Practical guide for Canadian students
How much does it cost to live in French-speaking Belgium?
Although the cost of living is relatively low in Belgium, it can vary from one town to another. Don’t forget to consider everything (food, transport, free time, health, etc.) when preparing your budget, to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
This means that, for a student, the cost of living may vary between €1000 (±1,500 CAD) and €1,200 (±1,800 CAD) per month and includes:
| Accommodation | Between €300 et €500/month (±460 and 780 CAD) |
| Food | €400/month (±620 CAD) |
| Study material | €50/month (±80 CAD) |
| Healthcare and insurance | €30/month (±50 CAD) |
| Public transport | €50/month (±80 CAD) |
| Other (phone bill, going out, etc.) | €170/month (±260 CAD) |
A high-quality education with tuition fees accessible to the greatest number of people
In French-speaking Belgium, access to higher education is a priority. This is why the Wallonia-Brussels Federation public institutions subsidise much of the cost of studying. This means that registration fees are fairly low, yet the quality of study is excellent.
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 on www.studyinbelgium.be, 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.
Grants, listed at www.studyinbelgium.be, are available depending on your nationality and the level of studies you wish to pursue.
Did you know that…
Numerous agreements were signed between the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and Canadian Provinces, especially with Quebec, Ontario and Acadia. wallonie-bruxelles.ca/fr/relations-entre-le-canada-et-wallonie-
bruxelles
Grants for students and (future) French teachers from New Brunswick, Acadia and Ontario are available. The aim of these grants is to provide the opportunity to participate in advanced French language training courses to become familiar with teaching French, during summer in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. wallonie-bruxelles.ca//fr/bourses-et-financement-0
Since 2024, Canada has been an associated country in pillar II of the Horizon Europe programme, which funds collaborative research projects in various fields. Canadian researchers and organisations can now participate in the programme alongside their EU-counterparts.
Testimony
"Wallonia-Brussels International Excellence Grants Programme (IN WBI) enabled me to complete my master’s degree in Belgium. The grant covered my two years of study. It is a fairly large amount of money that allowed me to live decently, and it really changed the course of my studies."
Eve-Line
Canada
Scholarships offered by WBI
Wallonia-Brussels International also offers grants, for which Canadian students are eligible, for study periods in the 2nd and 3rd cycle:
- IN WBI excellence grants programme
Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI) set up this grants programme to welcome researchers who want to carry out a postdoctoral programme within higher education institutions organised or subsidised by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Available grants can be either long-term (at least 1 year, renewable once) or short-term. - Master IN grants
The Master IN grants programme, in which Canada is one of the priority countries, is for international students who would like to pursue a master’s degree in Wallonia or Brussels and who hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution recognised by the higher education authorities in the applicant’s country. Applications must be submitted to the Walloon or Brussels higher education
institution.
EduCanada provides a search engine which lists international scholarships opportunities for Canadian students, researchers and post-secondary institutions.
Working while studying
In Belgium, all foreign students can work while studying. The only conditions are: they must be enrolled in a higher education institution in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and must have a valid residence permit.
Work time:
- During school holidays (winter, spring, summer – July, August, September): students can work with no hour limit.
- During the academic year: students can work no more than 20 hours a week and the work must be compatible with the studies.
After completing their studies in Belgium, third-country nationals may apply for an authorisation to extend their stay for a maximum of 12 months to find a job or set up a business to obtain a residence permit for work purposes.
To find out more, visit the website of the Immigration Office.
Québec
Maroc
Chile
Canada
Brazil