Information on the flemish higher education system

Description of the Flemish higher education system

8.1.1 Higher Education Institutions in Flanders

In Flanders, the higher education institutions consist of statutory registered institutions and registered higher education institutions.
The statutory registered institutions are the higher education institutions which were state-recognised.
Institutions are listed in the Flemish Register of Higher Education. An Association is an official legal entity confirming the cooperation of a university and one or more university colleges.
The registered higher education institutions offer higher education in Flanders and are officially registered by the Flemish Government. Their accredited Bachelor and Master programmes are listed in the Flemish Register of Higher Education.

8.1.2 Degrees

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

• An associate degree (90–120 ECTS) is a practice-based programme between secondary education and a professional bachelor’s degree (European Qualification Framework level 5). Workplace learning accounts for at least a third of the study load and it prepares you in two years for the labour market or for a professional bachelor’s programme. Flemish universities of applied sciences (and arts) offer associate degrees only in Dutch.
• A professional bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) is a bachelor’s degree combining general knowledge with practical competencies, including compulsory internships. It prepares you for the labour market in three years. Exception: a bachelor’s degree in nursing takes four years (240 ECTS). If you want to proceed with studying for a master’s degree at a Flemish university, a bridging programme will be required.
• An academic bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) is a bachelor’s degree offered at a university, a school of arts or the Antwerp Maritime Academy. It has a solid theoretical focus and prepares you for master’s studies.
• An advanced bachelor’s degree (60 ECTS) is a bachelor’s degree offered at a university of applied sciences. It provides you with broader and more specialised knowledge and competencies in your field of study.
• A master’s degree (60–120 ECTS) strongly focuses on advanced scientific or artistic knowledge and research competencies. Most English-taught programmes in Flemish higher education are at master’s level.
• An advanced master’s degree (60–120 ECTS) offers specialised training, often linked to top research areas of the home university and is aimed at students who already earned an initial master’s degree.
• A PhD is a doctoral degree awarded to students who complete a research thesis offering a new contribution to knowledge in their subject. Each Flemish university has several doctoral schools offering PhD programmes preparing PhD graduates for a career in academia and beyond.

8.1.3 Admission requirements

1. Bachelor’s programmes
The secondary school-leaving certificate is the general access requirement for a Bachelor’s programme. The institution boards may admit persons who do not meet the general access requirements, taking the legal stipulations into account.
Students must also pass a specific entry examination to access some specific Bachelor’s programmes. Advanced Bachelor’s programmes are only open to holders of a Bachelor’s degree, possibly after an aptitude test.

2. Master’s programmes
The general access requirement for a Master’s programme is an academic Bachelor’s degree. In some cases, students will have to follow an extra preparatory programme.
A professional Bachelor’s degree may give access to some Master’s programmes after a bridging programme.
Advanced Master’s programmes are only open to holders of a Master’s degree, possibly after an aptitude test.

3. Doctor
The general access requirement is a Master’s degree. The university board may impose an aptitude test. As an exception, a university board may admit persons who do not meet the general access requirements.

8.1.4 The Flemish credit system

The Flemish Higher Education system is part of the European Higher Education Area, where we use the ECTS credit system. ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System.

A year of full-time studies at universities is generally worth 60 ECTS credits, and is defined as equal to 1,500 – 1,800 hours of study work. This means 1 ECTS is equal to between 25 to 30 hours.

8.2 Diagram of the Flemish education system