The end of September is traditionally the start of the academic year at the universities and university colleges in Flanders. And this year, a record number of foreign students have found their way to the Flemish universities. Currently 12,220 foreign students are studying at the Flemish universities, or 12% of all the student population.

The KU Leuven saw a 12% raise in the number of foreign students compared to last year - there are currently 7,405 foreign students registered or 15% of the total student population - and other universities are confirming this increase. The students are mainly from the Netherlands, but also more and more Chinese, Indian, Spanish, Italian and American students are deciding to study in Flanders. This is a result of the low student fees compared to our neighbouring countries, an increased number of bachelors and masters offered in English, and Flanders' high quality of life.