Diploma requirements for Bachelor's programmes
International students who have a Flemish secondary-school diploma from a recognised education institution in Flanders, Belgium are legally eligible to register directly for a bachelor's programme, even without previous application. However, most international students will have a foreign diploma or certificate, and these must be officially recognized as equivalent.
If a student's foreign diploma is not officially recognized, K.U.Leuven may still grant admission to a bachelor's programme if the diploma of secondary education gives access to university studies in one’s home country.
Council of Europe: Citizens from member states of the Council of Europe should be able to prove that they can be admitted to an equal university programme in their home country (e.g. they are allowed to participate in entrance examinations or be added to waiting lists) and thus have the right to admission.
Non-Council of Europe: Citizens not from member states of the Council of Europe must be able to prove that their secondary-school diploma gives access to university studies in their home country.
Legal Residents: Non-EEA citizens with a permanent residence permit in Belgium (e.g. through marriage) remain non-EEA citizens, and in terms of admission to higher education they are considered as non-EEA citizens when they obtained their secondary-school diploma in their home country. If this diploma was obtained in Flanders, Belgium, then they definitely can be granted admission.
In addition, there are entrance examinations organised by Belgian law for the programmes in medicine and dentistry.
When admitted to the Bachelor’s programme, a preparatory year is likewise granted to learn the Dutch language.
