écoles'') and arts colleges (''Écoles supérieures des Arts''). A list of all recognised institutes is maintained in the ''Annuaire de l'enseignement supérieur''.

Universities

Université de Namur The University of Namur or ''Université de Namur'' (UNamur),New name since September 2012, formerly ''Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix'' (FUNDP)/ref> in Namur (Belgium), is a Jesuit, Catholic private university in the French Communi ...

(UNamur), Namur * Saint-Louis University, Brussels (UCLouvain),

* Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain),

Louvain-la-Neuve Louvain-la-Neuve (, French for ''New Leuven''; wa, Li Noû Lovén) is a planned town in the municipality of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Wallonia, Belgium, situated 30 km southeast of Brussels, in the province of Walloon Brabant. The town ...

, Brussels, Mons, Tournai, Charleroi and Namur *

University of Liège The University of Liège (french: Université de Liège), or ULiège, is a major public university of the French Community of Belgium based in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium. Its official language is French. As of 2020, ULiège is ranked in the 301 ...

(ULiège), Liège,

Gembloux Gembloux (; wa, Djiblou; nl, Gembloers, ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 21,964 inhabitants. The total area is 95.86 km², yielding a population dens ...

and

Arlon Arlon (; lb, Arel ; nl, Aarlen ; german: Arel ; wa, Årlon; la, Orolaunum) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in and capital of the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes, Belgium. With a population of just over 28,000, it is th ...

University of Mons The University of Mons (french: Université de Mons) is a Belgian university located in the city of Mons, founded in 2009 by merging the Engineering Faculty of Mons (FPMs) and the University of Mons-Hainaut. The merging of the institutions w ...

(UMons), Mons * Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB),

* Faculté universitaire de Théologie Protestante (FUTP),

Etterbeek Etterbeek (French: ; Dutch: ) is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the eastern part of the region, it is bordered by the municipalities of Auderghem, the City of Brussels, Ixelles, Schaerbeek, Wolu ...

(recognised by both communities, its diplomas are not delivered by the French community) According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, two of these universities ( Université catholique de Louvain and Université libre de Bruxelles) are among the top 150 universities worldwide. According to the

,Webometrics Ranking of World Universities
Cybermetrics Lab, Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain. Retrieved on November 20, 2007 two of these universities ( Université catholique de Louvain and

) are among the top 150 universities in Europe and top 350 universities worldwide.

University colleges

* Haute École Francisco Ferrer,

* Haute École Bruxelles-Brabant, Brussels and

Nivelles Nivelles (; nl, Nijvel, ; wa, Nivele; vls, Neyvel) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. The Nivelles municipality includes the former municipalities of Baulers, Bornival, Thines, and Monst ...

* Haute École Galilée, Brussels * Haute École Léonard de Vinci, Brussels * Haute École Lucia de Brouckère, Brussels * Haute École Groupe ICHEC - ISC Saint-Louis - ISFSC,

* Haute École libre de Bruxelles - Ilya Prigogine, Brussels *

École pratique des hautes études commerciales L'école pratique des hautes études commerciales (EPHEC) is a university college in Belgium. The school has three campuses, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Louvain-la-Neuve and Schaerbeek (French and archaic Dutch, ) or (contemporary Dutch, ) is ...

, Brussels and

* Haute École Charlemagne, Liège,

Huy Huy ( or ; nl, Hoei, ; wa, Hu) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the ''sillon industriel'', the former industrial ...

Verviers Verviers (; wa, Vervî) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Ensival, Heusy, Lambermont, Petit-Rechain, Stembert, and Verviers. It is also ...

* Haute École libre Mosane - HELMo, Liège, Huy, Verviers,

Theux Theux (; wa, Teu) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 11,571 inhabitants. The total area is 83.36 km², giving a population density of 139 inhabitants per km². ...

and Ans * Haute École de la Ville de Liège, Liège *

Haute École de la Province de Liège In 2007, the three Belgian ''Hautes Ecoles ( Colleges)'' of the Province of Liège (Léon-Eli Troclet, André Vésale and Rennequin Sualem) came together in a single large ensemble called Haute Ecole de la Province de Liège (HEPL). This college ...

