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INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Université (University)

Faculté universitaire

Faculté polytechnique

Haute Ecole

Institut supérieur d'Architecture (Higher Institute of Architecture)

Ecole supérieure des Arts (Higher Art School)

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Certificat d' Enseignement secondaire supérieur

Candidature

Bachelier

Diplôme d' Etudes supérieures spécialisées

Diplôme d'Etudes spécialisées

Grade de Spécialisation

Licence

Diplôme d'Etudes approfondies

Master

Agrégation de l'Enseignement secondaire supérieur

Architecte

Bioingénieur

Docteur en Médecine

Docteur en Médecine vétérinaire

Ingénieur civil

Ingénieur commercial

Ingénieur de gestion

Ingénieur industriel

Pharmacien

Doctorat

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 18

Structure of school system:

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Enseignement Primaire

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 6 to: 12

Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'Etudes de Base (CEB)

Secondary-Observation

Type of school providing this education: Enseignement Secondaire - Premier Degré

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 12 to: 14

Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'Etudes de Base (CEB) at the end of the 1st or 2nd year if not obtained at the end of the primary cycle

Secondary-Orientation/guidance

Type of school providing this education: Enseignement Secondaire - 2e Degré

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 14 to: 16

Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire du Deuxième Degré

Secondary-determination

Type of school providing this education: Enseignement secondaire 3ème degré

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 16 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'Enseignement secondaire supérieur général, technique ou artistique (CESS); Certificat de Qualification

Secondary-determination

Type of school providing this education: Enseignement secondaire 3ème degré

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 16 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'études de l'enseignement secondaire professionnel; Certificat de Qualification

Pre-university

Type of school providing this education: Préparation au Supérieur

Length of program in years: 1

Age level from: 18 to: 19

School education:

Primary education lasts for six years leading to the Certificat d'Etudes de Base (CEB). At present, secondary education is divided into three levels of two years each. Secondary schools provide general education, technical education, professional education and artistic education.

Higher education:

Higher education is established on a binary scheme: university education and non-university education. University education offers long-cycle education only. The non-university higher education institutions are: Hautes Ecoles; Instituts supérieurs d'architecture; and Ecoles supérieures des Arts. The Hautes Ecoles and Ecoles supérieures des Arts can offer both long and short cycle studies. The Instituts supérieurs d'Architecture offer long cycle studies only. The short cycle of non-university education offers technical training leading to a professional qualification in a specific field. The long cycle of both non-university and university educations provides general, theoritical and scientific studies at the undergraduate level that lead to graduate specialized studies at the end of which students have to present and defend a personal work (short thesis for example).

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: Décret du 17 mai 1999 relatif à l'enseignement supérieur artistique Year: 1999

Concerns: Arts studies

Decree: Décret du 31 mars 2004 définissant l'enseignement supérieur, favorisant son intégration à l'espace européen et refinançant les universités Year: 2004

Concerns: Higher education

Decree: Décret du 5 août 1995 fixant l'organisation générale de l'enseignement supérieur en Hautes Ecoles Year: 1995

Concerns: Hautes écoles

Decree: Décret du 5 septembre 1994 relatif au régime des études universitaires et des grades académiques Year: 1994

Concerns: Universities and degrees

Decree: Loi du 7 juillet 1970 relative à la structure générale de l'enseignement supérieur Year: 1970

Concerns: Higher education system

Academic year:

Classes from: Sep to: Jul

Long vacation from: 1 Jul to: 30 Aug

Languages of instruction: French

Stages of studies:

Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:

Hautes Ecoles: Higher education at Hautes Ecoles comprises eight fields: Agronomy; Arts; Economics; Paramedical fields; Pedagogy; Social studies; Technology; and Translation and Interpretation. It offers both short and long cycle studies. The long cycle is at university level. The short cycle is organized in one professional cycle and confers the title of Bachelier. It includes from 180 to 240 ECTS credits to be obtained in 3 to 4 years' study (midwifery). The courses are both practical and theoritical. At the end of this single cycle, specialized studies are offered in some fields and lead to the Grade de Spécialisation after one year's study.    Ecoles supérieures des Arts: Higher education in Ecoles supérieures des Arts comprises four fields: Plastic Arts; Music; Theatre; and Performing Arts and Communication and Broadcasting techniques. It offers short and long cycle studies. The long cycle is at university level. The short cycle is organized in one professional cycle (3 years) and confers the title of Bachelier.

