Secondary and sixth form international school fees in Brussels run from effectively free in the Belgian state system to about EUR 28,000 to 46,000 a year at the premium independent international schools for 2026, where the senior years are the costliest stage. The European Schools sit in the middle at roughly EUR 16,000 to 21,000 on full fees, and far less for eligible categories. For the full picture see our international school fees in Brussels report and the primary fees bands, and browse the market on the international schools in Brussels hub.
Brussels has one of Europe's most distinctive secondary markets because three systems sit side by side: premium English medium independent international schools, the multilingual European Schools created for EU institution staff, and a strong and largely free Belgian state system in French or Flemish. At senior level the independent fee buys an English medium IB Diploma, A Level or BTEC pathway, broad enrichment and university counselling, while the European Schools deliver the multilingual European Baccalaureate at a lower full fee and little or nothing for eligible categories. The result is a wide spread and a real choice between paying for a portable English medium qualification and using the heavily subsidised European or free state routes, which makes the senior fee gap central to the relocation budget.
The bands below are tuition only and follow the tier structure in our Brussels fee research, with secondary and sixth form placed at the upper part of each school's range. Treat them as planning ranges. The exact fee depends on the school, the year group and whether the child is in lower secondary, the IGCSE or middle years, or the IB Diploma, A Level or European Baccalaureate years, which sit highest.
| Tier | Annual secondary tuition | Illustrative schools |
|---|---|---|
| Premium independent | EUR 28,000 - 46,000 | British School of Brussels, International School of Brussels, St John's International, Lycee Francais Jean Monnet |
| European Schools (full fee) | EUR 16,000 - 21,000 | European School Brussels I to IV (Uccle, Woluwe, Ixelles, Laeken) |
| European Schools (Cat I and II) | EUR 0 - 6,000 | Same schools, for EU institution staff or eligible categories |
| Belgian state | EUR 0 - 1,500 | French or Flemish medium state secondaries, free for residents |
School names indicate the fee tier and are illustrative, not a ranking. The IB Diploma, A Level and BTEC sixth form years are the highest published fee at the premium independents, with one well known senior fee reaching the mid forty thousands of euros, so a family entering at secondary should budget for a rising tuition line. European School and state places are far cheaper but allocated by category and catchment, so a place cannot be assumed.
Model sixth form tuition against the full cost of place across up to three schools and other stages.
Three things move the senior number in Brussels. The first is which of the three systems the place sits in, since the premium independents charge into the mid forties of thousands of euros while the European Schools are cheaper and the state route effectively free. The second is the year group, where the IB Diploma, A Level or European Baccalaureate years carry the highest tuition and external examination load. The third is fee inflation, which has run at several percent a year across the Brussels independents while the state route carries none, so a private place priced today will cost more across a full secondary stay.
Headline tuition is only part of the picture, and the senior years carry the heaviest add ons. The lines to plan for are a one time registration or enrolment fee, a refundable deposit, school bus where offered, lunch, uniform where required, residential and curriculum trips, and external examination entries for the IB Diploma, IGCSE, A Level or BTEC in the final years, though some independents include public examination entry in tuition. Our Brussels fees guide sets out the line items in full and the Brussels primary fees page covers the lower stages, while the relocation cost calculator places them inside a complete family budget. To weigh Brussels against another posting, the fee comparison tool models several cities at once, and verified parent perspectives will appear on Brussels international school reviews as they arrive.
At the premium independent international schools, secondary and sixth form tuition runs roughly EUR 28,000 to EUR 46,000 per year in 2026, with the European Schools at about EUR 16,000 to 21,000 on full fees and the Belgian state route effectively free. The senior IB, A Level and European Baccalaureate years sit at the top of each range.
Yes. On full fees the European Schools charge roughly EUR 16,000 to 21,000 for the senior years, well below the premium independents, and EU institution staff and other eligible categories pay little or nothing. Places are allocated by category and catchment, so a place cannot be assumed.
Expect a one time registration fee, a deposit, lunch and school bus where offered, uniform where required, residential trips, and external examination entries for the IB Diploma, IGCSE, A Level or BTEC in the final years, although some independents include public examination entry in tuition. The European and state routes carry far lower extras.
The premium independents run full senior years, including the British School of Brussels, the International School of Brussels, St John's International and the Lycee Francais Jean Monnet, alongside the European Schools and the Belgian state system. The named schools are illustrative of the tier rather than a ranking.
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