Living in Belgium as a Pakistani student: money, housing, work and daily life
Belgium has 160 English-taught programmes in our catalogue — at KU Leuven, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels, Louvain and Liège. Tuition is moderate, but the visa money is high: for 2026–27 you must show €1,062 a month, and the accepted proofs are specific. Belgium also has two languages, and which one your city speaks decides your job options.
Figures come from the Flemish government portal Study in Flanders, the federal Immigration Office (IBZ) and the universities' own pages, checked in September 2026.
What a month costs
Belgium uses the euro. The official Flemish portal puts a student month at €800–1,000, with a student room (kot) at €450–600. Brussels and Leuven are at the top; Hasselt, Namur and Mons are cheaper.
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| Student room (kot), bills usually included | €450–600 |
| Food (university restaurant meal ≈ €4–6) | €200–280 |
| Public transport (student season ticket) | €20–40 |
| Health fund membership (mutuelle / ziekenfonds) | ≈ €20 |
| Phone + internet | €15–30 |
| Study materials, everything else | €80–120 |
| Official total | ≈ €800–1,000 |
| Per year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, non-EU, typical in our catalogue | median ≈ €5,700; many programmes €1,000–4,000 |
| Registration at the commune + residence card | a small municipal fee, varies by city |
What you must show for the visa — the €1,062 rule
| Requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Financial means to show, 2026–27 | €1,062 / month |
| Typical total for one year | ≈ €12,744 |
| Long-stay visa (D) + federal contribution | ≈ €236 |
| Accepted proof — option 1 | A blocked account at the university (or a specialist provider) holding 12 × €1,062 |
| Accepted proof — option 2 | A bank guarantee for the same amount |
| Accepted proof — option 3 | A sponsor's formal pledge (Annex 32), signed at the Belgian embassy, with the sponsor's income documents |
| Accepted proof — option 4 | A scholarship covering the amount |
A plain bank statement in your own name is not on that list — that is what surprises Pakistani applicants. Most universities run their own blocked-account scheme; ask the admissions office which route they accept the moment you are admitted. Belgium's requirement is now higher than Germany's.
Finding a room
- Kot: the Belgian student room — a furnished room in a house or building of students, often with a shared kitchen. University housing services (KU Leuven's Kotwijs, Ghent's housing office, Brussels' Brik) list vetted rooms; apply from May, and expect to sign a 10- or 12-month contract.
- University residences: fewer places, allocated with priority for international students at some universities — ask when admitted.
- Private market: Immoweb, Kotplanet and Facebook groups. Deposit of two months, held in a blocked account by law; a written contract registered with the authorities.
How to not get scammed
- No deposit before a viewing — video at minimum.
- Bank transfer after the signed contract. The deposit belongs in a blocked account, not in the landlord's pocket — that is the law, and a landlord who wants cash is telling you something.
- You must be able to register at the address with the commune. A landlord who refuses is one to avoid.
Working while you study — 20 hours, no permit
With a valid student residence permit you may work up to 20 hours a week during the academic year without a separate work permit, and full-time during the official university holidays. Internships that are part of your programme do not count.
| Situation | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Up to 20 h/week in term, with a residence permit | Yes — no extra permit |
| Full-time during official university holidays | Yes |
| Before the residence card is issued | Not until you hold the permit |
| On a tourist or Schengen C visa | No |
The language decides the job: Dutch in Flanders (Leuven, Ghent, Antwerp, Hasselt), French in Wallonia and most of Brussels. English-only work exists in Brussels — EU institutions, NGOs, tech — and in Antwerp's port logistics; elsewhere the first job needs the local language. Students in Belgium are paid through the student-job scheme with reduced social charges, which makes the hourly rate attractive.
Your first two weeks: the eight-day rule
Within 8 days of arrival you must register at the town hall (commune / gemeente) of the place you live. The police then verify you live there; after that you collect your residence card (A card), which you renew each year on proof of enrolment, funds and insurance.
| When | Do this | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–8 | Register at the commune with passport, visa, lease, enrolment and health insurance proof | Legal requirement; starts your A card |
| Week 1 | Enrol at the university and collect the student card | Student status, transport discount |
| Week 1 | Buy a Belgian SIM (Orange, Proximus, Base, or a cheap one like hey!) | Everything runs on SMS |
| Week 2 | Join a health fund (mutuelle / ziekenfonds: CM, Partena, Solidaris) with your enrolment | Required; reimburses doctor and hospital |
| Week 2 | Open a bank account (KBC, BNP Paribas Fortis, ING, Belfius) | Rent, wages, deposit account |
| Weeks 2–6 | Police address check, then collect the A card at the commune | Your residence permit and right to work |
| Each year | Renew the A card with enrolment, funds and insurance | Do it before it expires |
Weather and what to bring
Brussels in January averages 3.7°C; July averages 18.5°C. It rains 12–14 days a month year-round and the sun rarely shows from November to February. Like the Netherlands: dress for wet and grey, not for deep cold.
| Month (Brussels) | Typical daytime | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Sep–Oct | 13–19°C | Waterproof jacket, closed shoes, umbrella |
| Nov–Mar | 3–8°C | Warm waterproof coat, scarf, gloves, waterproof shoes |
| Apr–May | 11–17°C | Layers and the same jacket |
| Jun–Aug | 18–23°C | Light clothes; keep the rain jacket |
Halal food, prayer, and being Muslim in Belgium
- Mosques throughout Brussels (Molenbeek, Schaerbeek, Anderlecht), Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and Charleroi. Belgium's Muslim community is largely Moroccan and Turkish and is well established. Some universities have a multi-faith or quiet room.
- Halal butchers, grocers and restaurants on every high street in Brussels and Antwerp; halal common in city supermarkets. Pakistani restaurants and shops in Brussels and Antwerp.
- Ramadan: no timetable changes; lecturers are generally understanding if told. Community iftars in Brussels, Antwerp and Leuven.
- Alcohol: Belgian beer is a national institution and student life includes it. Declining is normal.
Where the Pakistani students are
Brussels (VUB, ULB), Leuven (KU Leuven) and Antwerp have the largest Pakistani student communities, then Ghent and Liège. Leuven and Ghent are the academic heavyweights; Hasselt, Namur and Mons are the same country at a lower rent.
Belgium is strict at the door — the €1,062 rule, the blocked account, the eight-day registration — and comfortable once you are inside, with modest tuition, a 20-hour job and every European capital a train ride away. Use the Programmes page to filter Belgium, and register free to see which of the 160 you qualify for.