Bordered by Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, Belgium is a Federal State, divised in three regions and three linguistic communities. Home to European Union institutions as well as international organizations such as the NATO, Belgium has a friendly, cosmopolitan, and multicultural society right in the heart of Europe, very exciting for international students. Belgium hosts world renowned higher education institutions, among the best in Europe.
There is on the one hand the universitary education and in the other the non-universitary one. Universities offer long-term education programmes made up of minimum two cycles (three with PhD). Non universitary formations are provided by the university colleges (Hautes Ecoles) and Schools of Arts, made up of 1 (short-term) to 2 cycles (long-term) liaising closely with applied research, universities, and socio-professional environments.