| PROGRAM | DEPARTURE | RETURN | FULL TUITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Fall Year | Mid-August | Early July | $15,595 |
- 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
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.
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.
*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.
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.
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!
Students in the year-long program are invited to partake in 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 also 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 and 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.
- 2025 Fall Departures: Students born December 30, 2006 – January 30, 2010
French. Students are required to have either taken two years of French in high school or pass an online language test.
Students are typically placed in suburban areas or in villages.
