Post Study Work Options in Belgium for International Students
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With a GDP of over $600 billion dollars and a GDP per capita of more than $52,000, Belgium is one of the richest countries in the world. It has one of the highest living standards in the world. it offers universal healthcare, social security coverage and one of the best education systems in the world. Belgium is known worldwide for its chocolate shops and factories. Belgium is a highly attractive place for business primarily because of its central location in Europe. Besides, being home to hundreds of thousands of small, medium and multinational companies, Brussels is home to EU and NATO headquarters. Belgium is a great country to live in as London, Paris, and Amsterdam is just around the corner. You can get to most of the European capitals within just two hours. Belgium has a great network of transportation for easy travel and comfortable travel.
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Orientation Year Residence Permit
The Belgian government have started a new type of visa for international students who want to work after their graduation from a Belgian university. The orientation year residence permit is for international students who have graduated with a Bachelor’s, Master or a PhD degree from a Belgian university. All non-EU international students can avail of this visa to stay and seek work in Belgium. Under this facility, an international student is allowed to stay in Belgium post-study and seek work or start a business.
This residence permit opens the door to unlimited access to the Belgian labour market. You can work as a full-time employee, start a new business and much more. This permit does not extend beyond 12 months. The purpose of this residence permit is to facilitate you to get a job and not worry about the normal work visa required to work in Belgium for non-EU nationals. You are supposed to actively seek for job and find an employer who will sponsor your visa after the expiration of the Orientation year residence permit. You can start a business as well with this visa but you have to actively seek jobs as government authorities check your activities. If you are found to be doing anything other than seeking a job or starting a business then your orientation year residence permit may be withdrawn by the government.
Documents Required to Apply for ‘Orientation Year Residence Permit’
After your graduation, you are supposed to apply for the orientation year residence permit to the municipality near your residence. You should apply at least 15 days before the expiration of your residence permit.
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Note: Your student visa to Belgium comes with a residence permit.
To apply for the “orientation year residence permit” following documents are required:
- A photocopy of your passport
- Certificate of graduation from university/college in Belgium
- Proof of Health insurance
- Proof of sufficient funds
Median Salary in Belgium
In this section, we will provide some data that shows the average salary by job and by top companies. This section will give a rough idea of what to expect from working in Belgium.
Top Salaries – By Job
| Job |
Average Salary (in USD) per year |
|---|---|
| Executive Management & Change |
$101,000 |
| Legal & Paralegal |
$80,000 |
| R&D, Pharmaceuticals & Biotech |
$67,000 |
| Finance Control & Strategy |
$65,000 |
| Legal Department |
$64,000 |
| Human Resources |
$63,000 |
Source: Emolument
Executive Management & Change, at $101,000 per year, is the highest-paying job in Brussels, while Support Function & Translation, at $34,000 per year, is the lowest-paying job in Brussels.
Top Salaries – By Employer
| Employer |
Average Salary (in USD) per year |
|---|---|
| Credit Suisse |
$240,000 |
| Starwood Hotels and Resorts |
$167,000 |
| Commerzbank |
$156,000 |
| Credendo Group |
$132,000 |
| Dexia |
$132,000 |
| Hogan Lovells |
$112,000 |
Source: Emolument
After looking at these tables, you will get an idea of what to expect from whom and how much. You can be confident now, about making the right decision while choosing to work in Belgium.
Living in Belgium
Belgium has a very high level of diversity with Brussels being the second most diverse city in the world, only after Dubai. Thousands of Indians live and work in Belgium. Belgium has an open and multilingual society, people here are very friendly and respect others’ beliefs and traditions. Working and living in Belgium makes it one of the most attractive destinations among Indians going to Europe for work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can international students work after studying in Belgium?
Q. What is the fresher's salary in Belgium after graduation?
Q. Is there minimum wage law in Belgium?
Q. What are the conditions to get the "Orientation Year Residence Permit" in Belgium?
- You must have a Belgian residence permit for study reasons in the previous academic year
- You must have obtained a bachelor, master’s, postgraduate or doctoral degree in previous academic year
- You must have health insurance in Belgium
- Proof of your own financial means
- You must have an employment contract during the search year
Q. What if my student residence permit expires and approval for 'Orientation Year Residence Permit' does not come on time?
Q: Which is better: an MSc in Artificial Intelligence at KU Leuven (Belgium) or a MSc in Data Science at Ludwig Maximilian University?
KU Leuven is a popular university in Belgium and Ludwig Maximilians University Munich is a popular university in Germany. Mentioned below is the comparision between these two university for MSc in Artificial Intelligence at KU Leuven (Belgium) and MSc in Data Science program at LMU Munich:
- MSc in Artificial Intelligence at KU Leuven (Belgium) costs INR 5.93 L
- There is no tuition fees for MSc in Data Science at Ludwig Maximilian University
Therefore, it is better to study MSc in Data Science at Ludwig Maximilian University than MSc in Artificial Intelligence at KU Leuven.
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