How to get into a Belgian medical school: a guide for international students

Belgium presents a compelling opportunity for aspiring doctors, offering a powerful combination of world-class education and a clear path to employment. However, navigating the application process requires a strategic approach. This guide breaks down everything you need to know.

Why study medicine in Belgium?

The appeal is twofold. First, you have access to globally recognized institutions. Universities like KU Leuven and Ghent University consistently rank among the top 100-200 in the world, ensuring a top-tier medical education.

Second, Belgium has a documented and predictable shortage of healthcare professionals. The country’s healthcare system is actively seeking doctors, especially general practitioners. For instance, in the French-speaking region of Wallonia, 129 out of 252 municipalities report a doctor shortage. With nearly 10% of practicing physicians over the age of 65, a wave of retirements is set to create even more job openings. This unique situation means a medical degree from a Belgian university isn’t just a prestigious diploma—it’s a qualification with a high probability of leading to employment and a long-term career in the country.

The four key challenges

While the opportunity is significant, applicants must be prepared for several major hurdles.

The Academic Barrier: The biggest obstacle is the highly competitive entrance exam (Concours d’entrée in the French Community or Toelatingsexamen in the Flemish Community). For non-EU applicants, the French Community imposes a strict quota, reserving only 15% of spots for international students. This transforms the exam from a test of knowledge into a fierce competition where you must outperform 85% of other international candidates.
The Financial Barrier: You must prove you have sufficient funds to support yourself. For the 2025-2026 academic year, this is set at €835 per month (€10,020 annually). Furthermore, tuition for non-EU students is substantially higher, ranging from €5,010 per year in the French Community to over €8,000 in the Flemish Community.
The Language Barrier: While a B2 level in French or Dutch is the formal requirement, the reality is that you’ll need C1 proficiency to succeed in the complex entrance exam and subsequent medical studies.
The Bureaucratic Barrier: Your high school diploma (e.g., the Russian Attestat) is not automatically accepted. You must first go through a mandatory credential evaluation process to have it declared equivalent, known as équivalence. For the French Community, the deadline for this is July 15, and it is non-negotiable.

Step 1: Getting your diploma recognized

Before you can even think about the entrance exam, you must have your high school diploma validated.

For the French Community: Submit your application online to the Service des Équivalences de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles at www.equivalences.cfwb.be. The strict deadline is July 15. The administrative fee is approximately €200.
For the Flemish Community: The process is managed by NARIC-Vlaanderen. Applications are submitted online via their portal at www.naricvlaanderen.be.

For your application, you will need an apostilled original of your diploma and academic transcript, a translation by a sworn translator, and proof of eligibility for university admission in your home country.

Choose your admission path

There are two main routes to entering a Belgian medical program.

Path A: The competitive entrance exam (main route)

This is the standard and virtually only path for a recent high school graduate from outside the EU. The exams are administered separately by each language community.

Flemish Community: The Toelatingsexamen Arts en Tandarts (Entrance Exam for Medicine and Dentistry) is a two-part test. The first section, «Knowledge and Insight in Sciences» (KIW), covers math, physics, chemistry, and biology. The second, «General Competencies» (GC), assesses critical thinking and communication.
French Community: The Concours d’entrée et d’accès (Entrance and Access Competition) is also split into two sections: one on scientific knowledge (chemistry, biology, physics, math) and another on humanities, including logical reasoning, communication, ethics, and empathy. This is the exam where the 15% quota for non-EU residents is enforced.

Path B: Preparatory courses (alternative route)

Belgium does not have formal preparatory colleges like the German Studienkolleg. However, some universities, such as the University of Namur (UNamur), offer intensive preparatory courses (cours préparatoires) designed specifically to help you pass the entrance exam.

These courses are not a requirement but a strategic tool. Because success in the French-speaking universities means scoring in the top 15% of international applicants, standard high school knowledge may not be enough. These prep courses offer two key advantages:

They familiarize you with the format and difficulty of the exam questions.
They teach you the specific methodology for tackling multiple-choice questions (MCQs), including how to identify «distractors»—plausible but incorrect answers designed to mislead you.

Think of these courses not as a way to catch up, but as intensive training to win a competition.

Select the right university

Your choice of university should be based on pragmatic factors like language, cost, and admission system, not just prestige.

Table 1: A comparison of Belgian medical schools (2025)

University (THE Ranking: Medicine)	Key feature	Admission details (non-EU)	Language & cost (non-EU)
KU Leuven (#41)	Founded in 1425, it’s the oldest university in the Benelux region.	Flemish Community exam (Toelatingsexamen). No explicit quota, but very high competition.	Dutch. Tuition ~€4,100–€7,700.
Ghent University (#96)	A historic university founded in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands.	Flemish Community exam (Toelatingsexamen).	Dutch. Tuition ~€6,929.
UCLouvain (#151-175)	Located in a city built specifically for the university after its split in 1968.	French Community exam (Concours d’entrée). Strict 15% non-resident quota.	French. Tuition €5,010.
Université de Liège (#201-250)	Features a unique, sprawling campus located in a forest park outside the city center.	French Community exam (Concours d’entrée). Strict 15% non-resident quota.	French. Tuition €5,010.

Financial planning and student life

Cost of living

Living expenses vary by city. Brussels is the most expensive, while cities like Liège are more affordable.

Table 2: Estimated monthly student budget (2025)

Expense Category	Brussels (€)	Antwerp/Leuven (€)	Liège (€)
Rent (Room/Studio)	900–1,415	763–916	700–824
Food	300–400	200–300	200–300
Health Insurance	~50	~50	~50
Transportation	50–80	50–80	50–80
Other (Books, Leisure)	~150	~150	~150
Monthly Total (Approx.)	~1,450–2,095	~1,213–1,496	~1,150–1,404

Working while you study

Non-EU students with a residence permit are allowed to work, but with strict rules:

A maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic semester.
Full-time work is permitted during official university holidays (summer, Christmas).
Students enrolled only in preparatory language courses are typically not allowed to work.

Scholarships

For applicants from Russia and most other non-EU countries, it is crucial to plan your finances without expecting major scholarships. Most Belgian government programs are targeted at developing nations.

ARES & VLIR-UOS Scholarships: Not available for students from Russia/CIS.
Master Mind Scholarships: A prestigious Flemish government scholarship available to exceptional master’s students from all countries. However, universities nominate candidates, so it is not something you can apply for directly and is highly competitive.

Your primary funding sources will likely be personal savings and family support.

Total Estimated Annual Cost: (Tuition [~€5,010-€8,000] + Living Costs [~€15,000]) – Potential Part-Time Income [~€0-€5,000] = ~€18,000–€23,000 per year.

Your career after graduation

Belgium actively encourages its international graduates to stay and work.

The ‘orientation year’

After graduating, non-EU students can apply for a 12-month residence permit known as the «Orientation Year.» This gives you one year to legally stay in Belgium to search for a job or start a business.

Medical residency

Your first career step will be a paid hospital position as a resident doctor—Arts-specialist in opleiding (ASO) in Dutch or Médecin spécialiste en formation (MSF) in French. As of 2025, the minimum gross monthly salary for a first-year resident is €3,712.83, increasing with experience.

Path to permanent residence and citizenship

A successful career opens the door to long-term residency. After five years of continuous legal residence on a work permit, you can apply for permanent resident status. After the same five-year period, you also become eligible to apply for Belgian citizenship.

Егор Кугно