Tuition fee increase: amounts, prices in 2026, and financial aid

Tuition fees in Belgium, also called the enrollment fee, are a crucial topic for all students who are preparing for—or already pursuing—higher education. These days, tuition fees are at the center of public debate, especially because an increase has been announced for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Here, we’re talking about the rules in the Wallonia–Brussels Federation (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles) 🚨

What is the minerval in Belgium?

The minerval refers to the annual enrollment fees in higher education (at a university, a university college/“haute école”, or another higher education institution).

These fees generally cover access to courses, administrative services, and part of the academic support. However, they do not include other student expenses such as housing (student dorm/kot), transport, or study materials.

In practice, tuition fees in Belgium vary depending on your type of institution (university vs. university college, short-cycle vs. long-cycle programmes) and your social or family status (grant holder, modest-income status, intermediate category, or full fee payer).

How much does the minerval cost in Belgium in 2025–2026?

For the 2025–2026 academic year, the tuition fee (minerval) at university for a Belgian or EU student who is not receiving a grant is around €835.

Students classified as “modest income” (condition modeste) benefit from a reduced tuition fee of about €374 at university, provided they meet the income criteria set by the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.

In higher education programmes of short type (Bachelor’s) or long type, fees are capped and depend on the study block: roughly €175 per annual block for short-type programmes and €350 per annual block for long-type programmes, with a slightly higher rate for the final year.

Grant-holding students (boursiers) do not pay tuition fees: their enrollment fees are reduced to €0, which significantly lowers the overall cost of studying.

Tuition fee (minerval) increase in Belgium from 2026

A tuition fee (minerval) increase in Belgium is planned starting from the 2026–2027 academic year. The government of the Fédération Wallonie–Bruxelles has decided to end the tuition fee freeze and index enrollment fees.

⏱️ The full tuition fee is therefore expected to rise from around €835 to an amount close to €1,194 for certain students.

Grant-holding students (boursiers) will remain exempt from paying the minerval. Students with “modest income” status will continue to pay a reduced amount, while the intermediate category will keep a minerval around €835, and the highest-income category will pay the new full minerval of €1,194.

What are the 4 minerval categories?

1. Grant holder (boursier): free tuition (minerval = €0)
2. “Modest income” status (condition modeste): €374
3. Intermediate rate: €835
4. Full tuition fee: €1,194

💡 Tip: Want to know which category you fall into?

👉 See your free simulation

Who is eligible for reduced or free tuition fees (minerval)?

In Belgium, the minerval (tuition/enrollment fees) can be reduced or waived depending on your financial and family situation. Students who meet the requirements for a study grant do not pay any minerval: their enrollment fees are fully covered.

Students considered “modest income” (condition modeste) pay a reduced minerval, around €374 at university, and lower amounts in certain short-type or long-type higher education programmes.

With the 2026 reform, the “condition modeste” category should be slightly expanded, which would allow more students to benefit from reduced tuition fees—although the exact post-indexation amounts still need to be confirmed by decree.

The new minerval scale also includes an intermediate status, aimed at students whose household income is too high to qualify for reduced fees, but not high enough to easily afford the full tuition fee.

👉 Living as a student in Belgium

Mini flow: “Which category are you in?” (3 questions)

Q1 — Do you receive a study grant (allocation d’études) in the Wallonia–Brussels Federation?

✅ Yes → Grant-holder status → minerval = €0

❌ No → go to question 2

Q2 — Can you qualify for “modest income” status (based on household income)?

✅ Yes → Modest income status → reduced minerval (often €374 at university)

❌ No → go to question 3

Q3 — Are you in the “intermediate” or “full fee” category (2026–2027 reform)?

✅ Intermediate → minerval around €835

✅ Full fee → up to €1,194 for some students

Lees ook: Meeting Marie: A Student Benefiting from CPAS Aid

How do you pay the minerval and what financial aid can you apply for?

The minerval (tuition/enrollment fee) is usually paid by bank transfer, either in one payment or in installments, depending on your university or university college’s rules.

If you can’t pay the minerval in one go, you can often request an installment plan from the enrollment office or the student social service, which will set up a payment schedule spread over the academic year.

To reduce your minerval in Belgium, the most important step is to check whether you can qualify for a study grant or for “modest income” status (condition modeste).

👉 You can also contact your institution’s student social service to ask about additional support (emergency funds, housing/kot support, transport assistance), which can help offset the minerval increase planned from 2026.

Finally, don’t hesitate to use youth information websites and aid simulators to estimate your minerval in advance—especially if you’re starting a Bachelor’s or if you’ll still be studying when the 2026–2027 reform comes in.

If you’re stressed about money: do this today ✅

1) Check right now if you can get a study grant (allocation d’études)

Even if you think “probably not,” it’s still worth checking ✅—if you’re eligible, your minerval can drop to €0 (depending on the conditions).

2) If you’re not eligible for a grant, check “condition modeste” status

This is often the status that gives you a reduced minerval (e.g., €374 at university, depending on criteria).

3) Contact the student social service / enrollment office (even if it feels awkward)

Ask for:

• an installment plan (pay in several payments)
• the available support (emergency funds, etc., depending on the institution)
• That’s literally their job—and the earlier you ask, the easier it is.

4) If the 2026 intake affects you: check your future status (intermediate / full fee)

Since the amounts may change (up to €1,194 for some students), it’s smart to anticipate if you’ll still be studying in 2026–2027.

👉 The financial aid you may be entitled to

How much do non-EU students have to pay?

In the Wallonia–Brussels Federation (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles), students with a non-EU nationality may have to pay specific enrollment fees called DIS (Droits d’Inscription Spécifiques). For the 2025–2026 academic year, these DIS amount to €4,175.

If you were already enrolled in 2024–2025 and you already paid a DIS, you may keep the previous amounts as long as you stay in the same programme and the same cycle (transitional rules).

The safest approach is to confirm directly with the institution you want to apply to, because situations can differ depending on your profile (equivalences, “assimilation” cases, exemptions, required documents, etc.).

FAQ (English)

When do you pay the minerval in Belgium?

In practice, you pay the minerval when you enroll or according to a payment schedule set by your institution (some ask for a deposit first, then the remaining balance later). The most reliable option is to check your school’s “tuition/enrollment fees” page, because deadlines can vary depending on your file (nationality, type of enrollment, etc.).

👉 Useful info on deadlines:

What is the deadline to pay the minerval?

In the Wallonia–Brussels Federation, the standard rule is:

• €50 deposit: to be paid by October 31 (payment received by the institution)
• Remaining balance (total enrollment fees): to be paid by February 1

📌 Note: if you applied for a study grant, you may be treated as a “presumed grant holder” while waiting for the decision, and payments can be handled differently depending on the case.

One-sentence “article” version:

• “You usually pay €50 by 31/10, then the remaining minerval by 01/02.”

Can I pay the minerval in installments?

Often yes. Many institutions offer payment in installments, especially via the enrollment office or the student social service.

Is the minerval the only cost for the year?

No. The minerval is the enrollment fee. There may be additional “real costs” depending on institutional rules and caps (materials, specific programme costs, etc.).

I have a study grant—do I pay €0?

If you meet the conditions for a Wallonia–Brussels Federation study grant (allocation d’études), your enrollment fees can be reduced to €0.

When exactly will the tuition fee increase happen?

The increase is planned starting with the 2026–2027 academic year, i.e., from September 2026 for higher-education enrollments in the Wallonia–Brussels Federation.