Brussels : The European cybersecurity leading center

Why Brussels?

Brussels – the Belgian and European capital – hosts all the major EU institutions and is home to a huge diplomatic corps, making the city the second most important center of diplomatic relations in the world. It is therefore the best spot to reach decision-makers, and, with 2,250 headquarters registered on its territory, Brussels is home to more international associations than any other city. The European capital is consequently one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world: 183 nationalities (62% of the population being of foreign descent), 108 different languages spoken, 3 official languages.

Brussels is also one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with green spaces totaling 50% of its surface, as well as the forerunner of key initiatives in climate change, eco-innovation, energy performance, waste production and management, etc. Brussels has been declared the n°1 sustainable city in Europe in terms of environmental policy.

The quality of life in Brussels is highly appreciated by expats and visitors. 18000 cultural events take place in Brussels every year, art galleries are flourishing, the local film industry is surprisingly dynamic, and there is an impressive number of museums on Brussels’ territory. Locals and visitors also enjoy the local food, the numerous traditional markets, the Art Nouveau architecture, and the good humor.

The city’s greatest advantage yet is its strategic location: Amsterdam and Paris are 1h30 away by train, Cologne – 2h, and London is reachable within 2h30. Brussels is truly situated at the crossroads of Europe.

Attractive for talent

Brussels is ranked 13th among the most attractive cities in the world for young talent.

UNESCO Heritage Site

Brussels has 7 monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Quality of life

Brussels ranks 49th in the ‘best cities’ ranking (Global Cities Index, 2020 )

Entrepreneurial ecosystem

Belgium is well-known for its attractive start-up ecosystem.

Brussels, a great city to live in :

The 2nd most cosmopolitan city after Dubai
Many headquarters of major companies such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon
A city where rents are affordable, and gentrification is low
A city with a food culture! Brussels’ speciality : chocolate!

Career opportunities:

Brussels is the ideal city to find an internship. In addition to the European institutions, NATO and its 159 embassies, many multinational companies have their headquarters in Brussels.

The ICT sector in Brussels is growing rapidly thanks to successful collaborations between academia and the business sector, as well as the active financial support and networking of regional authorities.

Given the growing recognition of its capacity to innovate, Brussels is a strong contender for places to launch your startup. Its strategic location, the welcoming entrepreneurial environment and the international mindset make an unbeatable combination, especially if your plan is to make an impact and are committed to succeed internationally.

In addition to the dynamic Brussels job market, start-ups and international companies are constantly looking for new IT experts. As a result, our students regularly have the opportunity to work for big names in the technology industry.

Here are some of the companies that have trusted our students in previous years :

Program

Become an expert in the field of cybersecurity:

In the technological field, in addition to your year program , you’ll complete your expertise through subjects specifically dedicated to cybersecurity.

Brussels is home to CERT-EU, an inter-institutional service and a central cybersecurity node in the European Commission. They contribute to the security of IT infrastructures by promoting threat prevention strategies. CERT-EU also coordinates responses to cyber attacks at European level, conducting technical assessments, organising cyber defence awareness campaigns, etc.

At the national level, the Belgian army has very recently announced the creation of a Cyber Command whose aim will be to “guarantee the development of cyber capabilities and promote innovation in the field of cyber technology within the Armed Forces” while cooperating with Belgian and international interdepartmental partners. This initiative follows NATO’s recognition of cyberspace as an operational domain, in addition to the air, land, sea and space environments.

Needless to say, Epitech Brussels takes advantage of this environment and has established privileged partnerships with various organisations specialised in cybersecurity: Cresco, BeHack, The Cybersecurity Challenge, Wavestone, among others.

Through these partnerships, international students will have the opportunity to be trained by experienced professionals and become members of communities of cybersecurity enthusiasts, participate in different hackathons, complete internships in the field and obtain additional certifications.

The presence of such organisations in Brussels is further proof of the relevance and international scope of cyber security.

Life on campus

The IONIS campus in Brussels is located on the famous Montgomery roundabout, near the European Commission and the city centre.

The Epitech Brussels campus is about 800 m², enough to host hackathons, conferences, coding workshops and many other student events. Students can have access to small meeting rooms as well as large workspaces. The Epitech Brussels hub is well equipped (a 3D printer, a VR set, various equipment for experimenting with IoT, etc.) and the management is willing to invest more in equipment as long as the projects are relevant and bring added pedagogical value to future students.

The Brussels campus is accessible by public transport. No matter where you are in Brussels, you can easily reach the campus.

Campus ecosystem

Epitech Brussels is linked to many associations and platforms that support tech startups and educational initiatives in the city and abroad.

