How to enroll as a student ? - Admissions
Admission requirements
Bachelor programmes
Please note that the Vrije Universiteit Brussel itself does not offer any bachelor courses in English. Students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English are advised to visit the website of Vesalius College. Foreign students with thorough knowledge of the Dutch language can consult our Dutch web pages.
The general admission requirement for higher education is the Flemish "Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs", the secondary school leaving certificate. Foreign students wanting to study at Vrije Universiteit Brussel need to prove having obtained a secondary school leaving certificate giving access to university education in their home country.
A number of foreign secondary school leaving certificates are considered equal to a Flemish "Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs”. If your secondary school leaving certificate or diploma is listed here you do not need to submit an application file (see below).
An entrance exam must be passed by any student (Flemish or other) wanting to take up study in Medicine and Dentistry. More information on this exam (website in Dutch only).
Master programmes and postgraduate degrees
Admission is based upon acceptance of the application form (proof of meeting the language requirements, necessary background...). More information on how to apply can be found below.
Procedure for Chinese students
From the academic year 2007-2008 onwards all students from the P.R. China will have to obtain a certificate of academic screening issued by the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) of the German Embassy in Beijing before being allowed to enroll at any higher education institution, language course or other preparatory course in Flanders.
The APS certificate is also required for obtaining a student visa to Belgium. Students planning to study in Flanders are advised to contact the Academic Evaluation Centre in Beijing as soon as possible in order to make the necessary appointments and this before applying for a visa. More information on APS can be found at www.aps.org.cn. E-mail info@aps.org.cn.
Application package
Admission is based upon acceptance of the application (proof of meeting the academic and language requirements, necessary background...).
The completed application package, together with all required documents should be returned to:
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Registrar's Office
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussel
Belgium
before:
- Students requiring a visa: March 1, 2012
- Student who do not require a visa: June 1, 2012
Applications received after the deadline will be transferred to the academic year 2013-2014.
Application package
| EEA students | Master programs |
| Non EEA students | Master programs |
| PhD students | PhD (no deadline) |
Application packages can also be obtained from the Student Information Hub: info@vub.ac.be.
* Please note that, although the programme is still enlisted in the application forms, from academic year 2011-2012 onwards the advanced master 'Advanced Studies in Human Ecology' is no longer offered, so new students can no longer apply for this programme.
Importing remark for students requiring a visa!
Depending on your local mail services, it can take up to 4 weeks before your package arrives in Brussels. Please note that we have to receive your package no later than March 1st. If your local mail services are slow, make sure you send us your package before February.
| Letter of Recommendation | Example. This letter can serve as a template |
After sending your application package
Students will receive a confirmation e-mail once their file has arrived and is entered into the database. Your file will be transferred to the faculty of the programme you applied for. As soon as the faculty makes a decision on your application, a letter of acceptance or refusal will be issued. These letters will be sent digitally to your e-mail address and the following day by postal mail. Postal mail is never sent by courier service. This means that it can take up to 4 weeks before you receive your official letter of acceptance.
As soon as you have received your letter of acceptance, it’s very important to make an appointment with the Belgian Embassy in your home country for your visa application. It’s best to make this appointment at least 6 months before your expected arrival in Belgium. This will give you all the time you need to prepare your stay in Belgium. The university will not help or intervene in case of problems in obtaining the student visa. The university also cannot be held responsible for students not getting their visa in time.
| Please note that due to imminent changes in the Flemish legislation and the VUB teaching regulations, changes to this application form may occur. |
Registration
- Where and when?
- Online preregistration
- Documents needed for registration
- Student card and certificates
- Working students
Where and when?
Campus Etterbeek |
Campus Jette |
Building D, room 1.07 Contact |
Building A Contact |
Online preregistration
To save time, you can also submit your preregistration online*. Bring the print-out of your pre-registration to the registration desk.
*Your on line preregistration provides us with the basic information, necessary at the time of your actual enrollment.
Documents needed for registration
Once you have met the International Relations and Mobility Office administrator, you will be given the necessary documents and information to enroll as a student at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. You will need to bring:
- your passport or Belgian residence permit
- your letter of acceptance
- proof of European health insurance
- if you use your debit or credit card to pay your tuition fees immediately, you will also need an ID photograph
- the print-out of your online preregistration
For working students only:
- Working students can fill out the Statement of Honor form in advance and bring it with them. On this form can also be indicated whether you would like to make use of the Betaald Educatief Verlof (paid educational leave) or Vormingsverlof (training leave) system. You can find this form on this page under the section 'Forms'.
- If you would like to take evening classes for personal reasons, you need to ask the dean of your faculty for permission. You can do so by bringing the request form at the moment of registration. You can find this form on this page under the section 'Forms'.
For non-EEA students who need a VISA:
Non-EEA students, who need to apply for a Visa, are obliged to register in a full-time curriculum. This means that the student should register for at least 54 ECTS.
