Equivalence of courses taken abroad

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Equivalency is established through a process that compares studies (or partial studies) in foreign countries to studies (or partial studies) in schools operated by the French-speaking Community of Belgium. Several possibilities : - Equivalency of diplomas from secondary instruction (to be asked before 15th July) - Equivalency of diplomas from 2nd university cycle - Equivalency of diplomas from 3rd university cycle - Equivalency of part of studies

Equivalency of diplomas from secondary instruction

Equivalency between diplomas for secondary education in a foreign country and the Belgian C.E.S.S. (Certificate of Higher Secondary Education) are established by the Equivalency Service of mandatory education, part of the Ministry of the French-speaking Community.

Equivalency of 2^nd university cycle

Equivalency for "basic" 2^nd cycle diplomas are also determined by the Ministry of the French-speaking Community, through the Higher Education Equivalency Office.

A determination of equivalency from the Ministry is not required in order to gain admission to an advanced Master's programme or to 3^rd cycle studies at the University.
Only equivalency at the C.E.S.S. level (Certificate of Higher Secondary Education) is required for registration in one of the years of the ter cycle (that is, in the 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd year of a bachelor's degree programme).
In all other cases the University alone determines admission. The jury decides at what level a student will be admitted on the basis of an individual file.

Here is more information on admissions procedures for:

• diploma holders from countries outside the European Union
• diploma holders from Member States of the European Union

Equivalency of diplomas from 3rd university cycle

Certain scholarship-sponsoring agencies in Belgium (FNRS,FRIA...) require applicants for those grants to hold either a Belgian diploma or a diploma that is recognized as equivalent.

Accordingly :
- applicants for doctoral fellowships must request a determination of equivalency for their foreign 2^nd cycle diploma from the French-speaking Community.
- applicants for research assistantships or post-doctoral research fellowships must request a determination of equivalency for their foreign doctorates from the University.

Equivalency of part of studies

It is possible to request a determination of equivalency from the university not related to admission to studies, for example as part of a job search, or as part of the documentation for the determination of a pension.

In such cases juries determine complete or partial equivalency for studies pursued in foreign countries in terms of the academic degrees conferred by the University (Exception: requests for a determination of complete equivalency with respect to the academic degrees of basic 2^nd cycle studies, something only the Ministry is competent to determine, see above.).

The University of Liège can issue attestations of equivalency with regard to the following degrees or examinations :

• 1st year, bachelor
• 2^nd year  bachelor
• bachelor's degree
• 1st year, master
• Doctorate