BECI
French Tech Brussels
Women in Tech
1819
Betech

Behack
Spilberg
The Maul
Wavestone

Activities on campus

Epitech Brussels welcomes and encourages the students’ initiatives and consider it is important to let them appropriate the school’s space. The “chill room” is the perfect spot to organize movie or boardgame evenings. The cafeteria has been numerous times the hotspot for cooking delicious pancakes. The student association (Bureau des Étudiants) is open to receiving new members and organize events on campus or outside (visits to museums and various institutions, attending music and film festivals, etc.).

Les tek1 et tek2 d'Epitech Bruxelles à Walibi

Visit of the royal Green house

Testimonials

When I arrived in Brussels, I didn't expect to find such a lively city, where there is a lot to do and see. During my stay I had the opportunity to visit a lot of museums like the musical instruments museum (quite close to the Epitech campus) or the comic book museum and, of course, I could try the different bars in Brussels.
As far as the Epitech Brussels curriculum is concerned, the courses in project management, development, and last but not least the capstone project, were all very interesting and formative. In Brussels, I trained in the Flutter mobile development framework for which I discovered a passion, and which constitutes the main part of my professional activity today.
In addition to the acquired skills, I also met extraordinary people with whom I have kept in touch

I really enjoyed my year at Epitech Brussels. I was pleasantly surprised by the curriculum. Indeed, it revolved around the creation of a mobile application from A to Z (ideation /testing the idea on the public/ industrialization of the project).
I learned a lot during this year both from a professional and personal point of view. I was surrounded by a supervisory team that was both motivating and demanding. I had the chance to work with the first class of Epitech Brussels and it was a real pleasure.
All this to say that if I were asked to do my 4th year at Epitech Brussels again, I would sign up immediately.

Choosing Brussels means choosing multiculturalism. We welcome you to a capital that is both cosy and dynamic, cosmopolitan and with a rich history.

An international and multilingual city

The Brussels-Capital Region is a melting pot of different cultures. The Region itself is bilingual (French and Dutch), but in many places you can also easily communicate in English. The large number of international institutions and companies based in Brussels attracts different international communities. You will also find a wide range of products, media and cultural offerings from many different countries.

Cultural life

The Wallonia-Brussels Federation, whose mission is to provide the conditions for the development of and access to a wide range of artistic, creative and cultural activities, invests a lot of resources so that these services reach a maximum number of citizens, actors and consumers. When compared to the size of the city, the number of museums, art galleries, theatres, cinemas, concerts and exhibition centres in Brussels is impressive. Discover more…

Architecture

Brussels is one of the jewels of Art Nouveau architecture. Just by walking through the streets of Brussels, you can admire many buildings that are still very well preserved. Numerous associations have been created in recent years to promote this heritage. Discover more…

Brussels, city of flavours

Between beers, chocolates and waffles, you will find plenty to satisfy your taste buds in Brussels. And don’t forget to try the typical Brussels dishes: mussels and chips, carbonnades flamandes, chicory au gratin (or endives!) and even stoemp (mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables)…and many other typical dishes.

Must-do activities

Discover Brussels' street art

Street art is another element that brings Brussels to life. Chances are that at least one of your favourite comic book characters decorates the walls of the city. Take a map and visit them all on a sunny day.

Going out in Brussels

The famous Place Flagey, the Ixelles cemetery (2nd coolest neighbourhood in Europe according to The Guardian), the square in front of Saint-Gilles and the Halles St-Géry are all places where you can sit down in Brussels, either to sip a drink on a sunny terrace or to enjoy a good meal. In the summer, you can also find guinguettes in the parks. Brussels (and Belgium!) is also a must for techno/electro fans, who will not be left out! Belgium hosts world-famous festivals such as Tomorrowland, Dour Festival, Rock Werchter, but also UNESCO-recognised events such as the Binche carnival, the giants of Ath, the Doudou in Mons, etc.

Practical Information

Whether you have just arrived here or are looking us up from another country to find out a little more about Brussels, we offer you practical information, giving you the answers you need when moving to our city.

Housing options

Private room in a student residence: 750 €/month
Private room in a shared flat: 400€ – 550 €/month
Full flat (1 to 3 persons): 800€ – 1200 €/month

Cost of living

Public transport: €12/year for students aged 18 to 24 (one ticket: €2.10)
Food: 25 €/month
Internet at home: 30 – 70 €/month
Cocktail: 5-10€.
Beer: €3
Finger food: €2-8
Cinema: €12
Museum: €10
Evenings: from free to 20€.