Belgium University Admission Requirements for International Students

To be admitted to a Belgian university as a non-EU student, you need a diploma that gives access to the same level of study in your own country, proof of English at about B2 (often IELTS 6.0–6.5), and, for a master's, a related bachelor's degree. The exact rules depend on which Community the university belongs to: the Flemish Community or the French Community (Wallonia-Brussels Federation).

Below we explain the requirements by study level, with real examples from Belgian universities for 2026/27 and 2027/28. For the bigger picture, see our complete guide to studying in Belgium.

Bachelor's degree requirements

In Flanders

According to the Flemish government, you normally do not need an equivalence from NARIC-Vlaanderen to study with a foreign diploma. The institution decides on admission. For a bachelor's you also need an access declaration: a form from the institution, completed by your school, stating that your diploma gives access to university in the country where you got it.

Universities then assess you individually. Ghent University says most foreign diplomas do not grant direct admission and are assessed individually. The University of Antwerp uses a country equivalency list with minimum requirements and takes national entrance exam results from your home country into account. VUB asks for school credentials that give access to a bachelor's in your home country, plus the entrance exam certificate if one is required there.

In the French Community

Here the rule is strict: you need a secondary diploma recognised as equivalent to the Belgian CESS (or you pass an admission exam). The equivalence is issued by the Service des équivalences, and for the 2027/28 academic year you must file between 15 November 2026 and 15 July 2027. The institution cannot register you without it.

Universities add their own criteria on top. For non-EU applicants, UCLouvain asks for a secondary diploma with an overall average of at least 13/20, obtained in the three academic years before you apply, plus the definitive equivalence. ULB asks for an average of at least 13/20 and at least 12/20 in subjects related to your chosen field.

Master's degree requirements

For a master's, the faculty checks whether your bachelor's degree is related enough and at the right level. In the French Community you need a bachelor's of at least 180 ECTS, and no separate equivalence is needed because the university assesses your degree itself. Examples of real requirements:

Admission can be direct, conditional, or refused. At UCLouvain, for example, you may be admitted on condition of taking up to 60 ECTS of extra courses. UCLouvain's engineering school notes a typical refusal when the overall average is below 12/20.

PhD requirements

In the French Community, Study in Belgium states that a PhD needs a 300-ECTS master's with an average of 14/20, plus a thesis proposal and a supervisor's agreement. In Flanders, PhD admission is decided by the faculty or doctoral school. In both, finding a supervisor and funding comes first.

English language requirements

English-taught programs require at least B2. According to Study in Flanders, most Flemish programs ask for IELTS 6.0 overall or TOEFL iBT 72–94. In French Community master's programs, B2 is commonly shown by IELTS 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–95, TOEIC 785–940, Cambridge FCE above 160 or CAE above 180. Individual universities often set higher scores.

• Exemptions: many universities accept a degree fully taught in English instead of a test (VUB, Hasselt for most programs, UCLouvain engineering). UMONS exempts graduates from Australia, the UK, the US, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.
• Test format: the University of Antwerp only accepts tests taken at a test centre on or after 1 January 2024, not home editions.
• Timing: Ghent University accepts proof of English at the latest upon enrolment, but other universities want it with the application.

More details are in our guide to English-taught programs in Belgium.

Entrance exams and special cases

• Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science have entrance exams, and arts schools hold admission tests.
• GMAT/GRE: Ghent University requires GMAT or GRE for non-EEA diploma holders in Economics & Business master's programs and GRE for Engineering & Architecture master's programs.
• Portfolios: design and architecture programs, such as Hasselt's Master of Interior Architecture, ask for a portfolio.
• China: some Flemish universities, such as VUB and Antwerp, require an APS certificate for Chinese degrees.

For bachelor's applicants from the French Community route, remember that the equivalence and the university application are two separate files with separate deadlines. Send the equivalence early, because ULB, for example, asks for proof of your equivalence request by 31 March. Keep the proof of postage or appointment confirmation, as universities may ask for it.

Documents you will need

Expect to provide diplomas, full transcripts, a passport copy, a CV, a motivation letter, language test results and, if needed, sworn translations. Universities often want legalised or verified copies, which can take months to arrange. Our documents, translation and legalization guide explains the process, including the special situation for Afghan documents.

Can you apply before you graduate?

Often yes, but not everywhere. The University of Antwerp says students in their graduation year can apply, and VUB asks final-year students to submit an enrolment certificate with the expected graduation date. In the French Community, the equivalence service gives recent school graduates a provisional equivalence based on a transcript or provisional certificate, valid until 15 May of the following year.

Some programs are stricter. The University of Mons states that, for its master's admissions, an application cannot be accepted pending completion of your current year. Always read the program's own admission page before you apply.

Common reasons applications fail

• Missing equivalence: UCLouvain states that bachelor's applications without the definitive equivalence (and DAES where relevant) are automatically rejected.
• Late documents: UCLouvain asks for requested documents within 15 days; the University of Antwerp needs legalised documents by a second deadline.
• Too many applications: ULB allows only one bachelor's application per academic year for non-EU applicants, and UCLouvain allows a maximum of two applications per year.
• Unrelated previous degree: for master's programs, the faculty decides whether your bachelor's is related enough. A strong GPA in an unrelated field may still lead to a refusal or extra courses.
• Old school diploma: UCLouvain wants a non-EU secondary diploma obtained in the three academic years before you apply for its bachelor's programs.
• Weak motivation letter: UMONS notes that its faculty jury also assesses the fit of your motivation with the program.

Quick eligibility checklist

1. 1.Confirm the program is fully taught in English and note which Community it belongs to.
2. 2.Check that your previous diploma gives access to the same level in your home country.
3. 3.Compare your grades with the program's stated minimum, if any.
4. 4.Check the English score and whether home tests or English-medium degrees are accepted.
5. 5.Look for extra tests: GMAT, GRE, portfolio, interview or entrance exam.
6. 6.Note any documents that need legalisation, verification or a sworn translation.

Once you know you qualify, follow our step-by-step application guide. Requirements for 2027/28 are still being published program by program, so track deadlines for free on FindUniPath to see updates from official pages.