Recognition of Flemish Degrees outside the Flemish Community of Belgium
1. Recognition in the French-speaking Community
Pursuant to the constitution, degrees awarded by the Flemish Community at every level are deemed to be equivalent to those of the French-speaking Community. Education reform is proceeding more or less parallel to that in Flanders .
As regards admission possibilities, holders of degrees awarded in the Flemish Community are able to go by similar degrees awarded in the French-speaking Community. On these grounds, they may submit a formal request for admission or a reduction in study duration to an institution of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
2. Recognition abroad
Within the European Economic Area, a K.U. Leuven graduate has the right in principle to exercise those professions which are regulated in a certain country and which he would be entitled to exercise in Belgium on the basis of his/her degree. Students who only did part of their education in the European Economic Area because they enjoyed a reduction in study duration at K.U.Leuven, do not fall under the European guidelines on degree equivalence and will, therefore, be subject to an ad hoc equivalence assessment when they move to another country within the European Economic Area.
Outside the European Economic Area there are no agreements between Belgium or Flanders with other countries. As a result, each degree will have to be assessed in accordance with the procedure in force in the country concerned. K.U. Leuven graduates wishing to study or, especially, work in Asia or Latin America should bear in mind that many of these countries apply the so-called 'Apostil of The Hague', which is a procedure under international law embedded in the Treaty of the Hague aimed at ensuring the authenticity of a degree. They should first get a stamp from the Ministry of Education of the Flemish Community which ensures the authenticity of the degree. Afterwards, they should go to the embassy of the country involved to get a stamp to authenticate the Ministry stamp. Finally, the Belgian Foreign Ministry must place a stamp authenticating the stamp of the embassy involved. This procedure may be extremely time-consuming and some embassies charge a fee. Furthermore, this procedure still does not guarantee recognition of equivalence of the content.
The Flemish Community provides assistance with foreign equivalence and recognition procedures .
3. Support by K.U. Leuven
K.U. Leuven cannot help students who want to have their degrees recognized abroad. However, it may make available true and certified copies of degrees if these are required. More information on this can be obtained from the Student secretariat.
For other information regarding the course of study, the degree supplements will suffice. More detailed information on the programme that was completed may be found on the historic K.U. Leuven website where information regarding all courses for previous academic years is stored: www.kuleuven.be/oo/otheraj.html.
For any ad hoc support the secretariat of the faculty where the student obtained a degree may, at its own initiative, make additionalarrangements.
