Start with our international schools in Brussels directory for the full landscape, then use this shortlist to focus on the senior phase. The schools below all run an examined route to university, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, A levels or both, and publish results and university guidance, and they admit by application rather than catchment. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and results are reported each year, so check the latest published figures and recent destinations with each school.
If your child has not yet settled on a qualification, read our shortlist of the best schools for sixth form in Brussels, which sets out the A level, IB and BTEC routes side by side, and the wider Brussels secondary schools guide.
The shortlist
St John's International School
St John's International School in Waterloo reported the strongest IB Diploma average in Belgium in 2025, a result that places its leavers in a competitive position for selective universities. The school runs the full IB continuum and finishes with the Diploma, and its smaller size lets the university guidance team work closely with each student through course choice, applications and references. For a family whose priority is a high IB outcome in a personal setting, St John's is a strong first call.
The British School of Brussels
The British School of Brussels in Tervuren placed in the top band of IB Diploma schools worldwide in 2025 and publishes consistently high A level pass rates, which matters because it is the only school in Belgium to offer A levels, the IB Diploma and BTEC together. That breadth lets a student match the qualification to the universities they are aiming for, whether that is a specialised British degree through A levels or a broad Diploma for a wider European or North American application. Its long experience as the first IB school in Belgium shows in its university guidance.
International School of Brussels
The International School of Brussels reported a full IB Diploma pass rate in 2025 and offers the widest set of routes to university in the region, with the IB Diploma alongside a US High School Diploma and Advanced Placement. That makes it the natural choice for families aiming at the United States, where the High School Diploma with AP is the familiar currency, as well as for those on the Diploma. The scale of the school supports a dedicated college counselling team with experience of applications across several national systems.
How we chose
We included only Brussels schools we could confirm publish genuine senior results and run dedicated university or college guidance, and that offer an examined route to university entry. We did not rank or score them, because the right school for university preparation depends on where your child wants to study and which qualification those universities prefer, not on a single headline number. A high average at one school does not make it the right fit for a child aiming at a system it rarely sends students to. Read the published results, ask where recent leavers actually went, and meet the guidance team before deciding.
Match a Brussels school to your child's goals
Tell us your child's stage, target qualification and university plans and the school finder returns a matched Brussels shortlist.
Start the school finderOutcomes, fees and next steps
The schools strongest on university preparation tend to sit at the premium end of the Brussels fee range, and the senior years are the most expensive part of any school career because the Diploma and A level programmes are resource intensive to staff. Strong outcomes and high fees often travel together, but they are not the same thing, and a more affordable school with a focused senior team can still place students well. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in our guide to international school fees in Brussels, so confirm the senior year tuition, plus examination and any guidance costs, with the school.
To take the next step, use the school finder to build a shortlist, browse the full Brussels schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for the most affordable international schools in Brussels and special educational needs.
Common questions
St John's International School in Waterloo reported the highest IB Diploma average in Belgium in 2025, with the British School of Brussels also in the top band of IB schools worldwide that year and the International School of Brussels reporting a full pass rate. Confirm the latest published figures with each school, as results are reported annually.
Yes. The established international schools in Brussels run dedicated university and careers guidance from the start of the senior years, helping students with course choice, applications to British, American, Belgian and other European systems, references and admissions tests. Ask each school about its counsellor to student ratio and where recent leavers went.
The IB Diploma is widely regarded as strong university preparation because its breadth, extended essay and theory of knowledge build the independent research and writing that degrees demand. It is accepted by universities in Belgium, Britain, the United States and across Europe. A levels prepare students well too, through deeper specialism in three or four subjects.
Yes. Brussels international schools regularly send leavers to universities in Belgium, the rest of Europe, the United Kingdom and North America, and their counsellors support applications across systems including UCAS and the Common Application. The qualification matters less than the fit, so choose the pathway that suits your child's target destinations.
The schools strongest on university preparation tend to sit at the premium end of the Brussels fee range, and the Diploma and A level years are the most expensive. Rather than quote a figure that dates, we keep current bands in our international school fees in Brussels guide, so confirm the senior year tuition with the school directly.