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Belgium
Discover the heart of Europe!
Yep, Belgium really is situated right in the heart of Europe! With Germany and Luxembourg on one side, France on the other and the UK just over The English Channel. Belgium’s location, small size and clash of cultures are part of what make it so great!
Belgium has a rich history and culture, where castle-dominated town can be found on winding rivers. Belgium is famous for medieval cities, gothic cathedrals, castles, diamonds, waffles, chocolates, and frites (fries). The northern Flemish speak a variety of Dutch, the southern Walloons speak French and a small pocket of citizens speak German. The capital, Brussels, is officially bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. Who would have thought that in an area approximately half the size of Tasmania, a nation of over 11 million people speaking three different languages could peacefully co-exist?!
Don’t learn French at school? That’s OK! Belgium doesn’t have a language requirement, making it a fantastic alternative to France. The linguistic diversity of the country ensures that Belgians are used to accommodating first-time French learners. School days are shorter than in France, and public transport is readily available in most towns. So, what are you waiting for? If you’re interested in becoming a WEP exchange student and learning about European culture, why not study in Belgium?
Upcoming Exchanges
| Departure | Duration | Fee | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2024 | Short Term | $ 8,450 | 22 August 2023 |
| January 2024 | Semester | $ 9,450 | 22 August 2023 |
| January 2024 | Academic Year | $ 11,350 | 22 August 2023 |
| August 2024 | Short Term | $ 8,450 | 26 March 2024 |
| August 2024 | Semester | $ 9,450 | 26 March 2024 |
| August 2024 | Academic Year | $ 10,750 | 26 March 2024 |
Program fees are valid until 31/05/2023. A flight surcharge may be applied if at the time of making flight bookings airlines are charging significantly higher airfares.
More Information
School
The Belgian school system is the equal of France. In fact, French students learn their native language thanks to grammar books and standards designed by a famous Belgian, Maurice Grevisse, in 1979.
The school day is shorter than in France, however, similar to their neighbour, the study of creative arts is undertaken outside school hours. Generally, Belgian schools organise excellent inter-country excursions and trips.
Language
Belgium is officially trilingual! While the main languages are French and Flemish, a 'small' community of over 60,000 nationals also speaks German. French is also spoken in two other WEP destinations; France and Canada.
How hard is it to learn French in Australia? MODERATE. 23-24 weeks OR 575-600 class hours are required to become proficient in French. Fast-track your language studies on exchange!
Climate/Time
Compared with Australia, Belgium has a cool climate! The average temperature is lowest in January at 3 °C and highest in July at 18 °C. Because Belgium is a flat country, it is often breezy in winter. In the Eastern regions, hills cause heavy rainfall and snow in the winter - something to look forward to if you have never seen snow before!
Depending on daylight saving, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are between 9 to 10 hours ahead of Belgium.
Specific Requirements
None
Local Time
Currency
1 AUD 0.68 EUR
Weather
Today
18.7 7.8 °C
Tomorrow
18.6 9.8 °C
Day After
13.2 10.7 °C
In this month's WEPisode, we take a look at Ben's exchange to Belgium!
Listen to Alex' interview on ABC Radio with Katrina Davidson
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