Educational institutions and study programmes

Below, we explain what types of educational institutions and study programmes there are in the Flemish Community of Belgium. We also explain how we check whether these are recognised and/or accredited. We check the recognition and/or accreditation to make sure that the quality is sufficient. We give the necessary information per educational sector.

Students conclude secondary education with exams for one of the following diplomas:

• Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs - Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs (ASO);
• Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs - Kunst Secundair Onderwijs (KSO);
• Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs - Technisch Secundair Onderwijs (TSO);
• Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs - Beroepssecundair Onderwijs (BSO).

The Flemish Community has various types of higher education institutions:

• universiteiten (universities); and
• hogescholen.

Universities

Universities offer university education. This is academic (research-oriented) education that may lead to an Bachelor, Master or Doctor (PhD).

Hogescholen

Hogescholen offer non-university education. This is profession-oriented education. There are 2 exceptions:

• The Hogere Zeevaartschool (Higher Maritime Academy) and the hogescholen that offer art programmes also offer academic bachelor's and master's programmes (in addition to profession-oriented bachelor's programmes).
• The HBO5 Verpleegkunde programme (HBO5 Nursing degree programme) is offered by schools for secondary education (in cooperation with hogescholen).

More information about different types of higher education institutions can be found on the website of the Flemish government (in Dutch).

The Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) monitors the quality of higher education programmes taught in the Flemish Community. Recognised higher education institutions are accountable for the quality of their study programmes.

Accreditation of recognised educational institutions

All institutions that have been recognised as universities or universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) bear responsibility for the quality of the study programmes they offer. Recognised universities and universities of applied sciences are required to undergo assessment by NVAO once every 6 years. This is the so-called institutional review.

Accreditation of study programmes offered by non-recognised educational institutions

All other non-recognised institutions must follow NVAO's procedure for programme accreditation.

New study programmes

If a formally recognised university or university of applied sciences wishes to offer a new study programme, it must follow the following NVAO procedure: initial accreditation. If a non-recognised institution wishes to offer a new study programme, it must undergo extensive initial accreditation.

Hogeronderwijsregister

Once a degree programme has been accredited, it is included in the Hogeronderwijsregister (higher education register) for a period of 8 years. This means that the registered degree is recognised by the national government, in this case the Flemish Community.

If the verdict of the assessment is negative, the study programme loses its accreditation and is removed from the register. As a consequence, the institution may no longer offer the study programme. However, an institution may apply for a temporary accreditation for a recovery period of between 1 and 3 years.