Questions? Reach out!
Study abroad in
Belgium
A life-changing experience allowing you to step into the shoes of a Belgian high school student, living with a local family and attending a Belgian school.
Going with WEP is best
Since 1988, a wide choice of destinations and comprehensive assistance before, during and after your overseas programme. WEP is the ideal partner for your big overseas adventure.
Like you, we also get to choose who we travel with: our schools, host families and overseas partner organisations are carefully selected.
We offer a custom-made insurance policy, specifically designed for our participants, and we have a solid network behind us.
Emergency assistance, overseas and in the UK, is available 7 days out of 7, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Allowing all our participants to live their desired overseas experience is a mission, a challenge we're thrilled to accept.
Why study in Belgium?
Studying in Belgium is a fantastic opportunity to discover a country that is the very emblem of Europe: a melting pot of cultures and languages ready to surprise you and provide endless learning opportunities.
Belgian people are known to be open and cosmopolitan, thanks to many different communities coexisting in harmony; by following their lead, not only will you improve your French language skills, but you will also improve your adaptability and your understanding of different views, beliefs, and ways of living life.
From elegant, historical cities such as Bruxelles and Bruges, to the natural beauty of the Ardennes and the stunning Flemish coastline, each region of Belgium will blow you away with its unique cultural heritage and stunning landscapes.
Studying in Belgium is an unmissable opportunity to combine personal enrichment and high-quality education, gaining skills that will help you stand out in today's global world and job market.
Study in Belgium with WEP
After an academic programme in Belgium, you're bound to come back with a range of valuable cultural competences and language skills, as you will greatly improve your fluency in French.
You will immerse yourself in the Belgian way of life, stepping into the shoes of a local teenager: on your high school exchange programme, you will attend a local secondary school and share your daily life with a Belgian host family, who will take you in as one of their own.
The Belgian education system
In Belgium, the education system is centrally managed at a national level, but differences exist in each of the linguistic communities that make up the country.
Children begin their educational journey at kindergarten (École Maternelle/Kleuterschool) at 2.5 years old, followed by primary school (École Primaire/Lagere School) at the age of 6, for 6 years.
Secondary schooling (École Secondaire/Middelbare School) is divided into two cycles: the first stage lasts for 2 years, and the second stage - 4 years long - allows students to choose a specific stream or area of interest (generic, technical, artistic or vocational). At the end of the 6th and last year of secondary school, students graduate by obtaining the CESS diploma (Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur), to access higher education.
Higher education in Belgium can include university - divided into three cycles, bachelor (three years), master (two years) and doctorat - or Hautes Écoles/Hogescholen, offering technical and vocational programmes.
The Belgian system is known for its high quality and flexibility, as it offers students a wider range of opportunities to personalise their pathway.
FAQ
To participante in a high school exchange programme to Belgium, you need to be between 14 and 18 years old on departure, have a C grade average, be a non-smoker, and have positive personal traits - such as being motivated, curious, tolerant, open and adaptable. You also need to have an intermediate level of French, and be physically and emotionally healthy - please discuss any specific conditions or requirements with WEP in advance.
Our high school exchange programmes in Belgium can be 3, 5 or 10-month long. The exact duration depends on the departure period - please contact WEP for more information.
To decide which duration is best for you, you should reflect on what you would like to achieve through the programme, and discuss your preferences both with your family (they need to be on board!) and with your school. In particular, make sure you discuss with a school representative what their policies are, regarding coming back from an exchange programme and re-integrating into school in the UK.
It's always best to check our website and/or obtain an online quote to see updated programme prices.
We know a high school exchange programme overseas is a significant financial investment. We do our best to offer competitive prices, which vary depending on the destination and chosen programme, and provide discounts and special promotions to help towards the cost.
You will live with a Belgian volunteer host family, who may be located anywhere in the country.