Excellent education with accessible registration fees
In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the annual cost of higher education studies ranges between €8,000 and €12,000. However, to make sure that these fees are not an obstacle for young men and women wishing to embark on higher education, the government pays almost all of them. The student will just have to pay the tuition fees. Their maximum limits are set by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
The additional contribution
As a rule, tuition fees for studying at higher education institutions of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation will depend on the student’s status:
- Students from Wallonia-Brussels Federation or European Union Member State nationals pay maximum annual tuition fees of €835.
- From the academic year 2025-2026, and in accordance with ARES circular N°2025-001 of 18/02/2025, all students of non-EU nationality, with the exception of students covered by the exemptions listed below, will be required to pay registration fees (€835) and an additional contribution (€4,175) each year, i.e. a total of €5,010. This applies to enrolment at a university, a university college or a school of arts.
Please note: for certain advanced Master’s degrees and MBAs (issue of a certificate), the amount of tuition fees may differ. Contact the institution of your choice for more information.
Exemption of the additional contribution
In some cases, non-European students may be exempted from paying increased tuition fees. At that point, they will merely need to pay the annual tuition fees of €835. However, certain conditions must be met:
- nationals of a country on the UN's LDC list (Least Developed Countries); this list is currently included in Annex 1 of circular 2025-001 published by the ARES;
- students enrolled at a university (! and therefore not in a Haute Ecole or Ecole Supérieure de Arts) who are nationals of a country not included in the LDC list referred to in 1° and whose list is drawn up by the ARES: this list is currently included in annexes 2 and 3 of circular 2025-001 published by the ARES;
- students holding a certificate of upper secondary education issued by a full secondary education establishment or an establishment for social promotion organised or subsidised by the French Community at the end of two years of schooling in education organised or subsidised by the French Community;
- students enrolled in a postgraduate study programme;
- students enrolled in an AESS programme, or any Master's programme in teaching that replaces it;
- recipients of a grant awarded by Wallonia-Bruxelles International.
How can I find out how much the tuition fees are?
To find out exactly how much you need to pay in tuition fees, please contact the admissions and enrolments service of your future university, university college or school of arts. The amount to be paid will be specified in a letter authorising you to enrol.