Admission requirements for studies at university in Belgium

Admission requirements for studies at public higher education institution in Belgium may differ depending on whether you intend to study in the Flemish, French or the German-speaking community.

General requirements

First cycle studies (bachelor's)

If you have successfully completed upper secondary studies in one of the signatory countries of the Lisbon Convention, are in possession of a valid school leaving certificate and qualify for higher education studies in your home country, you may also qualify for higher education studies in Belgium. However, some exceptions may apply as explained below.

Specific requirements in the Flemish community

If you would like to register for a program in Medicine or Dentistry, you will have to pass an admission test. The admission test is organized every year by the Ministry of Education.

A skills test is also required for students who wish to pursue an artistic education, such as "Visual Arts", "Audiovisual Arts" or "Music and Performing Arts". The test is organized by each institution.

Specific requirements in the French community

Besides the general admission requirements, students are required to pass an entrance examination in the event they wish to register for studies in applied sciences.

Second cycle studies (master's)

If you are applying for a master's program at university in Belgium, you are required to be in possession of a relevant bachelor's or equivalent degree diploma.

Third cycle studies (PhD)

In the event you are applying for doctoral studies at university in Belgium, you are required to be in possession of a relevant diploma or master's degree program.

Language requirements for studies at university in Belgium

Depending on whether the program is offered by an institution in the Flemish, French or German-speaking Community, you will need to prove your level of command of Dutch, French or German. For programs conducted in a foreign language, you will be required to prove your knowledge of the language of instruction.

In general, higher education institutions in Europe request students to prove they have a level of command of the language of instruction corresponding to the B1/B2 level (intermediate) according to the European language passport.

Please, be advised that the more competitive a course or study program is, the higher the level of knowledge of the language will be.

Source: Eurydice database (Eurydice is an international educational database developed by the European Commission and Member States of the European Union with the aim of facilitating and improving the understanding of the different educational systems in Europe).