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Gain insights into the Belgium higher education framework, academic culture, teaching methods, and grading system to prepare for your studies.
180 credits (ECTS), 3 years
Offered at a university. It prepares you for a master's.
60 to 120 ECTS (1 to 2 years)
Most English-taught programs in Flanders are master's.
60 to 120 ECTS
A second master's for students who already have one.
Varies
A research degree. Each university has a unit that runs PhD study, with its own rules.
Belgium has three levels of degree: bachelor's, master's and PhD. Each full-time year is worth 60 credits (ECTS, the European credit system).
Belgium has Dutch-, French- and German-speaking parts. Each runs its own schools. Flanders (Dutch-speaking) has two kinds of school: universities and universities of applied sciences.
Five in Flanders. They do a lot of research. They offer bachelor's, master's, advanced master's and PhDs.
•KU Leuven, UGent and the University of Antwerp (UAntwerpen) are examples.
Thirteen in Flanders. They teach hands-on skills and offer associate and professional bachelor's degrees.
A short hands-on course. It comes after school and before a professional bachelor's (Flanders).
Hands-on, with work placements. It prepares you for a job (Flanders).
Mostly study of ideas, not job training. It prepares you for a master's.
Most programs taught in English are at this level.
Belgian marks are given out of 20. UCLouvain, a French-speaking university, asks bachelor's applicants whose school or degree is from outside the EU for an average of at least 13 out of 20.
Two semesters, each with classes, weeks to study and exams. These dates are for KU Leuven (Leuven campus), 2026-27. Students from India and Pakistan are from outside the EEA (the European Economic Area: the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
21 September to 19 December 2026
Classes started on 21 September 2026. Exams 11 to 30 January 2027.
8 February to 22 May 2027
Exams 7 to 26 June 2027.
16 August to 4 September 2027
A third exam period for students who must take an exam again.
Other schools and subjects can differ a little.
Belgium uses the European credit system (ECTS). 60 credits is one full year. Credits can move between countries.
Credit definition:
In Flanders (the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium), a group called NVAO officially approves degree programs.
Check that NVAO has approved your program before you apply.
The group that approves programs in Flanders and the Netherlands.
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