Description

As one of the multicultural microcosms in the heart of Europe, mixing contemporary society with a rich history, Belgium provides an enjoyable and exciting study abroad experience. You'll walk through medieval town squares and streets in the midst of a thoroughly modern country that has influences in its culture from the French, Dutch, Austrians, and Spanish. Many towns stage reenactments of medieval times once a year, when the whole town is set to look and live as centuries before. Belgium's cuisine reflects its varied people and history, boasting one of the best experiences for your palate imaginable. And, of course, there's chocolate!

Belgium consists of three regions: Flanders in the north where most of the people speak Dutch; Wallonia in the south, where the majority is French speaking; and Brussels, the bilingual capital located in the center of the country. Both the AFS Flanders and Wallonia programs host students in Brussels, as well as their own areas. In the north, Dutch-speaking Flemings live in a flatland crisscrossed by canals. It boasts the medieval cities of Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent. Being hosted in the French-speaking Community of Belgium, you'll get to know the Walloons who live among the rolling hills of the Ardennes sprinkled with castles and the capital city of Brussels - home to both the European Union and NATO.

Highlights

Choose between a program in Flemish-speaking or French-speaking Belgium. Spend the academic year living with a host family, attending a local high school, and learning the regional language.

Attending high school in Belgium will be quite demanding, as the country holds high educational standards. AFS students are generally placed in the 5th or 6th grade (the 11th or 12th year) of what are called general secondary schools. School education in Belgium tends to be mainly intellectual and less about sports or artistic activities. That said, extracurricular opportunities are available after school through youth clubs or other community groups.

Dutch is the primary language spoken in Belgium Flanders and French is the primary language spoken in the Wallonia region. Language learning materials will be provided to the students to aid in self-study throughout the year.

Your local AFS chapter may organize activities throughout the year, which include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Belgium. Also, over the course of the program, AFS staff and volunteers will hold orientations and evaluate your experience to help with your cultural adjustment.

Type of Programs

• High School Study Abroad

Languages

• Dutch
• French

Cost in US$:

Refer to AFS-USA Website

Program Fees Include:

- Professional guidance and support throughout the entire application and program
- Placement with a carefully selected volunteer host family
- Placement with a host school
- Round-trip international travel
- Orientations prior to departure and after your arrival
- Comprehensive secondary medical insurance
- Visa information
- Access to a support network that includes AFS Professional Staff in the U.S. and your host country, plus thousands of trained volunteers worldwide.
- 24-hour emergency assistance

This Program is open to

American Participants.

Application Process Involves

• In-Person Interview Required
• Written Application
• Transcript
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Typically The Application Process Time is

varies

AFS Intercultural Programs/USA's Mission Statement

AFS Intercultural Programs is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. AFS Intercultural Programs is a leader in intercultural learning and offers international exchange programs in over 50 countries around the world through independent, not-for-profit AFS organizations, each with a network of volunteers, a professionally staffed office, and headed up by a volunteer board.

Year Founded

1947