Higher education
18 Nov 2010
On this page
- Short description of the higher education system
- Types of degrees
- Quality assurance and accreditation
- Recent reforms
Short description of the higher education system
The bachelor’s-master’s system was introduced in Flanders at the start of the 2004-2005 academic year. Only institutions recognized by the Flemish government are allowed to offer bachelor's and master's programmes in Flanders. These institutions are listed in the Hoger Onderwijsregister (Higher Education Register, HOR).
Reforms in higher education have introduced new administrative partnerships (associaties) between universities of applied sciences and research universities. Flanders has five such partnerships: Associatie Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Associatie Universiteit Gent, Associatie Universiteit & Hogescholen Antwerpen, Universitaire Associatie Brussel and Associatie Universiteit-Hogescholen Limburg.
Types of degrees
The first stage in the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure is a bachelor’s programme consisting of 180 credits (ECTS), which qualifies as a final study programme.
Universities of applied sciences offer programmes in hoger professioneel onderwijs (higher professional education), culminating in the degree of professioneel gerichte bachelor (bachelor’s with a professional orientation). These programmes focus primarily on professional practice. Research universities offer programmes in academisch onderwijs (research-oriented education), which culminate in either the degree of academisch gerichte bachelor (bachelor’s with a research orientation), or a master’s degree.
As members of an associatie, universities of applied sciences also offer academic programmes culminating in academic bachelor’s or master’s degrees. The primary objective of academic bachelor’s programmes is to prepare students to go on to a master’s programme. Bachelor-na-bachelor (bachelor’s after bachelor’s) programmes are advanced programmes accessible to those who already have a bachelor’s degree. Most programmes of this type last one year (60 credits).
The second stage in the bachelor-master’s degree structure focuses on academic research and culminates in a master’s degree. Master’s programmes consist of either 60 or 120 credits. Flemish higher education offers only academic master’s programmes. Anybody with an academic bachelor’s may go on to complete a master’s. Although master’s programmes always have an academic orientation, some also have a professional focus. Master’s programmes conclude with a masterproef (final paper) worth 15-30 credits. Master-na-master (master’s after master’s) programmes are advanced programmes that can be taken after obtaining a master’s degree and consist of at least 60 credits.
A doctorate degree (abbreviated Dr in Dutch) or Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) is awarded by research universities following public defence of a doctoral thesis. The nominal duration is two years: for admission a master’s degree is required and there is a selection procedure.
Quality assurance and accreditation
Until 2004, quality assurance for education (including higher education) was the responsibility of the national government. When the bachelor’s-master’s degree structure was introduced, a new system of accreditation was also conceived under which an independent organization was to award a quality mark to indicate that a programme satisfied certain quality standards.
Under the Structuurdecreet of 4 April 2003, institutions are accredited following an independent inspection procedure carried out by the Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatie Organisatie (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders, NVAO), which was established by treaty and is supervised by both governments. The NVAO is also responsible for the Higher Education Register. In Flanders, bachelor’s and master’s degrees can only be awarded by accredited programmes at recognized institutions.
Recent reforms
The bachelor’s-master’s degree structure was introduced as part of the Structuurdecreet, which came into force in April 2003. In Flanders, the bachelor’s-master’s structure was introduced at the start of the 2004-2005 academic year.