, Liège,

Seraing Seraing (; wa, Serè) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, Ougrée, and Seraing. With Liège, Herstal, Sai ...

, Theux, Verviers and Huy * Haute École Albert Jacquard, Namur and

Tamines Tamines ( wa, Tamene) is a village of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Sambreville, located in the province of Namur, Belgium. During the Middle Ages, there was a seat of an alderman in the village, which had strong connections to t ...

* Haute École de la Province de Namur, Namur and

Ciney Ciney (; wa, Cînè) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium. As of 2018, Ciney had a total population of 16,439. The total area is 147.56 km² which gives a population density of 111 inhabitants per k ...

* Haute École de Namur-Liège-Luxembourg, Namur,

Bastogne Bastogne (; nl, Bastenaken, ; german: Bastnach/Bastenach; lb, Baaschtnech) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Bastogn ...

Marche-en-Famenne Marche-en-Famenne (, literally ''Marche in Famenne''; wa, Måtche-el-Fåmene, ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. The municipality consists of the following districts: Aye, Hargimont, Hum ...

, Seraing,

Virton Virton (; Gaumais: ''Viertån''; wa, Vierton) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium. It is also the administrative centre of the district (''arrondissement'') of the same name, as well as the pri ...

* Haute École Robert Schuman, Arlon,

Libramont-Chevigny Libramont-Chevigny (; wa, Libråmont) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium. On 1 February 2015, the municipality, which covers 177.86 km², had 10,955 inhabitants, giving a population density of 61,5 ...

, Virton * Haute École Louvain en Hainaut - HELHa, Mons, Louvain-la-Neuve, Braine-le-Compte, La Louvière, Charleroi,

Gerpinnes Gerpinnes (; wa, Djerpene) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. On 1 January 2018 the municipality had 12,660 inhabitants. The total area is 47.10 km², giving a population density of 269 inhabitants p ...

Leuze-en-Hainaut Leuze-en-Hainaut (; pcd, Leuze-in-Hénau; wa, Leuze-e-Hinnot) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. On 1 January 2018, it had a population of 13,886. The municipality consists of the following dis ...

Mouscron Mouscron (; Dutch and vls, Moeskroen, ; Picard and Walloon: ''Moucron'') is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, along the border with the French city of Tourcoing, which is part of the Lille metropol ...

, and Tournai * Haute École de la Communauté française en Hainaut, Mons and Tournai * Haute École Provinciale de Hainaut - Condorcet, Mons,

Ath Ath (; nl, Aat, ; pcd, Ât; wa, Ate) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Arbre, Ath, Bouvignies, Ghislenghien, Gibecq, Houtaing, ...

Saint-Ghislain Saint-Ghislain (; pcd, Saint-Guilagne; wa, Sint-Guilin) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. On 1 January 2018 the municipality had 23,335 inhabitants. The total area is , giving a population dens ...

, Charleroi, Mouscron,

Froyennes Tournai or Tournay ( ; ; nl, Doornik ; pcd, Tornai; wa, Tornè ; la, Tornacum) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It lies southwest of Brussels on the river Scheldt. Tournai is part of Eurome ...

and

Morlanwelz Morlanwelz (; wa, Marlanwé) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. On 1 January 2006 Morlanwelz had a total population of 18,595. The total area is 20.26 km2 which gives a population density of 918 inhab ...

Arts colleges

* Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles - École Supérieure des Arts,

* Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles - École Supérieure des Arts,

* Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle et des techniques de diffusion (INSAS),

* École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de La Cambre,

* École de Recherche Graphique - École Supérieure des Arts (ERG), Saint-Gilles * Instituts Saint-Luc de Bruxelles - École Supérieure des Arts, Saint-Gilles * École Supérieure des Arts du Cirque,

Auderghem Auderghem (former Dutch spelling, now used in French; pronounced ) or Oudergem () is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium). Located to the southeast of the region, along the Woluwe valley and at the entrance to t ...

