How much money do I need?
Prior to leaving your home country, please check with your bank if your bank card can be used in Belgium, at least until you have a Belgian bank card, as sometimes international students’ bank cards are not adaptable to be used outside their home country.
Besides the VUB-tuition fee, you should provide at least 1000,- EUR a month. In all, the recommended minimum amounts required are:
- One-year programme: aprox. 10.200 EUR - 10.750 EUR
- Two-year programme: aprox. 20.000 EUR
- General Tuition fees
| Expenses | EUR |
|---|---|
| Accomodation | 400 |
| Food | 150 |
| Household/personal hygiene | 30 |
| Clothing | 50 |
| Transportation | 40 |
| Insurance (medical/fire/third liability/etc.) | 30 |
| Leisure | 75 |
| Phone/internet/cable newspaper/etc. | 75 |
| Furniture/kitchenware/household appliances (microwave) | 50 |
| Computer | 50 |
| Medical expenses (non refundable) | 25 |
| Savings (unexpected expenses) | 25 |
| Monthly total | 1000 |
Note that during the first month of your stay you will have exceptional costs for registration, copies of documents and often a warranty for your accommodation.
- Taxi from airport to university (+/- 40 EUR).
- Costs for temporary accommodation. You will need temporary accommodation while you look for somewhere to live. A cheap hostel close to the university costs +/-15 EUR per day for a single room.
- The warranty for your accomodation. Every landlord asks the tenant for a warranty, which can go as high as 3 months’ rent. When you vacate the accommodation in good condition, the warranty will be paid back to you.
- Health insurance. This is compulsory.
- Tuition fee.
- Some educational materials have to be bought.
- Costs for equipment (furniture, kitchenware, computer). This can be expensive.
| Expenses | EUR |
|---|---|
| Taxi | 40 |
| Temporary accommodation (1 week) | 200 |
| Accommodation warranty | 250 - 750 |
| Health insurance | 45 |
| Tuition fee | 505 - 1050 |
| Educational materials | 150 |
| Equipment | |
| Total | 1180 - 2210 |
Although they have signed a document in which they solemnly declare to have sufficient financial means, some students still come to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel without being able to support themselves financially. Please note that the Vrije Universiteit Brussel will decline any claim for financial support in any form