International

Starting an Exchange Program is an experience often filled with both excitement and a sheer amount of stress. Most of the time you are faced with a different language and culture than the ones you are used to.

In the Buddy Program will you not only find a Buddy to help you and to share new experiences in this new city, but also and above all a friend for life!

More information : contact incoming@ephec.be 

Whatsapp group

A Whatsapp group will be created to enable connection and communication between international students before, during and after their academic exchange period at Ephec :  Exchange of information, advise, accommodation, opening a bank account, etc.

The link/QR code to join the Whatsapp group will be communicated in due time

You do not need a visa if you are a citizen of one of the 28 countries of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway or Switzerland. 

All other students will have to apply for a visa at their local Belgian embassy or consulate.

The required documents that you will have to prepare are the following:

• a passport valid for at least 15 months
• the visa application form, duly completed, dated and signed in duplicate
• two recent photos (ID card size) signed on the back
• a certificate of good conduct (for students 21 years of age and older) or an extract from the criminal record
• a recent medical certificate (required form)
• proof that the applicant has sufficient means of subsistence to cover the total cost of the stay (parent, guarantor, scholarship)
• a certificate of acceptance provided by the University certifying that the student is registered as a regular student or that he/she is admitted to register as such.

As far as the proof of sufficient financial means, there are two possible ways to prove you have sufficient financial means.

1. Proof of Solvency

A proof of your own financial means by transferring a certain amount to the bank account administered by EPHEC. In this case, you’ll have to transfer the appropriate amount (fixed by law) on the account of EPHEC University College that will turn forward this amount on a monthly basis to your personal bank account in Belgium.

For the academic year 2023/2024, the amount is 789 € per month + 60 € of administration fees.

For the academic year 2024/2025, the amount is € 803 net per month + 60 € of administration  fees.

After transferring the correct amount, a proof of solvency will be issued by EPHEC specifying that the student has deposited in a blocked account a sum covering the costs of their stay in Belgium.

Please note that the purpose of this procedure is to obtain a visa and that the mentioned amounts are not sufficient to cover all living expenses in Belgium. 

If you are interested to use this procedure, please contact Mr Simonis, Administrative officer in charge of incoming students, at f.simonis@ephec.be

2. The form 'the commitment that charge will be taken' (in French: Engagement de Prise en charge (Annexe 32); in Dutch: Verbintenis tot Tenlasteneming (Bijlage 32)) 

The annex 32 must be completed and signed by either a Belgian, an EU-citizen living in the EU, a non-EU citizen with permanent residence in an EU member state, or your direct relatives up to the third degree and who must avail of sufficient income.

The guarantor must have regular and sufficient means of subsistence for themselves, for each dependent person and for each dependent third-country national.

These means must be at least equal to 120% of the amount of the living wage granted to a person living with a dependent family, i.e. 2.008,32 euros net/month. 

To this amount is added the minimum amount that each dependent third-country national must have, namely 789 euros net/month for the 2023/2024 academic year. The amount for 2024-2025 is 803 € per month.

A guarantor taking on a formal obligation to a student will need to prove that they have at least 2,008,32 euros net/month + 789 euros net/month) = 2,797,32 euros net/month.

The Belgian Consulate or Embassy has the authority to require official proofs of your guarantor's income and to investigate this accordingly. It is recommended that you include these proofs when you submit the form. By signing the annex 32 your guarantor declares that he/she agrees to have a joint and several liability for the following costs: your health expenses, your stay in Belgium, your studies, and your return to your home country, for at least one academic year. Your guarantor has the option to choose to be responsible for just one academic year, or, for the entire duration of the academic cycle (bachelor, master, etc.). The document must be legalised by the Belgian Consulate or Embassy.

*Amount indexed on 01/05/22 (Please be aware that this amount needs to be in rule with the most recent updated amount, on the moment that you file your visa application. Please check the website of the Immigration Office for the latest update)
In case of doubt, the Belgian Consulate or Embassy in your home country will inform you as to what form of the proof of solvency is acceptable and what procedures to follow.