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Physical Education and Movement Sciences

We are pleased that you are interested in studying Physical Education and Movement Sciences at Ghent University as an exchange student. You will experience an international experience at the world’s first academic Institute for Physical Education, which is situated in a gorgeous historical city. You will also get in contact with a dynamic team of movement and sport scientists, lecturers and professors with an excellent reputation in education and scientific research. 

Students considering coming to Ghent University for an exchange within our Exchange Programme are only eligible if

  • there is a formal exchange agreement with Ghent University and your home university for the programme of Physica Education and Movement Sciences
  • you meet the requirements and respect the deadlines for application (cf. infra).

Requirements

To be eligible to apply for an Erasmus exchange at our department, you need to have

  • a good knowledge of the English language (B2)
  • reached the 3rd Bachelor level or higher
  • a willingness to learn Dutch

Studying physical education and movement sciences also requires that you are a team player with a positive and social attitude.

Practical information

Before your stay

For general details about the application procedure, deadlines, accommodation, and more, please visit the International Relations Office webpage.
As part of the online application process, you will need to complete your Learning Agreement, which includes selecting the courses you will follow at Ghent University.
  • A standard curriculum at Ghent University consists of 60 ECTS per academic year. For your exchange, we recommend:
  • Combine theoretical courses with practical sports courses for a balanced experience.

During your exchange stay

Once your application is approved:

  • You will receive an invitation letter, required for enrollment upon arrival.
  • You will be invited to attend the Faculty Welcome Days during the week before the academic year starts. Attendance is strongly recommended as these sessions provide essential information.
  • During this session, we will introduce our Buddy Programme, which pairs local students with incoming exchange students. Your buddy will help you integrate into the student community and assist with practical questions—both at the start and throughout your stay.
  • You may need to finalize your Learning Agreement after arrival. This must be done within one month after the start of term. For advice on course units or changes, contact the Erasmus Administrator.

Before you leave

In the week before departure:

  • Present your Certificate of Departure to the Erasmus Administrator for completion.
  • Your official Transcript of Records will be sent to your UGent email after exam results are announced. You are responsible for forwarding these documents to your home institution.

FAQ

I would like to know which courses are taught in English, since I do not speak Dutch.

Only some courses are taught in English at our department. Most lectures are given in Dutch, the official instruction language. However a lot of the study material is in English and sometimes special study arrangements can be organized for exchange students.

I want to change my learning agreement

You can make changes during the first weeks of the term. Check the deadlines and read more in your copy of the Faculty Guidelines for Exchange Students.
It is not possible to change your learning agreement after the deadline. 

Where can I find the timetables of the courses in the faculty?

  • Before enrollment you can the class schedule in the online course catalogue. Navigate to the “Program” tab. Here you will find links to the class schedules for the first and second semester. Please note 
    that the class schedules are announced in July, two months before the start of the academic year. To get an idea of the class schedules for the current academic year, you can change the academic year in the selection.
  • After enrollment you can see your class and exam schedule, use the link 'my calendar' on oasis.ugent.be.

Where can I find the examination schedule?

You can see your exam schedule, use the link 'my calendar' on oasis.ugent.be.

I have a re-examination, what should I do?

If you have failed for an exam, you can do a resit exam during the second examination period at the end of August and the beginning of September. You need to contact the lecturer for feedback and to make arrangements regarding the re-examinations.

How are the practical courses (sports practice) organized?

The sports practice is divided into three courses, each grouping different sports:

  • Interactive Movement Activities (Football, Volleyball, Handball, Basketball)

  • Individual Movement Activities (Athletics, Swimming)

  • Artistic Movement Activities (Gymnastics, Dance)

If you take one of these courses in your curriculum, you must pass all sports within that course.

  • Sports are organized in different groups.
  • Details about group division are available on Ufora (after enrollment).
  • Attendance at practical sessions is mandatory.
  • The language of instruction is Dutch.  But for sports practice, we notice that this is often not a problem, given the demonstrations.
  • More information can be found in the course catalogue.

What is the difference between the “sports practice” and the “methodology of movement and Sports Activities”?

Sports Practice

  • Focuses on basic technical and tactical skills in various sports.
  • Provides theoretical insight into movement patterns.
  • Introduces students to basic sports regulations.

Methodology of Movement and Sports Activities

  • Focuses on methods and teaching strategies for sports.
  • Requires sufficient skills in the different sports (equivalent to Sports Practice courses).
  • Builds on movement didactics and includes didactical exercises.

More details about both courses can be found in the course catalogue

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