In this guide
European School or private: choose your track
The first decision in Brussels is not which school but which system. The European Schools (Schola Europaea) run four campuses across the city, teaching the European Baccalaureate in a wide range of partner languages. They are heavily subsidised for the children of European institution staff, who pay little or nothing directly, while other families pay full fees in the region of 13,000 to 18,000 euro a year, and admission runs through a formal annual enrolment window with priority categories. The alternative is the fully private sector, led by the International School of Brussels in Watermael-Boitsfort, the British School of Brussels in Tervuren and St John's International School in Waterloo, where you pay the full fee, admission is rolling, and you choose freely. The two tracks differ in cost, admissions route and language profile, so settle this question before you fill in a single form. Our directory of international schools in Brussels maps which schools sit on which track.
When to start the application
Brussels follows the Belgian academic year, which begins in late August or early September; the 2025 to 2026 year ends on Friday 3 July 2026 and the new year starts in late August. There is no single citywide deadline. The European Schools open their enrolment window for the September intake in the early part of the calendar year, so watch the official portal from January. The private schools admit where space exists and fill popular year groups first, with the International School of Brussels taking current-year applicants up to around 1 May. Either way, the earlier you act the wider your real choice. For the full window detail see our Brussels admissions deadlines 2026 page.
Build a realistic shortlist
Brussels rewards a portfolio that recognises both systems. If you are eligible for a European School place, treat it as a strong, affordable anchor, then add one or two private schools as a hedge against category limits and waiting lists. Shortlist by curriculum first, then district, then fees, because the schools spread from the centre out to Tervuren and Waterloo. For the senior years specifically, our shortlist of the best schools for sixth form in Brussels sets out the A Level and IB Diploma options, and our Brussels primary schools guide shows where the main clusters sit.
Step 1 · Confirm the year group is open
Before anything else, ask each shortlisted school whether your child's year group is open for the intended start, or whether it sits on a waiting list. This single question prevents most wasted effort and tells you which track to lean on.
Step 2 · Book a visit
Most Brussels schools prefer that families visit before applying. Book an open morning or a private tour with admissions; our Brussels open days 2026 page explains how the visit season works and lists confirmed dates.
Step 3 · Submit the application
The private schools take a multi-step online application and a registration fee at the point of applying; the International School of Brussels lists a 2,000 euro application fee. The European Schools admit through their formal enrolment window, so file within the published dates.
The Brussels document checklist
The quiet step that delays more Brussels enrolments than any form is documentation. Schools ask for the child's passport or birth certificate, school reports from the past two years with English or French translations where needed, and a confidential reference from a teacher who knows the child. Senior and sixth-form applicants usually add recent transcripts, and the International School of Brussels asks high school applicants for records from the start of secondary. You will often need the parents' passports, a recent immunisation record and a passport photograph as well. Keep digital scans in one folder and bring paper originals to any in-person stage. Starting this the moment your move looks likely, rather than once it is confirmed, is the most reliable way to avoid a slipped start date.
Free Brussels admissions checklist
Our printable Brussels admissions checklist sets out every document, the order to tackle them in and a realistic week-by-week timeline for a September start across both school tracks. Free with email and no sales follow-up. Request the checklist.
Assessments and what they look like
Brussels schools use a light-touch mix of screening and school-specific tasks rather than competitive entrance exams. Early Years and the first primary years are usually a play-based observation session. From the middle of primary upwards, expect a short English reading and writing task and a maths check, often with a brief assessment of any additional-language support your child may need, since Brussels cohorts are highly multilingual. Senior and sixth-form applicants typically discuss subject choices and may sit a short subject task plus an interview. At the International School of Brussels, the completed file goes to the head of the relevant school section, who reviews it with the educational team before a decision is sent by email, and accepted families are asked to confirm within five working days. Prepare your child by being honest: it is a friendly assessment of fit, not an examination to cram for.
Registration and fee timing
Cost is where the two tracks diverge most. The European Schools are subsidised for eligible families and charge full fees of roughly 13,000 to 18,000 euro for others, while the premium private schools sit at around 22,000 to 30,000 euro a year. The private schools charge a non-refundable registration fee on application; St John's International School in Waterloo, for example, charges an enrolment fee of 1,000 euro plus a campus development fee, and the International School of Brussels lists a 2,000 euro application fee. Tuition is then billed by term or year, with the larger invoice around the late-August restart. Because registration fees are rarely refundable, sequence your offers carefully. Our guide to international school fees in Brussels sets out the bands and the billing rhythm across both systems, and our how much are international school fees in Brussels in 2026 explainer answers the cost question directly.
The mistakes that lose places
First, treating Brussels as a single market and missing the European School track entirely, which is the most affordable route for eligible families. Second, applying to one school in a city that rewards a portfolio across both systems. Third, assuming the private schools have a deadline, when they admit on a rolling basis and reward an early complete file rather than a punctual one. Fourth, leaving the document chain late, particularly the teacher reference and translated reports. Fifth, treating the assessment as a high-stakes exam, which makes children present worse than they are. The school finder tool helps you shape an honest shortlist across both systems before you fill in a single form.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply to an international school in Brussels?
Decide first whether you are applying to a European School or a private international school, because the route differs. The private schools, such as the International School of Brussels, run a multi-step online application you can start at any time of year, uploading the past two years of school reports, the child's passport or birth certificate and a teacher reference, with a registration fee. The European Schools admit through a formal annual enrolment window for the September intake. Visit, confirm the year group is open, then file the documents.
Is there a deadline to apply to schools in Brussels?
The private international schools admit on a rolling basis with no single deadline, though popular year groups fill first, so an early file widens your choice. The European Schools run a defined enrolment window for the September intake, published each year in their official enrolment policy, which you can miss. Confirm the current dates on the school's own admissions pages.
What documents do Brussels international schools require?
Expect to provide the child's passport or birth certificate, school reports from the past two years with translations where needed, and a confidential teacher reference. Senior applicants usually add recent transcripts. Some schools also ask for parents' passports and an immunisation record. Keep digital scans in one folder and bring originals to any in-person stage.
Is there an application fee for Brussels international schools?
The private schools charge a non-refundable application or registration fee. The International School of Brussels lists an application fee of 2,000 euro, and St John's International School in Waterloo charges an enrolment fee of 1,000 euro plus a campus development fee. Tuition is billed separately by term or year, with the larger invoice around the late-August start. Confirm the current figures with each school.