Belgium tightens rules for non-European students to ensure academic progress

Belgium is implementing stricter conditions for non-European students wishing to study or extend their stay, according to Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt.

The new rules demand that foreign students prove their academic progress more rapidly. They will also be restricted from changing their field of study annually. These measures are designed to combat misuse of the system and ensure students are genuinely pursuing their education.

For degree and bachelor programs, students must now earn at least 60 credits in their first two academic years, followed by a minimum of 40 credits each subsequent year. Similar limits on maximum study duration will apply to master's, advanced master's, certificate, and doctoral programs. This makes it harder for students to artificially extend their stay by switching courses.

Furthermore, visa extensions can be denied if a student attempts to start a third field of study within their first three years, especially if previous programs were not successfully completed. Students switching to a lower academic level after completing higher education will also face stricter scrutiny.

The process for obtaining a visa for programs at institutions like music or business schools, which may not be government-recognized or subject to official quality control, will also become more difficult. The minister cited concerns about the variable quality and accreditation of programs at some business schools, questioning the value of their degrees.