Chris Beaux — My path to Studying in Belgium
By Christopher Beaux
That feeling of satisfaction when you’ve just completed a Master’s degree during a world-wide pandemic
[4 min. read]
Long Application process
In the beginning before I even started my visa application process I had to first apply to the Master’s program - I had chosen to study for a Master of Science in Conflict and Development at Ghent University. I filled the online form and uploaded the required documents for the initial screening process.
After receiving the go ahead to start the actual application then began the work. The process started with certifying my bachelor’s degree at my University (as should all applicants applying for school). Next was to the Kenya Ministry of Education and finally the Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Finally I sent the application package consisting of my certified degrees and university application form.
Visa struggles
Once I receive the admission letter I start my application for the visa and the hoop-jumping starts. For the visa application the requirements are usually all available at TLS Contact (a company that manages visa and consular services for some countries). Some include the admission letter from the university you are going to study at, proof of sufficient means of subsistence (in the case of not having a scholarship), proof of accommodation in Belgium, medical certificate, criminal certificate clearance, academic transcripts and bachelor’s degree.
A very important note is all official documents have to be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Belgian Embassy to be accepted in the visa application process. After putting in the complete application came the back and forth specifically because in my case I did not have a scholarship and I was under a Belgian guarantor who now had to send official documents from Belgium which forced some more delays but finally I got my visa after a one-month delay of missing the start of my semester.
Why Belgium?
I picked Belgium because of the course I wanted to do, proximity to international organizations and NGOs with the possibility of international work experience within the EU framework and UN framework plus I also had family in Belgium.
Before I even started considering moving to Belgium I did extensive research on the course I wanted to do and finally I settled on the Master’s at Ghent university.
Chris and some of his classmates during his graduation ceremony
Immediately I arrived the first experience I had the pure icy cold of winter. But thanks to my family I had a good time integrating and exploring the place I was staying in Antwerp. Next was experiencing the language barrier in Antwerp as its mainly a Dutch-speaking region and I had no knowledge of Dutch.
A very honest view about the best thing that happened during my first year was honestly family. I came to Belgium during the peak of the COVID-19 lock-down and mostly spent time with my young niece and nephew watching them grow up. But as things opened up I really enjoyed traveling within Belgium with the classmates I met and finally getting to work in a café where I made lifelong friends and experiences.
The biggest challenge was the COVID-19 pandemic and the lock-down which prevented me from interacting with classmates and having an actual campus experience, as well as the language barrier but as I took language classes and things started to open up things got easier and I had a lot of fun.
Final advice
My advice before moving to Belgium for either work or studying is doing extensive research.
If you chose to live in either of the student cities, Leuven or Ghent, then you have an easier time interacting with internationals and getting away with speaking English otherwise I would advise you sign up for Dutch or French classes depending on the region you’ll be based in, or both if you enjoy languages.
Also have in mind things like the taxes and housing in Belgium as both are quite high. As a student in Belgium you have the advantage of working 475 hours tax free so if you’re able to manage your class load you can work and earn some money as well.
Christopher Beaux Jorondrazana is a conflict and development graduate MSc. Passionate about human development and policy analysis, a history geek with a budding interest in African fantasy and best of all an Arsenal fan. You can find him on LinkedIn here.