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Information for international students

Are you a foreign student who has chosen, or is considering, a study programme at ULB? We appreciate your interest. Before sending us your application, please read the following information carefully. Certain of the procedures outlined below may be required for your studies at ULB.

European and non-European students : Prepare your application

Bachelor : Eligibility requirements, equivalencies and foreign diploma

Make sure that you are eligible before submitting your application. The access conditions for each program are detailed in the training offer in the section "Access conditions".


Equivalencies

A equivalence of your foreign high school diploma is always mandatory to apply for a bachelor program whether your degree is European or non-European.
Equivalency is a process by which study programmes completed abroad may be recognised as equivalent to study programmes completed in institutions in the French Community of Belgium. You have to submit your equivalence request by the equivalency office of the Brussels-Wallonia Federation. Be careful with the deadline.

All information on equivalency requirements.

Eligibility requirements

EU student

If you have a foreign degree, you can be eligible for a bachelor programme :

  • If you hold a foreign degree recognised by the equivalency office of the Brussels-Wallonia Federation or a foreign degree
  • If you hold a certificate recognised as equivalent to those mentioned above, pursuant to federal, community, or European regulations, or to an international convention :  the European Baccalaureate delivered by the Board of Governors of the European Schools;  the international baccalaureate delivered by the International Baccalaureate Office of Geneva;  the baccalaureate delivered by the SHAPE school in Casteau.

Admission without a required degree
Students who do not meet the degree requirements must sit the university's admission exam
 
Non EU student

Specific access requirements for bachelor-level-programmes

Students from non-EU countries are subject to the criteria laid down by the admission board for the first year of bachelor studies. If you are a student from a non-EU country, please make sure you meet the requirements before you submit your application to the first year of a bachelor-level programme, as administrative fees (€200) are non-refundable.

Read the admission requirements for bachelor-level programmes for non-EU students.

 

Admission without a required degree
Students who do not meet the degree requirements must sit the university's admission exam

Master : Eligibility requirements, equivalencies and foreign diploma

The access conditions for each program are detailed in the training offer in the section "Access conditions". 

Foreign diploma

If you wish to register for a master's or a specialized master's and you have completed higher education studies abroad, the jury will examine the comparability of their previous studies with those they wish to pursue. If the jury agrees to value your foreign higher diploma for at least 180 credits, equivalence will not be necessary for an application for admission to the second cycle (unless you wish to register for the aggregation).

French proficiency for Master with a focus on teaching or ‘agrégation’ programme

If you do not hold a degree delivered in the French Community of Belgium and wish to sit the entrance exam for a master with a focus on teaching or the ‘agrégation’ programme, you must provide proof of French proficiency following the procedure laid down by the faculty's admission board.
Other master-level programmes are not subject to this requirement, which concerns only the masters with a focus on teaching and the ‘agrégation’ programme.

All information on the French proficiency exam for applicants to a master-level programme

Deadlines and required documents

Make sure your desired study programs are open for admission and be aware of the deadlines to complete your application
Adhere to the submission deadlines

Gather the required documents
Some documents will be mandatory for your application.
Check the required documents

Administrative fees prior to the examination of the file

Candidates are requested to pay administrative fees .This payment is a precondition for the examination of the file.

All the information regarding the payment of those fees will be available on your application portal.

Please note: international transfer fees are at the applicant's expense.

As these administrative fees are not refundable in the event of refusal of admission or in the event that the applicant does not finalise their registration for the academic year in question, applicants are invited to check carefully whether they meet the access conditions of the studies envisaged.

Specific procedures for non-EU student

Reduced tuition fees for assimilated students

If you are a non european student but meet one of the assimilation criteria,you will be considered as an european student, this could lead to a reduction in registration fees.

More information about assimilation

Visa and stay in Belgium

If you are from a non-EU country, you will need a visa to study in Belgium

Visa procedure:

1.

Submit your application online between mid-February and the 31th March.

2.

While you are waiting for the University's decision, you may contact the Belgian consulate or embassy nearest to your place of residence in order to learn about the process and the other documents required.

3.

If your application is approved, you will receive an admission letter from the University. This document will be required as part of the visa application process, which you must complete as soon as possible.

More information about the visa procedure.

Students from China who have completed part of their higher education in China and wish to pursue studies in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (WBF) must follow the APS procedure before they can obtain a student visa from the relevant Belgian authorities in China. More information

Refugee students

ULB has created a structure offering a first line of support for refugee students. More information: ULB DESK FOR REFUGEES
Updated on January 19, 2024