Admission in Belgium Universities

Higher education in Belgium is largely shaped by the European developments in the framework of the Bologna Process. This is the process to create the European Higher Education Area and should facilitate students and graduates' mobility across Europe.
The Bachelor-Master structure is one of the most visible results of the Bologna Process. The higher education degree system actually consists of three cycles. The first cycle are the Bachelor's programmes, the second cycle are the Master's programmes and the third cycle are the Doctorate or PhD programmes.
In general, there are two types of institutions: universities and university colleges. There are of course also other types of higher education institutions.
Universities and university colleges have specific profiles. Only universities can award the degree of doctor while only university colleges can offer Bachelor's programmes with a professional orientation.
Universities and university colleges cooperate intensively, especially in the field of research, in so-called Associations. These are formed by one university and at least one university college.

Degrees & Qualifications 
The university institutions have as their specific purpose fundamental and applied scientific research. University education is founded on a close link between scientific research and teaching.

University studies are organised in three cycles

1st cycle studies offer students core teaching in the chosen discipline, as well as a broad general education. They lead to the academic qualification of bachelor, with a duration of three years (180 credits).

2nd cycle studies provide specialised content whilst allowing for further development of the scientific research process. These studies lead to the academic qualification of:

• master after one year (60 credits), or in the majority of cases after two years (120 credits);
• veterinary doctor after three years (180 credits);
• doctor in medicine after four years (240 credits).

The academic qualification of advanced master enables the acquisition of a specialist professional qualification. This programme, with at least 60 credits, may be acquired following an initial programme of at least 300 credits.

Third cycle studies include on the one hand the doctoral programme (60 credits), which leads to a research training certificate, and on the other hand work linked to the preparation of a doctorate thesis, which leads to the academic qualification of doctor following thesis examination. In the French Community of Belgium, the Fonds national de la Recherche scientifique (FNRS) manages the twenty doctoral schools that group together the thematic doctoral schools. In principle, they are inter-university, interdisciplinary and international.

Higher education organised outside of university institutions

Higher education organised outside of university institutions aims at obtaining professional or artistic higher qualifications.
The Institutes of Higher Education and Colleges of the Arts organize higher education programs of the long or short type. The Higher Institutes of Architecture only offer long-term higher education programmes.

Short-term courses are organised in a single vocational cycle and carry the academic qualification of bachelor. They carry between 180 and 240 credits, which may respectively be acquired over three or, exceptionally, four years of study. This programme is at once practical and theoretical. Some institutes of Higher Education offer short-term programmes of study.

Long-term non-university higher education is organised in two cycles and is of university level:

• The 1st cycle carries 180 credits which may be acquired in three years of study; it leads to the academic qualification of bachelor.
• The 2nd cycle carries 60 or 120 credits, which may respectively be acquired over one or two years of study at the least, and leads to the academic qualification of master