Study in Belgium-Wallonia
Home to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, Belgium offers you a chance to immerse yourself in the history, culture, and epicenter of today’s global community.
YFU Belgium is represented by two offices, one for the French-speaking part of the country and the other for the Dutch-speaking. YFU Belgium-Wallonia is the French-speaking program, and it offers a special opportunity to help develop your French while exploring Belgian life and culture. This program requires two prior years of education in the French language. Students who do not meet this requirement can be accepted on a conditional basis of proving their lingual comprehension in other ways.
+ More About Belgium-Wallonia
Bonjour! In the Wallonia region of the Kingdom of Belgium, you’ll find yourself speaking French. Embark on a cultural adventure and see the lush wooded landscapes, glistening rivers, and beautiful valleys in your new home!
The time you spend with your host family will surely have a deep impact on your stay in Belgium. Your Belgian host family will welcome you with hospitality as you explore their country’s diverse traditions, beautiful arts, and neoclassical architecture. Many of the Belgian people consider their homes to be a very private retreat, thus welcoming you to join them represents a great honor.
With a 99% literacy rate, Belgium offers you top quality schooling to attend. Just as they are proud of their cultural and educational achievements, Belgians equally appreciate their delicious cuisine, which consists of various foods such as beef, cheese, fruit, vegetables, soup, and seafood. After satisfying your stomach with a tasty meal, you may find yourself in the mood to ride a bicycle or play soccer, two of Belgium’s most popular sports! If you are looking for more relaxing activities to participate in, you may find yourself taking a trip to the movies or going to a museum or local theater.
+ Scholarships Available
YFU USA is proud to send over 200 American students on cultural exchange with a full or partial scholarship each year. Financial assistance may be in the form of a merit-based scholarship, needs-based financial aid, or Legacy Grant for students who are previously involved in the YFU Community. Scholarships may vary in deadline, requirements, and eligibility. To learn more, please visit our Scholarships Page to find details on the following scholarships eligible for Belgium-Wallonia:
Holcomb & Farnell Foreign Study Fund
YFU Legacy Grant
YFU Financial Aid Fund
Karla Topolka Scholarship Fund
Passport to Equity
+ Application Deadline
Applications for tuition based programs must be submitted by March 15 for Summer and Fall. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a case by case basis depending upon availability.
+ Additional Information
Visa Information
Information regarding visas and other immigration processes will be provided upon enrollment. To learn more, you can visit the embassy website.
Additional Costs
Tutition does not include spending money. Students are responsible for the costs of school or optional YFU trips, visa fees (which may include travel if you are required to appear in person at a consulate), textbook costs, transportation fees, uniforms (typically not required), and activities fees.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for all winter and spring departure programs (January-March) is October 1. The deadline to apply for scholarships is December 1. The deadline for all summer or fall departure programs (June-September) is March 15. Programs can fill up before the deadline, so we encourage early submission!
Choose Your Program
+ Academic Year Program
School
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 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.
Orientations
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 or early-mid December (Spring Programs). This orientation is a required part of your program aimed to prepare you for your experience overseas. All students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place on-line dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Belgium Wallonia offers three in-country orientations for Fall Year students: “post arrival orientation”, “mid-year”, “re-entry” to support their students and host families throughout the program. All orientation costs are included in tuition.
Extracurriculars
Most Belgian high schools do not offer extracurricular activities. However, YFU students are encouraged to join sports, clubs, or teams in their local communities in order to get involved and meet locals!
Optional Excursions
Students on the year-long program are invited to partake in a two optional cultural trips, at an additional cost. More information will be provided in Belgium during the arrival orientation.
Cologne Trip: An exciting one day cultural trip to Cologne, Germany that typically takes place in late November. Students who participate in this trip will visit the city center of Cologne to not only see cultural sites, but witness firsthand the lively Christmas markets. While visiting the local street market, students will experience the magic of the Christmas festival and have the opportunity to purchase handicrafts, trinkets, and try delicious food!
