When thinking about Belgium what kind of images are coming up to you? Belgium is one of the most developed countries in Europe with a high level of income, social benefits, and education. This country is known for its high standard of living and public safety. In this small country, there are three official languages: German, Dutch, and French. Especially, its Dutch language has a unique dialect called Flemish. More than 100,000 students study in Belgium to pursue their passionate academic interests. Let´s explore the best student cities in Belgium.
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Where should I study in Belgium?
1) Brussels: capital of Belgium
2) Antwerp: for fashion lovers
3) Leuven: the largest student city
4) Ghent: beautiful and historical
5) Liege: city in the South of Belgium
1. Brussels: capital of Belgium
Along with the sweet scent of Belgian waffles, Brussels is known for its cuisine and gastronomy, as well as its historical and architectural landmarks; some of them are registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Grand Place. Have you heard of Belgian comics? Belgian comics play a role as a center of the European comic industry. Due to its long tradition of Belgian comics, Brussels has its fame as the capital of the comic strip.
Brussels is bilingual. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish-speaking university with around 20,000 students. It’s located on a beautiful green campus with plenty of sports accommodations. There’s a cool vibe at VUB; the students and staff are considered to be very open- and urban-minded. Check out this video and you’ll see why. The Université libre de Bruxelles is the French-speaking university, next to the VUB. It has more than 20,000 students, divided over three campuses in the city. The most popular faculties are bio-engineering and European studies. Saint-Louis University, Brussels (also known as UCLouvain Saint-Louis – Bruxelles) was founded in 1858 and is known for its social and human sciences.
Further, there is also a Military university in Brussels: the Royal military academy. This school offers education for the officers of the four important sections of the Belgian defense (Army, Air Force, Navy, Medical).
2. Antwerp: for fashion lovers
Antwerp is located 40 kilometers (25 mi) north of Brussels. It is a port city. The Port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world, ranking second in Europe and the top 20 globally. The city is also known for its fashion, diamond industry, and trade. Both economically and culturally, Antwerp is and has long been an important city in Europe.
The University of Antwerp is a major Belgian university located in the city of Antwerp. This university has about 20,000 students, which makes it the third-largest university in Flanders. It is characterized by its high standards in education, internationally competitive research, and entrepreneurial approach. It was founded in 2003 after merging with three smaller universities. Every year, approximately 2000 international students visit here to study.
3. Leuven: the largest student city
Leuven is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant. It is located about 25 kilometers east of Brussels. The city is home to the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest beer brewer. Especially, Leuven has been known as the university city since 1425, because KU Leuven, Belgium's largest university is located here.
According to Reuters, KULeuven is Europe's most innovative university, and it contributes to much of the local economy: dozens of companies in high technology fields such as biotech, robotics, additive manufacturing, and IT, are located near these research institutes on the Arenberg Science Park. Also, it is the oldest Catholic university in the world. KULeuven never ranks bottom, but it consistently puts its name among the top 100 universities in the world by major ranking tables.
4. Ghent: beautiful and historical
Ghent is a port and university in Belgium. It is the third-largest city in Belgium. The city preserves well the medieval architecture remains intact. Also, the city center is car-free. The city is also famous for the ten-day-long Ghent Festival which is held annually and attracts 1–1.5 million visitors. This festival is all about music and theatre. Besides stage events, there are street acts such as mimes and buskers.
Ghent University is a historic university, founded in 1817. As one of the major universities in Belgium, the university offers 11 faculties with a wide range of courses. In 1930, the university became the first Dutch-speaking university in Belgium. This university has a high reputation: It consistently ranks among the best 100 universities in the world.
5. Liège: city in the south of Belgium
Liège is situated in the east of Belgium. It is the most economically important city in the Walloon region. Historically, Liège was one of the most important industrial centers in Europe, particularly in the steel industry. Liège has also been playing a major role in gunsmithing since the Middle Ages and the arms industry is still strong today.
The University of Liège is a major public university of the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French. There are over 2000 researchers and technicians, who are involved in a wide variety of academic subjects. Next to the campus of the University of Liège, a science park is located which is the center of high technology businesses.
What is the best way to travel best student cities in Europe?
Interrail offers a fairly cheap train pass for students. Check out the detail here!
Looking for a job while studying abroad?
Of course, you would like to earn some money while working abroad. You can strengthen your skills and learn languages faster in a work environment with colleagues. And also, the bills need to be paid, right? One of the websites you can visit to find a job is Jooble, where you’ll find plenty of jobs. Whether you want to work in a local bar, at a big corporation, or in a marketing agency, just check it.
Discover the best student cities in Belgium!
We have looked at the best student cities in Belgium. As we can see, Belgium has various places in which you can enjoy your student life. What about finding people who can explore these cities, and enjoy Belgian chocolate and waffles together, and become friends?
If you are new in the city or want to meet more like-minded people, check out the UNBLND app. You can choose your location and your interests, and meet awesome people based on these. Moreover, the best thing is: that it is free!
Search UNBLND in Google Play Store or App Store.
