Brussels, a vibrant and welcoming capital at the heart of Europe.
Brussels is much more than the capital of Europe, it’s a creative and cosmopolitan city, where cultures, languages and ideas meet and mix every day. With its human scale and exceptional quality of life, Brussels offers the best of both worlds: the energy of a capital and the warmth of a welcoming community.
Thanks to its central location, just 1h20 from Paris, 2h from London, 1h50 from Amsterdam and Cologne and 30 minutes from Lille, Brussels is perfectly connected and internationally minded. It’s a true cultural crossroads, rich in history, diversity, and inspiration.This city is home to world-class talent in design, fashion, advertising, cinema, comics, theatre and music. Many renowned creatives live, teach and exhibit here. At every corner, Brussels breathes creativity and celebrates it, in its museums, festivals, parcs, art centres and streets.
Students love Brussels for its dynamic atmosphere and inclusive, easygoing spirit. It’s a place where you feel free to be yourself. The CAD is located in Uccle, a leafy residential neighbourhood in the south of the city. Surrounded by greenery and well-connected by public transport, it’s just 9 minutes away from the Gare du Midi (South Station), the hub for international trains like the TGV, Thalys and Eurostar.
With more than 20 nationalities represented among our students, the CAD reflects the vibrant, open and multicultural spirit of Brussels.
Bienvenue à toutes et à tous. Welcome to Brussels.
Housing in Brussels
At the CAD, we want our students to feel welcome and supported from day one and that includes helping you find the right place to live. That’s why we’ve partnered with Spotahome, one of Europe’s leading platforms for mid- to long-term furnished rentals. Whether you’re joining us from Belgium or abroad, you can explore and book a verified home 100% online, safely and easily even before arriving in Brussels.
More than just a listing site, Spotahome offers real human support: their team is available to guide you in your housing search, answer your questions, and help you find a place that fits your needs and budget. Plus, their Fraud Protection Booking System ensures that your payment is only transferred to the landlord 24 hours after you move in, giving you extra peace of mind. As a CAD student, you get 25% off their one-off service fee with our promo code.
Visit spotahome.com
Visa and other practical info
- Visa et residence in Belgium
If you are a non-European student and have been accepted into a programme at the CAD, you will need to complete specific steps to finalize your registration and apply for a Belgian student visa.
a) Finalizing Your Registration
Once accepted, you will be required to:
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- Pay the registration fee and annual tuition fee.
- In addition to the registration and tuition fees, you must also meet the Proof of sufficient means of subsistence requirement:
- The minimum amount is set by Royal Decree and is indexed annually. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the required amount is €12,744 corresponding to twelve times the minimum monthly amount a student must have (€1,062 × 12).
This amount must be deposited into a blocked account opened by the higher education institution in the student’s name. - Good to know: currently, the Immigration Office only accepts irrevocable transfer certificates (AVI) issued by the companies Studely and Ready Study Go International. However, the Immigration Office is not contractually bound to these companies and cannot be held responsible in the event of any failure in their obligations towards the student.
- The minimum amount is set by Royal Decree and is indexed annually. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the required amount is €12,744 corresponding to twelve times the minimum monthly amount a student must have (€1,062 × 12).
Once these steps are completed, the CAD will issue the official documents confirming your enrolment and financial proof, required for your visa application. Important: Due to the time required to complete the visa process, we only accept non-EU students until the end of May at the latest for the following academic year.
b) Applying for your Visa
With the documents provided by the CAD, you can begin your application for a student visa to study in Belgium. You’ll find the complete procedure and requirements on the official immigration website here.
How to apply for a visa
We strongly recommend that you start the process early, as visa applications may take several weeks to be processed.
In Case of Visa Refusal
If your visa application is officially refused, and you provide a letter of refusal from the Belgian embassy (after the appeal process), the CAD will refund your payment, minus €1,300 for administrative costs.
Registration to the municipal administration is compulsory for foreign students (outside the European Union). You must go to the municipal administration of the place where you will reside within 8 days of your entry in Belgium, and ask for your registration to the register of foreigners and the issuance of a residence card (card A).
Students will have to renew their residence permit every year before October 1st. For this, they must present various documents to the municipal administration:
- a certificate of registration in a school;
- a certificate confirming that they have attended all the exams of the previous academic year;
- proof of sufficient means of subsistence.
- Healthcare
In Belgium, individual health insurance is compulsory. As a result, students must join a ‘mutual fund’ (mutualité) of their choice. If any health problems occur, they can then consult a doctor and be reimbursed for a large part of the medical expenses incurred.
Foreign students from the EU will first contact the Social Security organization of their country (European card) and then a Belgian Mutual fund of their choice. Medical expenses will be reimbursed directly without a qualifying period. Only a mandatory additional contribution is required.
Foreign students outside the EU or countries not covered by the European card, must contact a mutual fund directly after their registration to the municipal administration of where they are resident. Only a mandatory additional contribution is required.
To register for a Mutual Fund, the following conditions must be respected:
- Be a Belgian Resident
- Provide an extract from the Population Register of the municipality where resident
- Be in possession of an Identity Card
- Be in possession of a Student Card or Certificate of Education if applicable
- Declaration on their honour that they have no income
More info: list of Mutual Funds
- Foreign diplomas and equivalences
If you have a foreign higher education diploma issued outside of Europe, please refer to the Belgian Embassy in your country for the diploma equivalence application.
If you have any questions about housing or paperwork, do not hesitate to contact us.