Study in Belgium with the IB Diploma
This guide explains how the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma is used for university admission in Belgium, using only official government and institutional sources. It is written exclusively for IB Diploma students and IB Coordinators.
Last updated for the 2027 intake
Recognition
How Belgium Recognizes the IB Diploma
Belgium officially recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma as a valid secondary school qualification for university admission.
Belgium has three linguistic communities, each with its own education system. Recognition rules differ between the Flemish Community and the French Community.
🇧🇪 Flemish Community
The IB Diploma is automatically recognized as equivalent to the Flemish certificate of secondary education. No application is needed.
🇧🇪 French Community
No equivalence is needed. The Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles lists school-leaving certificates issued by the International Baccalaureate among those that give access to higher education without one, provided your school is authorised by the IB.
Equivalence
Do IB Students Need a Belgian Secondary Diploma?
No.
IB students do not need a Belgian secondary diploma (CESS or Flemish equivalent) to apply to Belgian universities.
The IB Diploma is accepted as a standalone secondary qualification.
French Community: no equivalence
The French Community's equivalence service lists school-leaving certificates issued by the International Baccalaureate among those that need no equivalence for access to higher education. Your school must be authorised by the IB. Other foreign certificates need an equivalence, applied for between 15 November and 15 July before the academic year.
Admission System
University Admission System in Belgium
Belgium does not use a centralized national admissions platform.
Admission is organized by:
There is no national IB cut-off score. Each university defines its own admission criteria based on the IB Diploma.
Official Sources
Grade Evaluation
IB Grade Evaluation in Belgium
Belgian universities evaluate IB results independently.
Common practices include:
⚠️ There is no official Belgium-wide IB grade conversion table.
Official Sources
- KU Leuven — Admission and application
- Individual university IB policies (e.g., KU Leuven, ULB, Ghent, VUB)
Entrance Exams
Entrance Exams and Restricted Programs
Required for some programs.
Most undergraduate programs in Belgium do not require entrance exams. However, certain competitive fields have mandatory entrance examinations.
🏥 Medicine, Dentistry & Veterinary Medicine
Flemish Community
Mandatory toelatingsexamen (entrance exam) for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine, conducted in Dutch. It tests knowledge of the sciences and generic competencies, and places go to the best-ranked candidates. The 2027 exams are on 2 July (Medicine), 3 July (Dentistry) and 4 July (Veterinary Medicine); registration runs from 1 March to 17 May 2027.
French Community
Mandatory concours d'entrée (competitive exam) for Medicine and Dentistry, organized by ARES. Covers chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics, plus reasoning and communication. The 2027 date had not been published when this page was updated; in 2026 the concours was held once, on 27 August, with registration from 18 May to 5 July. Veterinary Medicine also has an admission exam or competitive test.
🔧 Civil Engineering (French Community)
A mathematics entrance examination is required for Civil Engineering (Sciences de l'Ingénieur) programs in the French Community.
Language Requirements
Language Requirements for IB Students
Yes, language proficiency is required.
Dutch
Required for programs in the Flemish Community (KU Leuven, Ghent, VUB, etc.)
French
Required for programs in the French Community (ULB, UCLouvain, ULiège, etc.)
English
Available for select English-taught programs, mostly at master's level
IB English does not automatically waive language requirements. KU Leuven, for example, exempts only applicants whose previous diploma comes from an English-taught programme in Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States. The University of Antwerp exempts holders of an International Baccalaureate who passed English as Language 1 (grade 5 or higher) or at Level A (grade 3 or higher). Study in Flanders gives B2 as the usual level for English-taught programmes and for most Dutch-taught Bachelor's programmes.
University Types
Public vs Private Universities for IB Students
Public Universities
- Primary destination for IB students
- Community-regulated admission
- IB Diploma widely accepted
- Low tuition fees for EU citizens
Examples: KU Leuven, Ghent, ULB, UCLouvain, VUB
Private / Specialized Institutions
- Independent admission criteria
- Tuition fees usually higher
- IB acceptance varies by institution
Documentation
Required Documents for IB Students
Typical application requirements:
- IB Diploma or predicted grades
- Academic transcripts
- Passport or ID
- Language proficiency certificate (if required)
- Motivation letter (some programs)
Official Sources
- KU Leuven — Admission and application
- Individual university admission checklists
Timeline
Application Timeline for IB Students
Typical timeline across Belgian universities:
15 November 2026
VUB opens applications for 2027–2028. Each university sets its own dates.
1 March – 17 May 2027
Registration for the Flemish entrance exams in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine
Spring–summer 2027
University application deadlines. For 2026–2027, VUB closed on 31 March for non-EEA citizens and on 31 July for EEA citizens; KU Leuven sets a deadline per programme.
2–4 July 2027
Flemish entrance exams: Medicine on 2 July, Dentistry on 3 July, Veterinary Medicine on 4 July
Late summer 2027
French Community concours in Medicine and Dentistry. The 2027 date had not been published when this page was updated; in 2026 it was held once, on 27 August.
September 2027
The academic year begins. In 2026 it began on 14 September at VUB and 16 September at KU Leuven.
⚠️ Deadlines vary by university and community. Always check the specific university's admission calendar.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (IB Only)
Is the IB Diploma recognized in Belgium?
Yes. Flanders automatically recognises the IB Diploma as equivalent to the Flemish certificate of secondary education. The French Community lists school-leaving certificates issued by the International Baccalaureate among those that need no equivalence for access to higher education, provided your school is authorised by the IB.
Source: Flanders.be — Foreign diplomas automatically recognised in Flanders
Do IB students need a Belgian secondary diploma?
No. The IB Diploma is accepted as a standalone qualification. Recognition is automatic in the Flemish Community, and the French Community does not require an equivalence to the CESS for IB school-leaving certificates.
Source: Wallonie-Bruxelles Campus — Equivalence of qualification
Are entrance exams required in Belgium for IB students?
For most programs, no. Medicine and Dentistry require an entrance exam or competitive test in both communities, and so does Veterinary Medicine. In the Flemish Community the 2027 exams are on 2 July (Medicine), 3 July (Dentistry) and 4 July (Veterinary Medicine), with registration from 1 March to 17 May 2027. Civil Engineering requires a mathematics admission exam in the French Community.
Source: Flanders.be — Entrance exams for medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine
What languages can IB students study in at Belgian universities?
Programs are offered in Dutch (Flemish Community), French (French Community), and some in English. Language proficiency is required in the language of instruction.
Source: Study in Flanders
Is there a national IB cut-off score for Belgium?
No. There is no national minimum IB score. Each university sets its own admission criteria, though most require the full IB Diploma (minimum 24 points).
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