Overview

Calculation tuition fees
Amounts
Invoice
Make the payment
Late payment
Financial support

Calculation tuition fee

From the moment you complete your enrolment, you owe the VUB a tuition fee. You receive an invoice for the owed amount on your VUB e-mail account.

The tuition fee consists of a fixed amount and a variable amount:
 
  • the fixed amount is a fixed cost which is paid once per academic year
  • the variable amount is a specific amount per credit you take up in your programme.
     

Your tuition fee is calculated like this:
the fixed amount + (the variable amount x the number of registered credits)

The amount that you will pay for the fixed and the variable amount depends, among other things, on:


Calculation examples

A non-EEA student who enrols for a Bachelor in Social Sciences in 2025-2026 will pay a fixed amount of:
€ 1900 and (€51 x 60 credits per academic year): € 1900 + € 3060 = € 4960 total for 1 academic year.
There are 3 years in the Bachelor programme, each made up of 60 credits, in the form of courses.

The rules that apply to the tuition fees, can be consulted in the Teaching and examination regulations (see from article 'calculation of tuition fees').

Next academic year

Academic year 2026-2027
 
  • Belgian, EEA & PhD students (will be added later)
  • Micro-credentials (will be added later
     

Non-EEA students   Advanced Masters

Postgraduate programmes   Long-term permanent education

EEA-students are citizens of EEA-countries.

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.

Tuition fee invoice and payment

How will you receive the invoice?

On your VUB e-mail account. Notifications and/or registered items will also be sent per post to your address of domicile.

When will you receive the tuition fee invoice?

We start sending out invoices during the month of September. Don't worry if you haven't received/paid your tuition fee invoice by the start of the academic year, you can still start your studies.

Do you qualify for a study allowance from the government, but you've been charged the full amount?

If your file has been submitted to the government, your tuition fee will be automatically adjusted. 

Were you previously enrolled at another institution? Please contact the Student Administration so they can put you on the reduced amount. 
If you have applied for a revision at the government, please contact Financial Support to see if they can change your invoice.

Why does my tuition fee invoice only show the fixed amount?

You probably hadn't registered any courses at the time when the invoice was sent out. A separate invoice will follow after you've taken up credits by registering courses.

Did you receive multiple tuition fee invoices?

You might have registered your courses at different times. The calculation happened in between these registrations, and thus you were billed separately.

What is the amount of €55 for?

It is the additional administrative cost we charge in case we didn't receive your payment in time.

How can I see how much I still need to pay?

You can consult the tuition fee due at all times in the Student SelfService, under main menu>financial account > account balance.

Can I pay the tuition fee in instalments?

EEA-students can opt to register their 1st and 2nd semester courses separately, thus being charged about half in the first semester, and the other half in the second semester.
Non-EEA students have to register for 54 credits to qualify for a residence permit, so they have to register all their courses in the beginning of the academic year, and pay for them in full, at once.
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Student Information

Questions about your tuition fee?

Register courses

Your tuition fee is calculated on the amount of credits you take.

Pay your tuition fee

You pay your tuition fee via bank transfer. Some students can also pay for them via SME portfolio or training vouchers.

Payment via bank transfer

All information you need for this is indicated on the tuition fee invoice that you will receive in PDF format via your VUB e-mail. you can access your VUB e-mail as soon as you're completely enrolled and have activated your VUB account.

Payment via SME portfolio

Training vouchers for employers are available through the SME portfolio (page in Dutch). The VUB is an accredited education provider with the code: 

  • DV.O103793 for Bachelors, Bridging programmes, Preparatory programmes, masters, Advanced Masters, Permanent Training programmes, Postgraduates and Microcredentials. 

Attention! You will get multiple code-options, so make sure to select the correct code! Otherwise your payment will not be registered correctly.

Also mind the difference between the number 0 and the letter O!

=> The code starts with LETTERS DV.O, followed by NUMBERS 103793.

The application and payment should be done through the employer SME where the student is employed. The procedure for payment by the SME portfolio is done entirely online.

Payment with training vouchers

For who?

 Eligibility for a training voucher depends on your employment status, place of residence, and educational background. In addition, the training must be registered in the official training database.
Check all information about digital training vouchers here.

 Applying for Training Vouchers

 You can apply here for digital training vouchers online via the WSE-Portal. When submitting your request, please indicate the full cost of the training (including both fixed and variable fees). Once your application has been processed, you will receive the training vouchers by e-mail. Please forward them to studentadministration@vub.be

Tuition Fee Settlement
  • If your tuition fees have already been paid in full: any overpaid amount will be refunded.
  • If your tuition fees have not yet been paid in full: the value of the training vouchers will be deducted from the outstanding balance.

Consequences of late payment



What are the consequences if you don't pay your tuition fee on time?

1. Reminder

 

If you fail to pay the full amount of the tuition fee due after receiving the invoice, you will receive a final reminder on your VUB email address and via the post at your address of domicile.

2. Additional administrative costs and suspension
  • If you fail to pay the full amount of the tuition fee due after having received the notification, you will receive a formal notice per registered mail and you will be charged with a additional administrative cost of € 55.
  • The administrative services will be limited. Attestation will only be delivered after full payment of the tuition fee due.
  • Re-enrolment for the next academic year will no longer be possible unless the balance is paid before the end of the current academic year.
3. Suspension: consequences for your studies

Non-payment leads to suspension of your enrolment.

  • You are not entitled to benefit from teaching activities;
  • You will not be allowed to participate in the exams.
     

Any examination results you have already obtained at that point shall be rendered invalid.

Obligation to pay

In no case is the student released from the obligation to pay the amount due. The university reserves the right to recover the amounts due through legal proceedings. The suspension will only be revoked after all the amounts due have been paid.

Students who complete their enrolment by signing the (online) study contract, are always obliged to pay the fixed amount (administrative registration fee). Even if you decide to cancel your enrolment, don't register any courses and/or never go to class.