Selection process
Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding our selection procedure.
Cannot find what you are looking for? Please contact the programme coordinator Prof. Dr Jakob De Roover at think.talk@ugent.be.
Who is responsible for the selection?
Each director of studies selects an equal number of students for their faculty:
- Prof. Dr Frederik Gailly (Economics and Business Administration)
- Prof. Dr Benjamin Biebuyck (Arts and Philosophy)
- Prof. Dr Sabien Lust (Law and Criminology)
- Prof. Dr Johan van Braak (Psychology and Educational Sciences)
- Prof. Dr Bart Van de Putte (Political and Social Sciences)
How many students are selected each year?
During the 2026-2027 academic year, five students per faculty will be able to enrol on the honours programme.
What are the selection criteria?
Selection is based on
- your academic results in the previous academic year
- your cover letter
You will not be penalised for a difficult start. On the contrary, if you since got back on track, this demonstrates that you are a go-getter.
As we aim for as diverse a group as possible, we also ensure
- a balance between genders
- a reasonable spread across different study programmes within a single faculty
- fair representation of students who have completed a linking or preparatory year
What are my chances?
Your chances of being selected depend on
- the number of students who apply
- the number of students we decide to admit
In the 2020-2021 academic year, there were 93 applicants for a total of 20 places.
In the 2021-2022 academic year, there were 88 applicants for a total of 25 places.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, there were 80 applicants for a total of 25 places.
In the 2025-2026 academic year, there were 75 applicants for a total of 25 places.
If you have already attended the Quetelet lectures (in Dutch), this reduces your chances of being selected. Places are given priority to students who have not yet followed an honours programme. However, exceptions are always possible.
Our aim to create a diverse group may also affect your chances. In principle, the more strong candidates who apply form your field of study, the more difficult it becomes to be selected. In practice, however, (fortunately) roughly the same number of students apply from each field of study.
How do I apply?
By 23:59 on Friday 18 September 2026 at the latest, please submit the following details to us via the online application form:
- first name
- surname
- email address
- faculty
- year of study + field of study in the 2025-2026 academic year
(for example "BA3 Linguistics and Literature: German-Greek" or "linking programme Educational Sciences") - year of study + field of study 2026-2027 academic year
- student number
- whether or not you have attended the Quetelet lectures
Please also use this form to submit your cover letter (PDF), in which you explain why you are the ideal candidate for Think & Talk.
How do I write a good cover letter?
Your cover letter is at least as important as your academic results. So make sure you give it sufficient attention.
Here are a few tips:
- keep it short (max. one A4 page) but impactful;
- address the people who will be assessing your cover letter correctly;
- pay attention not only to your language but also to your layout;
- show us that you understand what our programme entails;
- make it personal and specific;
- tell us what Think & Talk can mean for you - and vice versa;
- convince us that you can handle this extracurricular commitment.
When will I find out if I have been selected?
We will contact you by early October at the latest regarding the results of the selection process. Even if you have not been selected, you can expect an email from us.