A degree student enrols at HOGENT as a regular student in order to obtain a full degree or diploma.
How to apply?
The application process step by step:
(Candidates for the School of Arts: go to the section ‘I wish to apply for the School of Arts’ below.)
- Apply: applications for EER candidates are open from the 1st of December 2025 until the 1st of June 2026. The application guidelines will be available as of the start of December 2025.
- Assessment: all applications handed in before the deadline will be assessed. If your application meets the requirements, you will be informed via mail.
- Official decision: in case your application is approved, you will receive an official letter of acceptance or a conditional admission in case you need to start a Dutch preparatory year. If your application has been declined, you will be informed by email.
- Register for the Dutch language course: the Dutch language requirement for our Dutch taught programmes is level B1 (associate degrees) or B2 (bachelors). If you don't meet that requirement, you can apply for the preparatory course of Dutch based on our conditional admission. Do note that places are limited and deadlines might apply.
- Prepare for your stay: A lot of information on what to do and prepare for your stay in Ghent is available online via the website of the city of Ghent. Those who need to apply for a student visa might find useful information via this website. It’s the student’s own responsibility to obtain a valid residence card for Belgium and have it at his or her disposal.
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The application process step by step
(candidates for school of arts: go to section 'I wish to apply for the school of arts' below):
- Expressions of interest for academic/language year 2025-26 have ended on April 1st 2025.The expressions for 2026-27 start as of December 1st, 2025.
- Selection as of December 1st, 2025, till April 1st, 2026: you will be contacted via email if you have been selected to apply yes/no. If so, you will receive the application guidelines.
- Opening of the applications on January 6th, 2026: if you have been selected, you can hand in your application as of that date & pay the application fee (150€), according to the guidelines you received via email.
- Assessment period & official decision:in case your application is approved, you will receive an official letter of acceptance or a conditional admission in case you need to start a Dutch preparatory year via the UCT Ghent. If your application has been declined, you will be informed. in case you have been accepted, you will need to:
- Register for the Dutch language course: the Dutch language requirement for our Dutch taught programmes is level B1 (associate degrees) or B2 (bachelors). If you don't meet that requirement, you can apply for the preparatory course of Dutch based on our conditional admission. Places are limited and deadlines might apply.
- Apply for your student visa: As a non-EER national, you will need to apply for a student visa. Read information about the visa application via the Belgian Embassy/Consulate. The letter of acceptance and the inscription for the Dutch language year (if applicable) will be some of the documents to add to your visa application. The minimum waiting time for visa processing is approximately 4 weeks, but it could take up to 3 months. Therefore, submit your visa application on time. More useful information can be found on this website.
- Prepare for your stay: A lot of information on what to do and prepare for your stay in Ghent is available online via the website of the city of Ghent.It’s the student’s own responsibility to obtain and a valid residence card for Belgium and have it at his or her disposal.
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I have a Belgian residence card and a foreign degree:
- Belgian citizens who have a foreign degree also need to apply for admission, as mentioned in the application guide.
- Belgian citizens who have an equivalence of their foreign degree don't need to apply for admission and apply for direct subscription. Note: you do need to have a Dutch language certificate.
I have a Belgian diploma of secondary education, a bachelor/master degree or an equivalence via NARIC
- You don't need additional approval to register. Note that you do need a the Dutch language certificate
If you do not have a (equivalent) degree or diploma to enrol in an Associate or Bachelor degree programme, you can pass an alternative admission procedure if you meet the requirements described below.
Dutch Associate degree programmes
Requirements : if you are 18 years old on 31 December and you can have the ERK B1 level of Dutch, you can participate in the alternative admission procedure for our Dutch associate degrees.
Read more details and register for a test session at HOGENT or another institution.
Dutch bachelor degree programmes
Requirements : In order to be eligible for the alternative admission procedures for bachelor degrees, you need to be at least 21 years old on 31/12. This requirement does not apply for refugees, stateless persons and virtuosos (for Bachelor degrees at School of Arts). You also have to prove the ERK B2 level of Dutch for our professional bachelor degrees. All details about the existing alternative admission procedures and deadlines can be found on the website of our association AUGent.
If you have any questions about these two procedures, please contact coordinator Pascal Van Geit via toelatingsonderzoek@hogent.beor 0032 9 243 33 89.
If you want to apply for a study programme at the School of Arts, other requirements may apply. Please visit the Student Affairs Office of the School of Arts.
For most of the study programmes at the School of Arts artistic admission tests apply.
For Dutch-unaware candidates who are interested in an academic bachelor programme at the School of Arts and do not have the required diploma, there is a special admission procedure. In this procedure, you can also read an alternative way of applying for virtuosos in the arts.
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Practical guide.
Check the practical guide for information on finances, study and course guidance, the academic calendar, housing, your arrival in Ghent, Dutch language courses, insurances, visa and immigration and student life in Ghent.
Practical guide.
Check the practical guide for information on finances, study and course guidance, the academic calendar, housing, your arrival in Ghent, Dutch language courses, insurances, visa and immigration and student life in Ghent.