| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Fall Year | Mid-August | Early July | $16,995 |
| 2025 Fall Year Visual Arts | Mid-August | Early July | $17,595 |
| 2025 Fall Year Fashion | Mid-August | Early July | $17,595 |
| 2025 Fall Year Sports | Mid-August | Early July | $17,595 |
| 2025 Fall Year Music | Mid-August | Early July | $17,595 |
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Belgian high school
- Dutch language courses
- Airport transfers
- Domestic and international travel
- All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
- Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
- Support from a YFU Belgium Area Representative while on program
- Comprehensive insurance
With its 99% literacy rate, Belgium is no pushover when it comes to schooling. Belgium is ranked 16th by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) when it comes to education, proving that it has top-quality teachers and schools. The Belgian school system offers a strong foreign language program and almost everyone in Flanders (Dutch-speaking Belgium), and Wallonia (French-speaking Belgium) speaks at least three languages: English, French and Dutch! The educational system is divided between a state system and a private, mostly Catholic system, both of which are free. While native Belgians can choose from Technical, Vocational, or Art Secondary Schools, most YFU students will be enrolled in General Secondary Education.
All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which is typically held in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Year students have an arrival orientation, mid-year orientation, and re-entry orientation in Belgium. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.
Belgian schools typically do not offer extracurricular activities, but you may participate in sports and other activities through private or community clubs.
Year program students may also have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay at an additional cost.
Capital City Tour: In the past, students have had the opportunity to travel to a nearby capital city, such as Paris or Amsterdam, for a four-day cultural excursion. The cost of the trip is usually included in the cost of tuition, but students should be prepared to be responsible for the cost of their own meals while touring.
Students may also have the opportunity to participate in field trips organized by their local high school. More information will be provided by their school.
- 2025 Fall Departures: Students born August 30, 2007 – August 31, 2010
Dutch. No previous language study is required for Dutch-speaking Belgium. Students are encouraged to participate in a language course outside of their high school in Belgium. This additional language course is included in the tuition in the form of a reimbursement.
Students are typically placed in suburban areas or in villages. Students on the summer program typically stay with host families and in hostels while they travel. In Belgium, all members of the family usually participate in household chores, such as cooking dinner, washing dishes, and grocery shopping. Belgian families are typically very close-knit, and participating in these activities will help you bond with your new family!
Visual Arts: Study art in the country where famous painters, including Rene Magritte, Peter Paul Rubens, and Luc Tuymans, began their careers! Students enrolled in this program are typically enrolled in a school with a strong visual arts program. These are regular high schools, but in addition to offering basic subjects (math, languages, history, sciences), they also offer subjects related to practical and theoretical visual arts. Please note that this program is only available for the full academic year; students will not be accepted to this program for a shorter term.
Requirements: Students must submit a portfolio with their application. Students must also pass an entrance exam before being accepted.
Dance: Students traveling to Belgium on the dance program are usually enrolled in a school that has a strong dance program. They will take all of the courses of a traditional high school but will also be offered the opportunity to study dance in a rigorous environment with people from all over the world who have similar interests. Please note that this program is only available for the full academic year; students will not be accepted to this program for a shorter term.
Requirements: Students must submit a video of themselves performing both ballet and contemporary dance. All candidates will be interviewed via Skype after their portfolio has been reviewed.
Fashion: Ever thought about creating your own clothing line or owning your own boutique? If you love to sew and design clothes or have aspirations of working in the fashion industry, this program offers the opportunity to learn about the creative and commercial aspects of the fashion business. Depending on the school, students typically take 16-22 hours per week of practical courses such as design and drawing, retail, fashion presentation, trend studies, fashion development, fashion and tailor-made, clothes for men, patterns design, internships and projects, management, ready-made clothing, retouch (touch up), material research, social and communication skills, costume and art history, and marketing and distribution. General subjects may include Dutch, French, English, and social studies.
Requirements: Students applying for this program must have a keen interest in fashion!
Sports: This program is designed for the athletic student who wants to combine a general education in math and sciences with sports coursework. Depending on the school, students can have around 10 hours per week in courses such as physiology, movement research, anatomy, sports theory, athletics, gymnastics, rhythm and dance, swimming, basketball, soccer, handball, volleyball, badminton, ping pong, tennis, and fitness.
Requirements: Students with no prior sports experience should not apply. Previous practice of the student’s chosen sport is required.
Music: Students applying to the music program can choose to specialize in either classical or jazz. They will take all of the courses of a traditional high school but also study subjects related to practical and theoretical music. Please note that this program is only available for the full academic year; students will not be accepted to this program for a shorter term.
Requirements: Students must submit a portfolio with their applications. All candidates will be interviewed via Skype after their portfolio has been reviewed.