University level studies:

University level first stage: Bachelier:

The first stage of university level studies is offered at Universities, Hautes Ecoles, Instituts supérieurs d'architecture, and Ecoles supérieures des Arts. It leads to the title of Bachelier after three years' study and 180 ECTS credits.

University level second stage: Master; médecin; médecin vétérinaire:

The second stage of university-level studies  is offered at Universities, Hautes Ecoles, Instituts supérieurs d'architecture, and Ecoles supérieures des Arts. It leads to the title of Master after one or two years' study and 60 or 120 ECTS credits; of Médecin after four years' study and 240 ECTS credits; and of Médecin vétérinaire after three years' study and 180 ECTS credits..

University level third stage: DES, DEA, Doctorat:

The third stage of university-level studies is offered at universities. At present, it comprises: doctoral training in one year and 60 ECTS credits leading to the research training certificate; work related to the preparation of a doctoral thesis and corresponding to 180 ECTS credits that lead to the academic title of Doctor after the defence of the thesis; training leading to the DEA and  the DES (both these two last diplomas will be abandoned  in conformity with the Bologna reform).

Teacher education:

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Pre-primary, primary and lower-secondary education teachers are trained in the pedagogical department of the Hautes Ecoles which offer course programmes leading respectively to the Bachelier-Instituteur(trice) préscolaire, Bachelier-Instituteur(trice) primaire, Bachelier-Agrégé(e) de l'enseignement secondaire inférieur.

Training of secondary school teachers

For lower-secondary teachers, see under the previous section. Upper-secondary education teachers receive training at universities, leading to the degree of Licence in a particular discipline, awarded after four or five years of study. The teaching qualification of Agrégé de l'Enseignement secondaire supérieur requires one year of teacher training, which may take place concurrently with study for a Licence.

Training of higher education teachers

There is no formal training of higher education teachers. They may hold the Licence, the Master or the Doctorate.

Non-traditional studies:

Lifelong higher education

There are a number of open faculties within the universities, centres of lifelong education or other structures that offer working adults different study programmes that only rarely lead to a basic diploma. They usually lead to complementary diplomas, third cycle diplomas or non-recognized certificates and diplomas.

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Direction générale de l'Enseignement non obligatoire et de la Recherche scientifique, Ministère de la Communauté française

Head: Chantal Kaufmann, Director-general (acting)

Rue Lavallée, 1
1080 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel: +32(2) 6908703

Fax: +32(2) 6908760

WWW: http://www.cfwb.be/infosup

Role of governing body: Governing and decision-making role for higher education

Conseil des Recteurs

Head: Bernard Coulie, President

Rue d'Egmont, 5
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel: +32(2) 5049300

Fax: +32(2) 5140006

EMail: kokkelkoren@cref.be

WWW: http://www.cref.be

Conseil interuniversitaire de la Communauté française

Head: Pierre de Maret, President

Administrative officer: Marc Vandeur, Permanent Secretary

Rue d'Egmont, 5
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel: +32(2) 5049291

Fax: +32(2) 5022768

EMail: secretariat@ciuf.be

WWW: http://www.ciuf.be

Conseil général des Hautes Ecoles

Rue Lavallée, 1
1080 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel: +32(2) 6908845

Fax: +32(2) 6908846

Role of governing body: consultation on issues relating to the Hautes Ecoles

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to non university higher education studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Certificat d' Enseignement secondaire supérieur

For entry to: Hautes Ecoles and Instituts supérieurs d'architecture

Entrance exams required:

Compulsory for entry to Ecoles supérieures des Arts

Other admission requirements:

Holders of a CESS obtained before 1994 must also hold the Diplôme d'Aptitude à Accéder à l'Enseignement supérieur (DAES) if they wish to pursue studies in non-university level institutions (long cycle).

