Have you ever considered studying in a country with a diverse and internationally connected higher education system but found it difficult to compare the available options? Belgium offers a wide range of programs across its language communities, with qualifications structured around the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
Education in Belgium is the responsibility of the Flemish, French, and German-speaking Communities. This article focuses mainly on Flemish and French-speaking higher education. Both systems use ECTS, but institution names, degree types, and credit requirements can differ. Students should therefore check the rules for the community and institution where they plan to study.
Types of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Belgium
1. Universities
Universities generally provide academically oriented education with a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry and research. They typically offer academic bachelor’s, master’s, advanced master’s, and doctoral programs across fields such as science and technology, human sciences, health sciences, and the arts, depending on the institution and language community. Examples include KU Leuven, Ghent University, and the University of Antwerp.
2. University Colleges
In French-speaking Belgium, university colleges offer practical and professionally oriented education connected to the workplace, applied research, and internships. Depending on the program, they may award professional bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and specialization qualifications. In Flanders, comparable institutions are commonly called universities of applied sciences and arts. They offer associate degrees, professional bachelor’s degrees, advanced bachelor’s degrees, and postgraduate certificates. Charlemagne University College, for example, offers professional bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and specializations across several academic departments.
3. School of Arts
In French-speaking Belgium, Schools of Arts offer bachelor’s and master’s programs in areas such as visual and spatial arts, music, theater, dramatic arts, and communication and broadcasting technologies. In Flanders, Schools of Arts are integrated into universities of applied sciences and arts and may offer professional or academic bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, advanced master’s degrees, and doctoral programs. The Royal Conservatory of Brussels offers programs in classical and contemporary music, theater, early music, jazz, pedagogy, and rhythmics. The Royal Conservatory of Liège offers higher education programs in music and theater.
Types of Degree Levels in Belgium
1. Associate Degree
An associate degree in Flanders is a practice-based, short-cycle qualification situated between secondary education and a professional bachelor’s degree. It normally comprises 90 or 120 ECTS and includes workplace learning for at least one-third of the program. It generally prepares students in two years for employment or further study in a professional bachelor’s program. Associate degrees are offered by Flemish universities of applied sciences and arts, not by universities, and are currently taught only in Dutch.
2. Professional Bachelor’s Degree
A professional bachelor’s degree is usually worth 180 ECTS and takes three years of full-time study. It combines general knowledge with practical competencies and includes compulsory internships. Nursing is an exception in Flanders, where the bachelor’s degree takes four years and comprises 240 ECTS. Graduates with a professional bachelor’s degree who want to enter a master’s program at a Flemish university normally need to complete a bridging program.
3. Academic Bachelor’s Degree
An academic bachelor’s degree generally comprises 180 ECTS and takes three years of full-time study. It has a strong theoretical focus and primarily prepares students for a master’s degree. In Flanders, academic bachelor’s degrees are offered by universities, Schools of Arts, and the Antwerp Maritime Academy. For example, KU Leuven offers a three-year Bachelor of Business Administration that combines academic theory with practical applications.
4. Advanced Bachelor’s Degree
An advanced bachelor’s degree normally comprises 60 ECTS, equivalent to one academic year of full-time study. It is offered by a university of applied sciences and provides broader or more specialized knowledge and competencies in a field in which the student already holds a bachelor’s degree. For example, Howest UAS offers a full-time Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics that takes one academic year.
5. Master’s Degree
Belgian master’s degrees generally focus on advanced scientific or artistic knowledge, specialized competencies, and research. Credit totals differ by community and program. Flemish master’s programs are generally worth 60 to 120 ECTS, while French-speaking Belgium also has 180-ECTS master’s programs. With a normal full-time study load of 60 ECTS per academic year, these programs generally take one to three years.
6. Advanced Master’s Degree
An advanced master’s degree is intended for students who have already earned an initial master’s degree and want further specialization. In Flanders, advanced master’s degrees generally comprise 60 to 120 ECTS and are often linked to an institution’s specialized research areas. In French-speaking Belgium, specialized master’s programs vary more widely in length, particularly in medical fields. Applicants should therefore verify the exact credit total, duration, and admission requirements on the individual program page.
7. Ph.D./Doctoral Degree
A Ph.D., also referred to as a doctoral degree program, is a third-cycle research degree. Students must complete a research thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge in their field. Belgium does not apply one universal combination of 60 ECTS for doctoral training and 180 ECTS for the doctorate; official guidance states that the number of ECTS associated with a doctorate varies. Doctoral training requirements are determined by the university and doctoral school, so prospective candidates should consult the institution directly.
Belgium offers a diverse selection of institutions, programs, and degree levels. Because higher education is administered by different language communities, program structures and qualification names are not always identical throughout the country. Before applying, students should compare official program pages, language requirements, admission conditions, tuition fees, and scholarship rules.
We hope this article has helped you understand higher education in Belgium. If you are interested, check out our Study in Belgium guide and Available Courses for International Students!
