Higher education

There are 2 types of higher education in the French Community of Belgium:

• enseignement supérieur de type court (higher professional education); and
• enseignement supérieur de type long (academic education).

There are different types of higher education institutions that offer higher professional and/or academic education.

Students in enseignement supérieur de promotion sociale (adult education) can pursue a 2-year study programme for a Brevet d’enseignement supérieur (EQF/NLQF 5).

• Duration i : 2 years.
• Study load i : 120 ECTS.
• Content: profession-oriented education, practical subjects, internships.
• Admission requirement: at least 18 years of age, possibly an admission test.
• Function of the diploma: work.
• Diploma: Brevet de l’enseignement supérieur.

Grade de Bachelier professionnalisant (professionalisant/de type court) programmes prepare students for a particular profession. Once they have completed such a degree programme, they are ready to enter professional practice straight away.

• Duration: usually 3 years (180 ECTS), but 4 years (240 ECTS) for obstetrics (sage-femme) and nursing (soins infirmiers).
• Content: profession-oriented subjects and possibly an internship.
• Admission requirement: the Certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur.
• Function of the diploma: work.
• Diploma: Grade de Bachelier (professionalisant/de type court).

If students want to specialise further in the field of study of their Grade de Bachelier (professionalissant/de type court), they can study for a 2nd bachelor's degree: the Bachelier de spécialisation. This study programme does not lead to a higher degree. Students conclude this study programme with a bachelor's degree as well.

• Duration: 1 year.
• Study load: 60 ECTS.
• Content: in-depth study within a field.
• Admission requirement: the Grade de Bachelier (professionalissant/de type court) in a relevant field.
• Function of the diploma: further specialisation in the field of study of a previously obtained Grade de Bachelier (professionalissant/de type court).
• Diploma: Bachelier de spécialisation.

Research-oriented (academic) bachelor's programmes lead to a Grade de Bachelier. The main goal is to prepare students for transitioning to an academic master’s degree programme. Therefore, these bachelor's programmes are also referred to as Bachelier de transition or Bachelier de type long, to indicate that the degree programme is not finished until after completion of the master's programme.

• Duration: 3 years.
• Study load: 180 ECTS.
• Content: research and theory.
• Admission requirement: the Certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur.
• Function of the diploma: access to master's programmes.
• Diploma: Grade de Bachelier (de transition/de type long).

Exception: Grade de Bachelier (de transition/de type long) as HBO bachelor's degree

Bachelor's programmes of ‘the long type’ are always focused on theory and academic research. That is why we compare the Grade de Bachelier (de transition/de type long to Dutch WO bachelor's degrees (in terms of level).

There are a few exceptions. Some Bachelier de type long programmes (e.g. in the area of visual art or music) are more similar to Dutch HBO bachelor's programmes. In those cases, we compare the Grade de Bachelier (de transition/de type long) to Dutch HBO bachelor's degrees (in terms of content).

The master’s degree programme is based on academic research and leads to a master’s degree, Grade de Master.

• Duration: 1 year (60 ECTS), 2 years (120 ECTS), 3 years (180 ECTS) for the medicine/veterinary medicine degree programme.
• Content: 3 different specialisations are offered in the 2-year Master (120 ECTS) programme: the professional specialisations (la finalité spécialisée);
  the study programme for teachers in secondary education (la finalité didactique); the preparation for academic research (la finalité approfondie).
• Admission requirement: one of the following diplomas:
  • a Grade de Bachelier (de transition/de type long), in a relevant field of study; or
  • a Grade de Bachelier professionnalisant (type court). + a transition programme (passerelle).
• Function of the diploma: access to PhD programmes and work.
• Diploma: Grade de Master.

If students want to specialise further in the field of study of their Grade de Master, they can do so by studying for a 2nd master's degree: the Master de spécialisation. This study programme does not lead to a higher degree. Students conclude this study programme with a master's degree as well.

• Duration: 1-2 years.
• Study load: 60-120 ECTS.
• Content: in-depth study within a field.
• Admission requirement: a Grade de Master in a relevant field.
• Function of the diploma: further specialisation in the field of study of a previously obtained Grade de Master.
• Diploma: Master de spécialisation.

Exception: Grade de Master as HBO master's degree

In Belgium, higher professional education master's degree programmes are not offered. A master's programme is always focused on theory and academic research. In terms of level, that is why we compare Belgian master's programmes to Dutch WO master's programmes (in terms in level).

There are a few exceptions. Some Belgian master's programmes (e.g. in the area of visual art or music) are more similar to Dutch HBO master's programmes (in terms of content). In those cases, we compare the master's degree to a Dutch HBO master's degree.

The doctoral programme takes place at universités (universities).

• Duration: at least 3 years.
• Study load: 180 ECTS.
• Content: academic research, writing and defending a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a master's degree and possibly other requirements depending on the institution and specialisation.
• Diploma: Grade de Docteur.