Studying in Belgium is a good chance for international students who want high-quality education in English. The best thing is that you don’t always need IELTS to apply. Many top universities in Belgium also accept other English tests like TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo.

There are students who want to study in Belgium and but prefer courses without taking the IELTS exam. Yes there are many universities in Belgium that accept other English tests like TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo. In some cases, the universities even waive IELTS if you meet certain other requirements.
If you have studied for at least one year in a school where English was the main language, then you may not need IELTS at all. Some universities also accept the Duolingo English Language Test. It is cheaper, faster, and many students find it easier than IELTS. A few universities even have English-taught courses that do not require any extra language test.
- Education System in Belgium
- Study in Belgium without IELTS 2025
- Eligibility to Study in Belgium
- Documents Required for Admission to Belgium Universities
- Scholarships in Belgium without IELTS
Education System in Belgium
Belgium is primarily made up of three communities and three regions. The education in the country is the responsibility of the Flemish, French and German-speaking communities. So even though the country has three national languages, Dutch, French and German, universities in Belgium use and accept English as their method of communication. Be it undergraduate studies, post-graduate degrees or a PhD – English is an accepted form of communication outside and inside of classrooms. However, candidates would need to establish their English language proficiency.
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Study in Belgium without IELTS 2025
Mentioned below are the top universities in Belgium, along with their IELTS score requirements and their TOEFL score requirements.
| Universities in Belgium |
QS World University Rankings 2025: Top Global Universities |
Score Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Leuven, Belgium Shiksha Grade: A++ |
63 |
IELTS: 6.5-7.0 |
| Ghent, Belgium Shiksha Grade: A |
169 |
IELTS: 6.0 & Above |
| Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Shiksha Grade: B+ |
203 |
IELTS: Accepted TOEFL: Accepted |
| Universite libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium |
230 |
IELTS: Accepted TOEFL: Accepted |
| Antwerp, Belgium Shiksha Grade: C |
267 |
IELTS: Accepted TOEFL: Accepted |
| Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Brussels, Belgium Shiksha Grade: C++ |
278 |
IELTS: 6.5 & Above |
| Liège, Belgium Shiksha Grade: C+ |
396 |
IELTS: 5.5 & Above |
| Diepenbeek, Belgium Shiksha Grade: C+ |
554 |
IELTS: 6.0 & Above |
| University of Mons Mons, Belgium |
781-790 |
IELTS: Accepted TOEFL: Accepted |
Eligibility to Study in Belgium
International students looking to study in Belgium must take the admission process seriously. The admission process across Belgium universities is time-consuming. Students must be careful with timelines, documents, test scores, etc. Given below is a step-by-step guide to the admission process of applying for and getting admission to Belgian universities:
- Candidates should start by selecting the course that they want to pursue
- Shortlist a few universities. Candidates can get in touch with our in-house counsellors for assistance on the same
- Know the eligibility criteria for your targeted course
- Make a list of exams that you need to appear for
- Prepare a study plan and be ready with your test scores well in advance
- SOP, essays, LOR, and other related documents
- Start your university application process
- Appear for the interview
- Track the application
- Accept the university offer letter or letter of admission
- Begin your Belgium Study Visa application process
- Make sure that you arrange for your accommodation beforehand. Contact your university if required
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Documents Required for Admission to Belgium Universities
International students looking to study in Belgium must take their documentation process very seriously. Any laxity might lead to rejection of your application. Different universities have different eligibility criteria and documentation processes. However, we have provided a list of documents that are required for admission to Belgium universities:
- Filled application form
- Academic documents
- Degree certificates/ officially certified copies
- Academic Transcripts awarded by the main university
- Test scores of SAT/ GRE/ GMAT (as per the requirement)
- English language test reports
- Academic Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Admission Essays or Motivation Letters (as per the university requirements)
- Letters of Recommendation
- Financial documents
- Other relevant documents such as research proposals, work experience letters, etc. (as per the requirement of the university)
- Medical tests
Scholarships in Belgium without IELTS
In this section, we are going to be talking about scholarships in Belgium without IELTS. One of the few drawbacks of studying abroad is the cost of studying in a foreign country. However, with scholarships and financial aid from various organizations, studying abroad has become an increasingly achievable dream for Indian students. Candidates can check out a comprehensive list of scholarships applicable across Belgium universities on our website.
Government of Belgium Scholarships
Every year, the Government of Belgium offers scholarships to students from developing countries to pursue a one-year specialized master’s degree programme or a 4 to 6-month advanced training course in any Belgian higher institution. International students can apply for the Government of Belgium Scholarship without IELTS and be offered a fully funded study place in a Belgian university.
Master Mind Scholarship
Funded by the Government of Flanders, a regional government of Belgium, the Master Mind Scholarship is offered to about 30 international students from all countries every year to study master’s programs in Flanders and Brussels. The scholarship covers the cost of accommodation, medical insurance, and tuition fee waiver, and includes a grant of €8200.
Erasmus Mundus Master's Scholarship
One of the most prestigious scholarships in Europe, the Erasmus Mundus Master's Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship administered by the European Union for various master’s and doctoral study programs in Europe. You can apply for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship without IELTS to study in Belgium. The scholarship covers the living costs (€1100-€1200 per month), tuition fees, visa fees, travelling, and insurance costs of the students.
VLIR-UOS Scholarship Program
One of the most sought-after scholarship programs by international students, the VLIR-UOS scholarship is a fully funded scholarship offered to take care of the entire tuition charge, living expenses, airline tickets, and monthly grants of 31 international students every year to study at a Flemish university or college.
Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships
An initiative of KU Leuven, the Global Minds Doctoral Scholarships is to encourage collaborative research with experts from developing countries. PhD candidates from developing countries are offered the opportunity to do research at KU Leuven with all expenses paid. The scholarship generally covers a full tuition fee, a monthly stipend (€ 2,199 per month), medical insurance, airfare tickets, and a research allowance (€310 per month).
Note: The Details of these scholarships may change. It's better to cross-verify the information from the official website at the time of application.
Candidates can get in touch with us in the comments below. Students looking to study abroad can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with university admissions on our website.
IELTS Band Scores are widely accepted across universities in USA, Canada and other English speaking countries. Check: IELTS Scores at the Best Universities in US IELTS scores across popular universities in the US:
| S.no. | Universities | Required IELTS score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University | 6.0 |
| 2 | Washington University in State Louis | 6.5 |
| 3 | University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | 6.5 |
| 4 | Colorado State University | 6.0 |
| 5 | Saint Louis University | 6.5 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 6.5 |
| 7 | Pace University | 7.0 |
| 8 | University of New Haven | 7.5 |
| 9 | Iowa State University | 6.0 |
| 10 | Northeastern University | 7.0 |
Spread across 75+ Indian cities, there are approximately 78 IELTS test centres. Indian applicants planning to take IELTS exam, can choose from any 78 test centres and appear for the exam. Applicants should ideally choose the nearest IELTS exam centre for taking the exam.


In order to be eligible to study abroad, IELTS ecam scores will be required in majority of the English speaking countries. In total there are 140 countries which accept IELTS scores for admissions from international students. Some of these top countries are as follows: