Proof through a language test

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The required level of proficiency in the language of instruction can be demonstrated as follows by means of a qualification certificate indicating that the staff member concerned has mastered:

  • The B2 level for Dutch (administrative language)
  • The C1 level for Dutch and English (teaching language)

Accepted language tests

Common Dutch proficiency tests – B2 level:

  • Adult Education Center - Certificate Obtained after Completing a Course in Other Languages (Dutch): Grade 3
  • The Interuniversity Testing Consortium (consortium of the university language centers of UAntwerp, KULeuven, VUB and Ghent University)  - Interuniversity Language Test of Dutch (ITNA): B2
  • The Dutch as a Foreign Language Certificate (CnaVT): profiel STRT or PROF – B2
  • Integratie en Inburgering en Huis van het Nederlands: Onderwijspersoneel B2

Common Dutch proficiency tests – C1 level:

  • Adult Education Center - Certificate Obtained after Completing a Course in Other Languages (Dutch): Grade 4
  • The Interuniversity Testing Consortium (consortium of the university language centres of UAntwerp, KULeuven, VUB and Ghent University)  - Interuniversity Language Test of Dutch (ITNA): C1
  • The Dutch as a Foreign Language Certificate (CnaVT): profiel EDUP (Educational Professional) - C1

Common English proficiency tests – C1 level:

  • Adult Education Center - Certificate Obtained after Completing a Course in Other Languages (English): Grade 4
  • The Interuniversity Testing Consortium (consortium of the university language centres of UAntwerp, KULeuven, VUB and Ghent University)  - ITACE for lecturers: C1
  • British Council - Aptis: overall CEFR grade C(1)
  • ETS - TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT): iBT Test score 95
  • University of Cambridge ESOL examinations Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced score 180
  • British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English - IELTS  Academic: A global score of at least 7
  • ILT Leuven - Portfoliotest: C1

Points of attention

  • Any expiry dates stated on the test results will be disregarded.
  • Q-labelled certificates from the Association of Language Testers in Europe (=ALTE) are automatically accepted. Other certificates from full members of ALTE are accepted if the skills of writing, reading, listening and speaking were tested.
  • Certificates other than those mentioned above must be submitted in each case by the institution to the competent government commissioner. An application for recognition must demonstrate the formal nature of the attestation and its link to the required CEFR level for both writing, reading, listening, and speaking.

Taking a test

Lecturers who have not obtained any of the above-mentioned language certificates can take the ITACE test (Interuniversity Test of Academic English) or ITNA (Interuniversity Test of Academic Nederlands) at the University Language Centre (UCT) of Ghent University. There are multiple tests organized each year.

  • The ITACE test is chosen by Ghent University because it is specifically tailored to an academic environment and to teaching. The test has been internationally validated.
  • Visit UCT's ITACE language testing web page for more information on enrollment and exact testing dates: ITACE (English) - University Language Centre (ugent.be)