Studying in Belgium

Education in Belgium uses Dutch (in the Flemish Community) or French (in the French Community) at all school levels including university. At the postgraduate level however, you will find a wide choice of courses in English available. Below is a short overview of the structure of university studies. For more information on the specific programmes or admission requirements, please contact the universities directly or check their websites.

Structure of higher education programmes:

• Professional Bachelor's programmes are professionally oriented and are only organised by university colleges. They are a continuation of secondary education.
  
  
• Academic Bachelor's programmes offered by university colleges within an association or by universities are geared towards the transition to Master's programmes. They also tie in with secondary education.
  
  
• Master's programmes are offered by universities and university colleges (within the framework of an association).
  
  
• For further in-depth-study students can follow Advanced Bachelor's, Advanced Master's and Postgraduate programmes.
  
  
• The highest level of scientific specialisation is the doctoral programme. Doctorates are based on original scientific research and culminate in the candidate defending his/her doctoral thesis in public.

More information on the educational system in Belgium can be found on following websites http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/english (Flemish Community) and http://www.cfwb.be/matiere/enseig/pg002.htm (French Community). Please note that the structure is not completely similar in Flanders, because not the Federal State of Belgium but the Communities are competent for education.