University admission in Europe

Belgium has no central admission system – you apply directly to the institution, usually through its online form. Each institution sets its own deadlines.

Flanders: for a bachelor's programme you need a secondary school leaving certificate that gives access to higher education in the country where it was issued. Applications usually open in November–December, and checking your documents can take anything from four weeks to several months. You complete your enrolment after arrival, at the institution's office.

French Community: with a school leaving certificate obtained abroad, you first need to get it recognised as equivalent (équivalence) by the Service des équivalences in Brussels. You apply between 15 November and 15 July before the start of your studies (if you receive your certificate after 10 July – by 14 September). The fee is €65–200, depending on the country. You attach a copy of your ID, your certificate and your grades, with a sworn translation into French or English.

Programmes with a limited number of places (e.g. medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine) have separate procedures and deadlines – check them on the institution's website as early as possible.

If you come from outside the EU/EEA, apply early: you will need your admission letter to apply for a long-stay visa, and the visa procedure can take six to eight weeks (see: Residence and formalities). Many institutions have earlier application deadlines for applicants who need a visa.