Exemptions language proficiency

For Dutch study programmes

You can be exempted from the language requirement if you have:

  • Diploma of secondary education awarded by an (recognised) institution in the Flemish Community
  • Diploma of higher education awarded by an (recognised) institution of higher education in the Flemish Community, where the language of instruction was Dutch
  • Successfully completed a minimum of 1 year, be it secondary or higher education, where the language of instruction was Dutch
  • Successfully completed a 60 credits for course units instructed in Dutch at an institution of higher education, where the language of instruction was Dutch
  • 'European Baccalaureate' diploma with Dutch L1 or L2
  • Diploma International Baccalaureate Certificate Dutch B

For English study programmes

You can be exempted from the language requirement if you have:

  • Diploma of secondary education awarded by an (recognised) institution in the Flemish Community
  • Diploma of higher education awarded by an (recognised) institution of higher education in the Flemish Community
  • Successfully completed a minimum of 1 year or 60 credits in English (can be obtained over several academic years), be it secondary or higher education (an official certificate must be submitted), only applicable for the countries that ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention, countries from the European Higher Education Area or the United States
  • Successfully completed a predoctoral training programme at Ghent University, provided that the majority of the programme were course units in English
  • Only applicable to enrolment for the doctorate, doctoral training programme and predoctoral training programme: a written confirmation from the supervisor or mentor which states that you have adequate language proficiency

No language certificate required

  • You no longer need to provide proof of language knowledge if you are admitted to a program with its own selection procedure in which language knowledge is one of the selection criteria.
  • If you start a 2nd program at UGent, you do not have to submit a new language certificate for this next program if you met the same language requirements at your 1st enrolment.