Grades and study results

How do educational institutions assess study results in the Flemish Community? And what documents do students receive when they have completed a study programme?

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Secondary education study results

Schools in Flemish secondary education use a range of assessment systems. They are free to decide how they award marks. Under Flemish law, the main consideration is whether a student has obtained a Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs. While the 1-100 scale is most common, schools also award marks on 1-10, 1-20 or percentage scales.

Check out more information (in Dutch) about the valuation of study results achieved.

Secondary education documents

Students complete Flemish secondary education with:

  • a certificate (after 6 years of BSO); or
  • the Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with a transcript (after 7 years BSO or after 6 years ASO/KSO/TSO).

Higher education study results

Flemish higher education institutions often use the grading system from 1 to 20:

Numerical grade Description Meaning
18-20 Uitmuntend Excellent
16-18 Zeer goed Very good
14-16 Goed Good
12-14 Ruim voldoende Quite satisfactory
10-12 Voldoende Satisfactory
1-9 Onvoldoende Unsatisfactory

In addition, students are awarded one of the following honours at the conclusion of their studies:

  • Op voldoende wijze (pass)
  • Met onderscheiding (with honours)
  • Met grote onderscheiding (with great honours)
  • Met de grootste onderscheiding (with maximum honours)

Higher education documents

To demonstrate that they have completed higher education, students must be in possession of a higher education diploma with a list of subjects and a diploma supplement.

Diploma supplement

The diploma supplement, which has been obligatory for universities since 1991 and for hogescholen since 1994, is issued automatically to graduates.

More information about the Diploma Supplement (DS) is available on the Europass website including examples of diploma supplements.