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Certificat d' Enseignement secondaire supérieur

For entry to: All institutions.

Numerus clausus/restrictions: Restriction for access to certain second cycle studies in the health sector. Special entrance examination for access to civil engineering studies.

Foreign students admission

Definition of foreign student: A foreign student is a person enrolled at a higher education institution in Belgium (French-speaking Community) who is not a permanent resident.

Quotas: Certain students from countries that are not members of the European Union cannot be financed and may see their admission refused by the institutions.

Admission requirements: Students must obtain the equivalence of their secondary school leaving certificate with either the Certificat d'enseignement secondaire supérieur (CESS) or, as the case may be, the Diplôme belge d'aptitude permettant d'accéder à l'enseignement supérieur (DAES).

Entry regulations: Students must register with the communal administration of their town of residence, present proof of their enrolment, as well as financial guarantees.

Language requirements: There are language examinations at the institutional level. Courses are organized by the universities during the summer.

Application procedures:

Apply to individual institution for entry to: All higher education institutions.

Recognition of studies & qualifications:

Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):

NARIC, Ministère de la Communauté française

Head: Chantal Kaufmann

Rue Lavallée, 1
1080 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel: +32(2) 6908703

Fax: +32(2) 6908760

EMail: equi.sup@cfwb.be

WWW: http://www.cfwb.be/infosup

Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies

Name of agreement: Lisbon Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees Concerning Higher Education in the States Belonging to the European Region

Year of signature: 2005

References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies

Title: Les Universités francophones de Belgique

Author: Conseil Interuniversitaire de la Communauté Française de Belgique

Publisher: CIUF

Year of publication: 2003

STUDENT LIFE

National student associations and unions

Fédération des Etudiant(e)s Francophones

Chaussée D'Haecht 25
B-1210 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel: +32(2) 2230154

Fax: +32(2) 2172793

EMail: Fef@swing.be

WWW: http://www.fef.be

Union des étudiants de la Communauté française

Chaussée de Charleroi, 51b bte3
1060 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel: +32(2) 5418500

Fax: +32(2) 5418509

EMail: info@unecof.be

WWW: http://www.unecof.be

Health/social provisions

Social security for home students: Yes

Social security for foreign students: Yes

Special student travel fares:

By road: Yes

By rail: Yes

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 32 (Euro)

Maximum: 759 (Euro)

Foreign students tuition fees: Minimum: 32 (Euro)

Publications on student services and financial aid:

Title: Politique d'accueil des étudiants étrangers au sein des institutions universitaires de la C.F.

Publisher: Conseil interuniversitaire de la Communauté française (CIUF)

Title: Study Abroad 2005-2006

Author: UNESCO

Year of publication: 2005

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES

Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:

Direction générale de l'Enseignement non obligatoire et de la Recherche scientifique, Ministère de la Communauté française

Rue Lavallée, 1
1080 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel: +32(2) 6908703

Fax: +32(2) 6908760

WWW: http://www.cfwb.be/infosup

Participation of country in multilateral or bilateral higher education programmes

Name of exchange programme: LEONARDO

Name of exchange programme: LINGUA

Name of exchange programme: PETRA

Name of exchange programme: SOCRATES/ERASMUS MUNDUS

Name of exchange programme: TEMPUS

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: Marking systems vary from one region to another but most often are on a scale of 1 to 10 (maximum).

Highest on scale: 10

Pass/fail level: 5/4

Lowest on scale: 1

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Full Description: A numerical grading system is used for higher education: 90% avec la plus grande distinction; 80% avec grande distinction; 70% avec distinction; 60% avec satisfaction.

Highest on scale: 90%

Pass/fail level: 60%/50%

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Data for academic year: 2006-2007

Source: IAU from Ministère de la Communauté française, Service général de l'Enseignement universitaire et de la Recherche scientifique, Bruxelles, 2006