Higher education
Higher education in the Flemish Community
Higher education in the Flemish Community consists of:
- university education; and
- non-university education.
University education
Students follow university education at universities (universiteiten). Universities mainly offer research-oriented study programmes. In the Flemish Community, this is called 'academisch gericht'. University education follows a bachelor's-master's structure. This means that students enrol in a bachelor’s programme when they first start studying at a university.
Non-university education
Students receive non-university education at Flemish hogescholen. These hogescholen offer vocational degree programmes. In the Flemish Community, this is called 'professioneel gericht'.
Diploma van Gegradueerde
Students can obtain a Diploma van Gegradueerde (Graduate Diploma) via a graduaatsopleiding (graduate degree programme). Graduaatsopleidingen are offered by hogescholen. Students can also obtain a Diploma van Gegradueerde in nursing. However, the nursing degree programme is called HBO5 Verpleegkunde (the HBO5 Nursing degree programme) and it is only taught in schools for secondary education.
- : 2-2½ years. The duration of nursing programmes is 3 years.
- : 120 ECTS.
- Content: practically-oriented daytime or evening classes.
- Admission requirements: the Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs or an equivalent diploma – see the information on the Onderwijskiezer website.
- Function of the diploma: work and sometimes access to a professioneel gerichte bacheloropleiding (with exemptions).
- Diploma: Diploma van Gegradueerde.
Duration
The official length of the full-time programme (not part-time) without study delay.
Study load
The amount of time the average student needs to master the subject matter/course material. This includes both contact hours (education) and hours for self-study. Educational institutions describe the study load in credits, such as ECTS.
We compare a Diploma van Gegradueerde to an associate degree.
Bachelor via a professioneel gerichte bacheloropleiding
Hogescholen offer professioneel gerichte bacheloropleidingen (profession-oriented bachelor’s programmes). These study programmes prepare students for a particular profession.
- Duration: 3 years (at least 180 ECTS) or 4 years (240 ECTS) for nursing.
- Content: practically-oriented daytime classes with an emphasis on developing skills and doing an internship.
- Admission requirements: the Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs. For admission to higher arts education, additional requirements (artistic aptitude tests) apply. See also the admission requirements of the Flemish government.
- Function of the diploma: work and access to bachelor-na-bacheloropleidingen.
- Diploma: Bachelor.
We compare a Bachelor obtained via a professioneel gerichte bacheloropleiding to an bachelor’s degree.
HBO
Higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). HBO is more oriented towards professions in specific areas than WO, and has traditionally been offered at universities of applied sciences (hogescholen).
Bachelor via a bachelor-na-bacheloropleiding
If students want to specialise further in the field of study of their Bachelor obtained via a professioneel gerichte bacheloropleiding, they can do so via a bachelor-na-bacheloropleiding (bachelor after bachelor's degree programme). This study programme does not lead to a higher degree. Students conclude this study programme with a Bachelor as well.
- Duration: 1 year.
- Study load: at least 60 ECTS.
- Content: vocational subjects and internships.
- Admission requirements: a Bachelor obtained via a professioneel gerichte bacheloropleiding and specific requirements.
- Function of the diploma: further specialisation in the field of study of a previously obtained Bachelor.
- Diploma: Bachelor.
We compare a Bachelor obtained via a bachelor-na-bacheloropleiding to an HBO bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor via an academisch gerichte bacheloropleiding
Universities offer academisch gerichte bacheloropleiding (academic bachelor's programmes). These are research-oriented (scientific) study programmes.
- Duration: 3 years.
- Study load: at least 180 ECTS.
- Content: scientific education and research, occasionally including an internship of several months depending on the specialisation.
- Admission requirements: the Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs, which may be followed by an entrance examination or a preparation programme (for students who do not hold a diploma that grants immediate admission). The Flemish government provides more information about the admission requirements for study programmes in higher education.
- Function of the diploma: access to master's programmes.
- Diploma: Bachelor.
We compare a Bachelor obtained via an academisch gerichte bacheloropleiding to a bachelor’s degree.
WO
Research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). WO is oriented more towards theory and research than HBO, and has traditionally been offered at research universities (universiteiten).
Master via a masteropleiding
Masteropleidingen (master’s programmes) are usually based on academic research.
- Duration: 1 or 2 years. Exceptions: (veterinary) medicine takes 3 years.
- Study load: usually 60 or 120 ECTS, 180 for the (veterinary) medicine programmes.
- Content: academic education, research and a thesis (15 to 30 ECTS), occasionally including a work placement of several months depending on the specialisation.
- Admission requirements: one of the following diplomas:
- a Bachelor obtained via a academisch gerichte bacheloropleiding;
- a Bachelor obtained via a professioneel gerichte bacheloropleiding + transition programme.
Students may also have to pass an entrance exam. You can find more information about the admission requirements on the Flemish government website (in Dutch).
- Function of the diploma: access to master-na-masteropleidingen and PhD programmes.
- Diploma: Master.
We compare a Master obtained via a masteropleiding to a WO master’s degree.
Master via a master-na-masteropleiding
If students want to specialise further in the field of study of their Master, they can do so via a master-na-masteropleiding (master after master's degree programme) at a university. This study programme does not lead to a higher degree. Students conclude this study programme with a Master as well.
- Duration: 1 or 2 years.
- Study load: 60 or 120 ECTS.
- Content: research and a thesis (15 to 30 ECTS), occasionally including a work placement of several months depending on the specialisation.
- Admission requirements: a relevant Master.
- Function of the diploma: further specialisation in the field of study of a previously obtained Master.
- Diploma: Master.
We compare a Master obtained via a master-na-masteropleiding to a WO master’s degree.
Exception: master comparable to an HBO master's degree
As mentioned above, we compare a Master in the Flemish Community to a Dutch WO master's degree. But the content of some Flemish master's degree programmes are more similar to Dutch HBO master's programmes, for example in the field of visual arts or music. In those cases, we compare the Master to an HBO master's degree.
Doctor/PhD
- Duration: 4 years.
- Content: academic research, writing and defending a thesis.
- Admission requirements: a Master, possibly other requirements. There is an admission procedure for candidates who do not hold a Master.
- Diploma: Doctor (dr) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).