Study in Belgium: Who Can Apply

Eligibility for Belgian Universities

You need a degree that fits the program and proof of the right language level. Each university reads your papers one by one and decides who it takes.

Example eligibility check

Example: master's applicant

Bachelor's degree

Done

Example: degree fits the program.

Mark sheets

Done

Example: all years uploaded.

English test

Started

Example: test booked.

Degree check

To do

Example: still to do.

Example status

Maybe

Example only. Your own result comes from the university.

What You Need

The base rules. Each program can add more.

A degree that fits

For a master's, a bachelor's degree in a related field. For a bachelor's, a school diploma that gives access to university in your country.

Language level

English at B2 level (a good middle level) for most English-taught programs in Flanders. Some want more: KU Leuven (a university in the city of Leuven) engineering asks for an IELTS score of 7.

Papers read one by one

Most foreign diplomas do not give direct entry to a program.

Each university decides

In Flanders, each university decides who it takes.

Three language communities, different rules

Flemish (Dutch-speaking) and French-speaking universities follow different rules. Check your university's own page.

Requirements by Level

What each level usually asks for.

General rules

1Bachelor's

A school-leaving certificate that lets you enter university at home.
At UGent, all bachelor's programs are in Dutch. The Social Sciences bachelor is run together with another university, VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel).
UCLouvain, a French-speaking university: an average of at least 13 out of 20 if your school or degree is from outside the EU.

2Master's

A bachelor's degree that fits the program.
A test result that shows your English (or Dutch or French) is good enough.
Some programs ask for a GRE or GMAT test score (tests for master's study).

3PhD

A master's degree.
A research degree. Each university has a unit that runs PhD study, with its own rules.

Other Tests

Standardized Testing Requirements

Graduate Tests

1GRE

UGent asks non-EEA applicants for the GRE in engineering and architecture, and in some science master's. At UGent, non-EEA is decided by where your diploma is from, not your passport.

The score counts for 5 years after you take the test.

2GMAT or GRE

UGent economics and business asks non-EEA applicants for the GMAT (a test for business study) or the GRE.

The score counts for 5 years after you take the test.

Note: Only some programs ask for these. The EEA is the European Economic Area: the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Students from India and Pakistan are from outside the EEA.

English Scores

English Proficiency Requirements

Each program sets its own score. These are examples.

Test	Undergraduate	Graduate	Notes
IELTS	6.0 (the score for B2 in Flanders)	7 (KU Leuven engineering)	KU Leuven engineering: no part under 6.5 (the four parts are reading, writing, speaking and listening).
TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026 (old scale)	72 to 94 (the score for B2 in Flanders)	94 (KU Leuven engineering)	KU Leuven engineering: no part under 22.
TOEFL iBT taken from 21 January 2026 (1 to 6 scale)	-	5 (KU Leuven engineering)	KU Leuven engineering: no part under 4.5.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)	-	185 (KU Leuven engineering)	KU Leuven engineering: no part under 176.

Important Considerations

Score Validity

Check the test provider’s score validity rules and your university’s requirements.

Possible Exemptions

You may be exempt from English proficiency requirements in certain cases:

KU Leuven engineering does not ask for an English test if your degree is from Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA. Degrees from India and Pakistan are not on this list.

Special Cases

Different academic disciplines often have specific requirements beyond the general eligibility criteria. These specialized requirements ensure you have the necessary background and aptitude for success in your chosen field in Belgium.

Medicine and health

In Flanders, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science need an entry exam.
These programs are taught only in Dutch.

Engineering (ULB)

At the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), civil engineering needs an entry exam.

Looking for Other Fields?

This is not an exhaustive list. Many other academic disciplines have specific requirements. Always check with your target universities in Belgium for the most accurate and up-to-date requirements for your specific program of interest.

For Students from India and Pakistan

International students face several additional requirements beyond those for domestic applicants. These ensure that you can successfully transition to studying in Belgium and comply with immigration regulations.

Diploma equivalence

An official decision that your diploma matches a Belgian one.

French-speaking universities need an official paper from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (the French-speaking government). It says your diploma matches a Belgian one.
UCLouvain bachelor's: you need the final (definitive) version of this paper.

Degree checks

Universities make sure your degree is real.