This is a list of universities in Belgium. In Belgium, which is a federal state, the constitution attributes legislative power over higher education to the Communities.Belgian Constitution (Dutch). Belgian Senate. Retrieved on November 20, 2007 The Dutch-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.Ministry of Education. Retrieved on November 20, 2007
Institutes of higher education in the Flemish Community
Universities Five Flemish universities issue academic bachelor, master and doctoral degrees: University of Antwerp, Antwerp Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ixelles, Anderlecht, Jette, Gooik Ghent University, Ghent Hasselt University, Hasselt and Diepenbeek Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Brussels, Antwerp, Geel, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Ghent, Kortrijk, Bruges and Diepenbeek
As a result of an international treaty between the Netherlands and Flanders, a co-operation between the Hasselt University (Flanders) and the Maastricht University (the Netherlands) is recognised as the Transnational University Limburg, Hasselt
According to the Webometrics Ranking of World UniversitiesWebometrics Ranking of World Universities Cybermetrics Lab, Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain. Retrieved on January 16, 2007 and the THES - QS World University Rankings,THES - QS World University Rankings 2007 QS Education Trust. Retrieved on January 16, 2007 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 University of Antwerp 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 Ghent University Arteveldehogeschool (Ghent), Catholic Hogeschool Gent (Ghent, Aalst, Melle), public Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (Bruges, Kortrijk), public
University Association Brussels: public university college associated with Vrije Universiteit Brussel Erasmushogeschool Brussel (Brussels)
K.U.Leuven Association: catholic university colleges associated with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Dilbeek, Aalst, Brussels, Ghent, Sint-Niklaas) LUCA School of Arts (Genk, Ghent, Leuven, Brussels) Thomas More Kempen (Geel, Lier, Turnhout, Vorselaar) Thomas More Mechelen-Antwerpen (Antwerp, Mechelen, Sint-Katelijne-Waver) (Diepenbeek, Leuven, Genk, Hasselt, Diest) Katholieke Hogeschool VIVES (Kortrijk, Bruges, Roeselare, Ostend)
Limburg University and College Association: public university college associated with Hasselt University (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 (Antwerp) College of Europe (Bruges) Continental Theological Seminary (Sint-Pieters-Leeuw) Evangelical Theological Faculty (Leuven) Brussels Faculty for Protestant Theology (Brussels) Flanders Business School (Antwerp) Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp) Vesalius College (Brussels) Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School (Leuven, Ghent)
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.Annuaire de l'enseignement supérieur Administration générale de l'Enseignement du Communauté française de Belgique. Retrieved on November 20, 2007
Universities
Université de Namur (UNamur), Namur Saint-Louis University, Brussels (UCLouvain), Brussels Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels, Mons, Tournai, Charleroi and Namur University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Gembloux and Arlon University of Mons (UMons), Mons Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels (FUTP), Etterbeek (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,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 University of Liège) are among the top 150 universities in Europe and top 350 universities worldwide.
University colleges , Brussels , Brussels and Nivelles , Brussels Haute École Léonard de Vinci, Brussels , Brussels , Brussels , Brussels École pratique des hautes études commerciales, Brussels and Louvain-la-Neuve , Liège, Huy, Gembloux, Verviers Haute École libre Mosane - HELMo, Liège, Huy, Verviers, Theux and Ans , Liège Haute École de la Province de Liège, Liège, Seraing, Theux, Verviers and Huy , Namur and Tamines Haute École de la Province de Namur, Namur and Ciney , Namur, Arlon, Bastogne, Marche-en-Famenne, Seraing, Virton Haute École Robert Schuman, Arlon, Libramont-Chevigny, Virton , Mons, Louvain-la-Neuve, Braine-le-Compte, La Louvière, Charleroi, Gerpinnes, Leuze-en-Hainaut, Mouscron, and Tournai Haute École de la Communauté française en Hainaut, Mons and Tournai , Mons, Ath, Saint-Ghislain, Charleroi, Mouscron, Froyennes and Morlanwelz
Arts colleges Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles - École Supérieure des Arts, Brussels Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles - École Supérieure des Arts, Brussels Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle et des techniques de diffusion (INSAS), Brussels École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de La Cambre, Brussels 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 Le 75, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert Institut des Arts de Diffusion (IAD), Louvain-la-Neuve Royal Conservatory of Liège, 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:
, Eupen
Federal institutions The school of the Belgian Armes Forces officers is organised by Belgium's Federal Government, and has the status of university:
Royal Military Academy, Brussels
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, United States) University of Kent's Brussels School of International Studies (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, 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: University QS World(2027) THE World(2026) ARWU World(2026) USNWR World(2026–27) CWTS Leiden(2025) CWUR World(2026) #aDutch-speaking universitiesCatholic University of Leuven594687486798Ghent University150=11598104110137University of Antwerp277=170=201-300206=415303Free University of Brussels295201–250201-300364=538443University of Hasselt639=301–350701-800912=1141830French-speaking universitiesUniversité catholique de Louvain196=184=201-300216=365252Université libre de Bruxelles248201–250101-150275=480263University of Liège364=301–350401-500421=514307University of Mons801-850601–800801-900 d1142=N.A.1187University of Namur801-850801–1000N.A.1500=N.A.1540Saint-Louis University, BrusselsN.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.N.A.
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. d ARWU World Rankings 2023 (rankings thereafter are not available).
See also Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) Education in Belgium List of Belgian Nobel laureates List of colleges and universities List of colleges and universities by country List of faculties of law in Belgium Universities in Leuven Science and technology in Belgium University Foundation Open access in Belgium
References
External links Belnet, the Belgian national research network for education, research and public services. Belgian Science Policy Office