Language requirements for lecturers

As determined by Flemish decree, all academic staff with a teaching assignment must meet certain language requirements for the language in which they teach.

Lecturers-in-charge require a CEFR C1 level of proficiency in the language in which they teach a course. This must be obtained before the start of the teaching assignment.

Language requirements do not apply to visiting professors.

Lecturers-in-charge can add their own language certificates to their personnel file through SAP MijnApps (Human Resources - Personal data manage - tab 'Education').

For questions regarding language regulations, language requirements for teachers, and recognition of language certificates, contact Charlotte Cailliau

English C1 Certificates

A C1 level of English proficiency can be certified by a language certificate linked to the CEFR C1 level or by means of an English-language secondary school diploma, or an English-language bachelor's/master's degree or doctorate awarded by an English-language institution.

Types of Language Tests

The following qualification certificates are accepted to substantiate the CEFR C1 English level:

  1. Adult Education Center - Certificate Obtained after Completing a Course in Other Languages (English):
    • Grade 4
  2. The Interuniversity Testing Consortium (consortium of the university language centres of UAntwerp, KULeuven, VUB and Ghent University)  - ITACE:
    • C1
  3. British Council - Aptis:
    • overall CEFR grade C(1)
  4. ETS - TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT):
    • iBT Test score 95
  5. University of Cambridge ESOL examinations Cambridge English Qualifications:
    • C1 Advanced score 180
  6. British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English - IELTS  Academic:
    • A global score of at least 7
  7. ILT Leuven - Portfoliotest:
    • C1

Any expiry dates stated on the test results will be disregarded. 

Equivalent diplomas

Taking a language test is not necessary for those who have:

  • an English-language secondary school diploma or a bachelor's or master's degree or doctorate awarded by an English-language institution
  • a master's degree in linguistics and literature or applied linguistics with English in the language combination
  • a diploma of Master of Teaching in Languages where English is the studied language
  • a diploma of Bachelor of Teaching in secondary education where English is at least one of the two chosen educational subjects

ITACE test (University Language Centre)

Lecturers who have not obtained any of the above-mentioned language certificates can take the ITACE test (Interuniversity Test of Academic English) at the University Language Centre (UCT) of Ghent University. There are multiple ITACE tests organised each year.

Ghent University has chosen this test because it is specifically tailored to an academic environment and to teaching.

The ITACE test is funded by the central administration and is free of charge for lecturers.

The test has been internationally validated.

Visit UCT's ITACE language testing web page for more information on enrollment and exact testing dates: ITACE (English) - University Language Centre (ugent.be)

Language course

UGent offers a training series 'Lecturing skills in English'. Persons eligible for this training series can find information about it through UTOP or through ‘Education Tips’ on the training offer overview page.

Dutch C1 Certificates

A C1 level of Dutch proficiency can be certified by a language certificate linked to the CEFR C1 level or by means of a Dutch-language secondary school diploma, or a Dutch-language bachelor's/master's degree or doctorate.

If you already have a Dutch language certificate or an equivalent diploma, you can add this to your personnel file (personnel - my data - education tab) in Apollo.

Common Dutch proficiency tests:

  1. Adult Education Center - Certificate Obtained after Completing a Course in Other Languages (Dutch):
    • Grade 4
  2. The Interuniversity Testing Consortium (consortium of the university language centres of UAntwerp, KULeuven, VUB and Ghent University)  - Interuniversity Language Test of Dutch (ITNA):
    • C1
  3. The Dutch as a Foreign Language Certificate (CnaVT):
    • profiel EDUP (Educational Professional) - C1

Any expiry dates stated on the test results will be disregarded.

Points of attention

  • Q-labelled certificates from the Association of Language Testers in Europe (=ALTE) are automatically accepted. Other certificates from full members of ALTE are accepted if the skills of writing, reading, listening and speaking were tested.
  • Certificates other than those mentioned above must be submitted in each case by the institution to the competent government commissioner. An application for recognition must demonstrate the formal nature of the attestation and its link to the required CEFR level for both writing, reading, listening, and speaking.