Brussels, a European and international capital, is home to many private international schools offering high-quality education recognized worldwide.

However, these schools operate without funding from the Belgian state, meaning that parents (or employers) must cover tuition fees, which are often high.

Unlike Belgian public schools, which are state-funded, private international schools must cover their own costs, including:

• Modern and well-equipped facilities: science labs, sports centers, digital equipment.
• Highly qualified teachers: often trained abroad and specialized in international programs.
• Globally recognized academic programs: International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, etc.
• A multicultural and multilingual environment: bilingual or trilingual teaching, support for expat students.

1. Private Rate – Fees Paid Directly by Parents

Who does this apply to?
Families who fund their children’s education themselves.
Parents who do not receive financial support from their employer.

> Key points: Tuition fees are generally lower than those charged to companies.
International schools in Brussels often offer sibling discounts.
Families should anticipate yearly fee increases.

2. Corporate Rate – Fees Covered by the Employer

Who does this apply to?
Employees of international institutions, multinational companies, or embassies.
Expats whose contracts include an education package.

> Key points: In general, tuition fees charged to employers are higher than those charged to parents who self-finance their children’s education. These annual fees tend to increase as students progress through school, reaching their peak in the final year of secondary school.

Although prices vary greatly from one school to another, the general pricing structure is quite similar across institutions. It typically includes the following components:

• Enrollment fees

These are non-refundable and range from €500 to €3000 depending on the school. Some schools also charge additional development fees at the time of enrollment (€500 to €1650).

• Annual tuition fees for one school year

These fees tend to increase slightly each year. Private schools update their pricing at the end of every school year, which often results in a slight increase. Moreover, it is commonly observed that as a child progresses through school levels, the tuition fee per level increases, reaching its highest point in the final year of secondary school.

• Additional fees not included in annual tuition

These primarily cover services such as childcare, hot meals, extracurricular activities, school bus transportation if needed, etc.

Prices vary depending on the school, level and fee structure (private or corporate). Based on information published by international schools in Brussels, the following ranges apply for private rates (excluding enrollment fees and additional costs):

• Preschool (ages 2.5 to 6): between €5,500 and €37,000 per year.
• Primary (ages 6 to 12): between €8,500 and €41,000 per year.
• Secondary (ages 12 to 18): between €9,500 and €50,000 per year.

These figures are indicative. Exact fees are available directly on each school’s page on this website.