Paris Trip: During this three to five day excursion, students will travel to Paris for the Carnival holiday in late February. Students will have the opportunity to meet other international students and explore the rich culture and history of Paris through exciting activities and site visits. Previously students have been able to visit Champs-Élysées,the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre. Learn more about the 2019 trip here.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Year | Mid August | Early July | $12,695 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Belgian high school
- 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
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departures: Students born December 30, 2005 – January 30, 2009.
Language
French. Students are required to have either taken two years of French in high school, or pass an online language test.
Host Family Placement
Students are typically placed in suburban areas or in villages.
+ Semester Program
School
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 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.
Orientations
All students applying for the semester 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 your program aimed to prepare you for your experience overseas. Students enrolled in the Fall Programs will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place on-line dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Belgium Wallonia offers two in-country orientations: “post arrival orientation” and “re-entry” to support their students and host families throughout the program. All orientation costs are included in tuition.
Extracurriculars
Most Belgian high schools do not offer extracurricular activities. However, YFU students are encouraged to join sports, clubs, or teams in their local communities in order to get involved and meet locals!
Optional Excursions
Students on the semester program are invited to partake in an optional cultural trip, at an additional cost. More information will be provided in Belgium during the arrival orientation.
Cologne Trip: An exciting one day cultural trip to Cologne, Germany that typically takes place in late November. Students who participate in this trip will visit the city center of Cologne to not only see cultural sites, but witness firsthand the lively Christmas markets. While visiting the local street market, students will experience the magic of the Christmas festival and have the opportunity to purchase handicrafts, trinkets, and try delicious food!
Paris Trip: Students partcipating in the Spring Semester will have the opportunity to travel to beautiful and historic Paris, France. During this three to five day excursion, students will travel to Paris for the Carnival holiday in late February. Students will have the opportunity to meet other international students and explore the rich culture and history of Paris through exciting activities and site visits. Previously students have been able to visit Champs-Élysées,the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre. Learn more about the 2019 trip here.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Semester | Mid August | Early January | $11,595 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Belgian high school
- 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
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departures: Students born December 30, 2005 – January 30, 2009.
Language
French. Students are required to have either taken two years of French in high school, or pass an online language test.
Host Family Placement
Students are typically placed in suburban areas or in villages.
+ Trimester Program
School
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 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.
Orientations
All students applying for the trimester must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which is typically held in mid-July or early-mid December (Spring Programs). This orientation is a required part of your program aimed to prepare you for your experience overseas. Students enrolled in the Fall Programs will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June.
*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place on-line dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.
Belgium Wallonia offers two in-country orientations: “post arrival orientation” and “re-entry” to support their students and host families throughout the program. All orientation costs are included in tuition.
Extracurriculars
Most Belgian high schools do not offer extracurricular activities. However, YFU students are encouraged to join sports, clubs, or teams in their local communities in order to get involved and meet locals!
Optional Excursions
Students on the trimester program are invited to partake in an optional cultural trip, at an additional cost. More information will be provided in Belgium during the arrival orientation.
Cologne Trip: An exciting one day cultural trip to Cologne, Germany that typically takes place in late November. Students who participate in this trip will visit the city center of Cologne to not only see cultural sites, but witness firsthand the lively Christmas markets. While visiting the local street market, students will experience the magic of the Christmas festival and have the opportunity to purchase handicrafts, trinkets, and try delicious food!
Paris Trip: Students partcipating in the Spring Trimester will have the opportunity to travel to beautiful and historic Paris, France. During this three to five day excursion, students will travel to Paris for the Carnival holiday in late February. Students will have the opportunity to meet other international students and explore the rich culture and history of Paris through exciting activities and site visits. Previously students have been able to visit Champs-Élysées,the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre. Learn more about the 2019 trip here.
| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fall Trimester | Mid August | Late November | $10,995 |
Tuition Includes
- Placement with a host family
- Enrollment in a local Belgian high school
- 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
Age Requirement
- 2024 Fall Departures: Students born December 30, 2005 – January 30, 2009.
Language
French. Students are required to have either taken two years of French in high school, or pass an online language test.
Host Family Placement
Students are typically placed in suburban areas or in villages.