* Le 75,

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert Woluwe-Saint-Lambert () or Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe ( Dutch, ) is one of the nineteen municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It is a prosperous residential area, with a mixture of flats and detached, semi-detached and terraced hou ...

* Institut des Arts de Diffusion (IAD),

Royal Conservatory of Liège Royal Conservatoire of Liège The Royal Conservatoire of Liège (RCL) (French Conservatoire royal de Liège, Dutch Koninklijk Conservatorium Luik) is one of four conservatories in the French Community of Belgium that offers higher education cour ...

, Liège * École Supérieure des Arts de la Ville de Liège, Liège * École Superieure des Arts Saint-Luc de Liège, Liège * Institut Supérieur de Musique et de Pédagogie, Namur * Arts², Mons * Académie des Beaux-Arts de Tournai * École Supérieure des Arts Saint-Luc Tournai, Tournai

Institutes of higher education in the German-speaking Community

A single college is operated by the

German-speaking Community of Belgium The German-speaking Community (german: links=no, Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft, or DG; french: links=no, Communauté germanophone; nl, links=no, Duitstalige Gemeenschap), since 2017 also known as East Belgium (german: links=no, Ostbelgien), is ...

: * Autonome Hochschule in der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft,

Eupen Eupen (, ; ; formerly ) is the capital of German-speaking Community of Belgium and is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of Liège, from the German border ( Aachen), from the Dutch border (Maastricht) and from the " High Fens" ...

Federal institutions

The school of the Belgian Armes Forces

officers An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...

is organised by Belgium's Federal Government, and has the status of university: * Royal Military Academy,

Institutes recognised by foreign countries

The following institutes are not recognised by the Flemish or French speaking communities, but by a foreign country: * American University, Brussels Center for European Studies (headquarters:

Washington, District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morga ...

, United States) *

University of Kent , motto_lang = , mottoeng = Literal translation: 'Whom to serve is to reign'(Book of Common Prayer translation: 'whose service is perfect freedom')Graham Martin, ''From Vision to Reality: the Making of the University of Kent at Canterbury'' ...

(headquarters: Canterbury, United Kingdom) * Business University, Brussels (headquarters: San Jose, Costa Rica)

Institutions with external validation

The following academic institutions offer accredited degree programmes which are externally validated by foreign institutions of higher education and learning: * Bhaktivedanta College, Durbuy (degrees externally validated by the

University of Chester , mottoeng = "He that teacheth, on teaching" , former_names = , established = (gained university status in 2005) , type = Public , endowment = £395,000 (2018) , budget = £118.3 million , chancellor = Gyles Brandreth , vice_chancell ...

, UK) * International School of Protocol and Diplomacy, Brussels (degrees externally awarded by the Universidad Camilo José Cela, Spain) * United Business Institutes, Brussels (degrees externally validated by Middlesex University, UK)

International rankings

Below are shown the international rankings of the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking universities in Belgium, and the number of times they rank in the top 200 of one of the six prominent global rankings: Notes:
N.A.: Not Applicable
^a Number of times the university is ranked within the top 200 of one of the six global rankings.
^b The university is ranked within the top 150 of all six global rankings.
^c The university is ranked within the top 100 of all six global rankings.

References

External links

Belnet
the Belgian national research network for education, research and public services.
Belgian Science Policy Office
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Universities In Belgium

Universities A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...

Institutes of higher education in the Flemish Community

Universities

University colleges

Registered institutes of higher education

Institutes of higher education in the French Community

Universities

University colleges

Arts colleges

Institutes of higher education in the German-speaking Community

Federal institutions

Institutes recognised by foreign countries

Institutions with external validation

International rankings

See also

References

External links