Belgian students opt to stay at home.

For the first time since its launch in 1987, the number of Belgian students going abroad with the Erasmus exchange scheme as part of their course has decreased. However, more and more foreign students are coming to Belgium each year.

In 2007-2008, only 4,781 Belgian students took part in the scheme, compared with 5,119 in the previous academic year, reveal figures published on Thursday by the European Commission.

Only 1.37% of Belgian students take part in the scheme, putting Belgium in sixth place in terms of student mobility in Europe. 

On the other hand, whilst the number of outgoing students is falling, universities here certainly do not lack applications from foreign students.

In the 2007/8 academic year, 6,155 foreign students came to Belgian to study for at least three months, including 1,263 Spanish students, which is the biggest number of foreign students in Belgian by far. 

Figures from the European Commission indicate that since its launch twenty years ago, over 2 million teachers and students have taken part in the Erasmus scheme. 

Spain remains the most popular place for students to spend their year, followed by France, Germany, Britain and Italy. 

 

Le Soir/Expatica