Academic requirements
To enrol at VUB, you must meet a number of academic requirements.
Foreign diploma
Students applying with a foreign (non-Belgian) diploma undergo additional screening during the online application process, based on their academic background, academic results, motivation and language proficiency.
Language requirements
When applying, you must provide proof of sufficient proficiency in English.
Required documents
When applying, you will need to upload a number of documents. Make sure you have everything to hand before starting your application.
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If you need help during the application and enrolment procedure, don't panic. We've listed useful tips for your application and enrolment, as well as a step-by-step guide through the entire application procedure and an answer to the most frequently asked questions.
The tuition fees for the academic year 2026–2027 are subject to potential changes, in light of the budgetary proposals put forward by the Flemish Government; particularly with regard to the funding of internationalisation initiatives, international mobility, and the opening up of our education system to non-native speakers.
Is there any additional financial support to count on?
Lonnoy & Lorand scholarships
Thanks to the bequest of Jeanne Lonnoy and Emile Lorand, the Language and Literature Education (TALK) and Linguistics & Literary Studies (MuBA) programmes at the VUB offer twelve scholarships to secondary school graduates who are passionate about language and literature and who would like to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Literary Studies or Taal-en Letterkunde at the VUB. This scholarship covers the tuition fee for the first year of the Bachelor's degree at the VUB (with a maximum of €1000).
Any applicant with a passion for language who wants to be a future student of Linguistics and Literary Studies is eligible for one of these scholarships!
Application process
An application consists of the following documents:
- A letter of motivation
- Who am I?
- Why do I want to study Taal-en Letterkunde/Linguistics and Literary Studies at VUB?
- In which ways did I already express my talent for linguistics and literary studies?
- Why would I need this scholarship?
- a transcript of the applicant’s coursework in the previous and current year of high school
- a short recommendation letter by a high school teacher, which will be uploaded directly by the teacher (ca. 500 words)
Applications will be assessed by a commission of professors and teaching assistants of both programmes. The results obtained in high school will not serve as the main selection criteria but do give complementary information about the profile of the candidate. As of this, the commission also ascribes importance to the letter of motivation and the recommendation letters.
You can apply for the Lonnoy-Lorand Scholarship here.
Deadlines
- Application deadline for non-EEA students: 31 May 2026. Recipients will be contacted on 15 June 2026.
- Application deadline for EEA students: 31 July 2026. Recipients will be contacted on 15 August 2026.
Eligibility
- Citizenship: all nationalities.  
- You must be accepted to the VUB Bachelor in Linguistics and Literary Studies or Taal-en Letterkunde as a full-time student. Scholarships will only be granted upon the nominees’ enrolment in the selected study programme.  
Regulations
- This scholarship entitles grantees to a waiver of the contribution fee due to the Belgian Immigration Office and the processing fee owed to the visa centre responsible for the visa application. However, the Lonnoy-Lorand scholarship award certificate does not qualify as proof of sufficient financial means required to obtain a Belgian type D visa. Therefore, successful applicants must still prove their financial status by other means, e.g., opening a VUB blocked account or having a financial guarantor for a Belgian student visa.  
- The scholarship will be awarded once for the first academic year only. The recipient must register for at least 54 credits in the academic year during which they receive the scholarship. Scholarship recipients cannot apply for the scholarship a second time. The receipt of the scholarship cannot be deferred from one academic year to another.  
- The €1000  instalment can only be transferred to a Belgian or European bank account in the grantee’s name. Before the scholarship deposit can be made, the student must prove their enrolment in VUB’s Bachelor in Linguistics and Literary Studies or Taal-en Letterkunde, confirm their presence on campus, and sign the scholarship agreement. 