Student card and certificates
Student Card
Erasmus students: please contact the Welcome Office.
Student cards will be issued after payment of tuition fees. These cards, with ID photo, can be laminated at your faculty student office or at the Student Information Hub . Should you notice any errors on your card, please contact the Student Information Hub (campus Etterbeek) or information administrator (campus Jette) immediately.
You will need your student card
- to buy meals in the restaurant
- to buy a sports card (see website Sport)
- to gain access to the library
- to obtain a discount when using public transportation (specific restrictions apply)
Enrollment certificates
Should you need additional enrollment certificates (for the municipal authorities or the taxation services for example), you can get these from the Student Information Hub (campus Etterbeek) or information administrator (campus Jette).
- Etterbeek: Student Information Hub, building D
- Jette: info@gf.vub.ac.be, Tel. +32 (0)2 477 41 02
Working students
The working student statute, which enables you to take evening and weekend classes, can be requested if you cannot take daytime classes due to your professional activities (or equivalent activities). Job-seekers entitled to benefits can also be admitted (Note: not applicable to job-seekers in their waiting period for entitlement).
It is also possible to take evening and weekend classes for personal reasons, for instance when your family situation does not allow you to take daytime classes. You then need to send the dean of your faculty a motivated request.
You need to ask the dean of your faculty for permission. You can do so by bringing the requested form at the moment of registration. You can find this form on this page under the section 'Forms'.
Yearly renewal of the working student statute
The working student statute needs to be renewed each academic year. When you enroll for the first time you can fill out the Statement of Honor form at the moment of registration. If you were enrolled the previous year, the Statement of Honor form will be sent to your VUB mail account (along with your payment invitation), and needs to be handed in at the Student Information Hub.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees depend on the programme, your scholarship status and your nationality. The tuition fee consists of a fixed part that needs to be paid each academic year and a variable element that is multiplied by the number of credits you take. For a full-time programme between 54 and 66 credits students pay a fixed amount.
A detailed overview of the tuition fees for each programme of study can be found on the links below.
Tuition fees with diploma contract:
- Preparatory programme for master
- Preparatory programme for advanced master
- Bridging programme
- Master
- Advanced master
- Teacher Training
- PhD studies
- Postgraduates
Tuition fees with exam contract
Tuition fees with credit contract
Scholarship students
- Students receiving a scholarship from the Flemish government.
- Students who are not entitled to a scholarship from the Flemish government because of the study requirements but who meet the financial and nationality requirements. This does not apply to advanced masters.
- Students receiving a scholarship from DGOS, BTC or scholarship students from the VLIR development cooperation study programmes.
'Near-scholarship students' (reduced tuition system)
- Students who are not entitled to a scholarship from the Flemish government, but whose reference income does not exceed 1416 euro (amount academic year 2010-2011) above the maximum limit for getting such scholarship.
- Students who are not entitled to a scholarship from the Flemish government since the cadastral income is a too large proportion of the joint taxable income.
Method of payment
The tuition fee can be paid as follows:
- at the time of enrolment with electronic payment or credit card (Bancontact, Maestro or Visa)
- with the transfer form given (provided at the time of enrolment)
- with education cheques.
Tuition fees are waived for students of the EU-funded LLP / Erasmus exchange scheme.
Forms
- Enrolment under the form of an exam contract
- Enrolment with credit contract
- Form for registration after October 15
- Form for permission of indirect enrolment
- Request form/Statement of honour for working students
- Interuniversity agreement
- Form for 1st PhD enrolment form (for candidates with a Belgian Master degree)
- Form for termination of studies
- Power of attorney to receive documents from Student Information hub
Terminating your studies
You can stop your studies by handing in the completed Termination of studies form at the Student Information Hub. You can find this form on this page under the section 'Forms'. You will need to return your student card and all other documents. The form and documents can also be sent to (the posting date counts as date of termination):
Student Information Hub
Building D
Campus Etterbeek
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussels
or by E-mail to info@vub.ac.be
Reimbursement of the tuition fee in case of termination
Provided that the student card, any unused certificates that were received at the time of enrolment, and meal card (if applicable) are handed over at the Student Information Hub:
- If deregistration occurs at the latest on the last working day before the start of the academic year: reimbursement of the full tuition fee, minus 80 Euros to cover administrative costs.
- If deregistration occurs between the beginning of the academic year up till and including the last working day of the month of November: reimbursement of half the mount of the tuition fee, minus 80 Euros to cover administrative costs.
- If deregistration occurs after and starting 1 December: no reimbursement.
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel reserves the right to notify other organizations and institutions of the termination. Discontinuation of studies does not release the student from his financial obligations to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Contact
Did you move house? Incorrect data on your student card? The student data file is consulted by your faculty and other services. It is therefore essential that your data are correct. If you notice any mistakes or omissions, please inform the Student Information Hub via info@vub.ac.be.
Still some questions?
The Student Information Hub will be happy to help.