Ghent University Global Campus

Preparatory semester

What is the preparatory semester?

An academic year at Ghent University Global Campus starts in September and ends in June the next calendar year, just as it does in Belgium. However a lot of admitted students have been asking Ghent University Global Campus what to do between the moment they graduate from high school in February and the start of the academic year in September. For those students Ghent University Global Campus has a solution. Admitted students can already enroll in March and follow certain courses in a Preparatory semester.

With this preparatory semester students start earlier with their studies at Ghent University Global Campus and students can re-allocate their course load: students will be better prepared for Mathematics and English and will have the opportunity to already take some courses of the next semesters. This makes that the first year of the Bachelor of Science is spread in time, with more time to study for all the courses. Since the first year of the program is the hardest, the extra semester makes it lighter.

We emphasize that the preparatory semester is not designed to reduce the 4 years of curriculum. Students take the 1st year curriculum spread over three semesters instead of two. Within the preparatory semester students can take up three credit recognized courses. If a student starts in March, the student is automatically qualified and required to take the rest of the courses from the following September onwards.

Q: What is the GUGC preparatory semester?
A: An academic year at Ghent University Global Campus starts in September. But the GUGC preparatory semester starts in March instead of September. With this preparatory semester GUGC gives the opportunity for students who already acquired a high school diploma before March to get already started at GUGC. Once the new academic year starts in September the preparatory semester students are automatically integrated in the new batch of freshmen but already acquired a head start.

Qualifications

For the academic year 2024-2025 admitted students

  1. who acquired a high school diploma or its equivalent before Feb 29th, 2024 and
  2. who applied before Feb 7, 2024 qualify to start studying at Ghent University Global Campus from March, 2024 onwards.

Preparatory semester courses

It is important to understand that a student who enrolls in March and starts with the Preparatory semester will do an extra semester. However this extra semester is offered to Ghent University Global Campus students without any extra costs. The courses which will be organized for the students enrolling in March are:

  • Introduction to engineering mathematics – Mandatory course

Students who enroll in March take the course Introduction to engineering mathematics. This course (normally scheduled in Fall) is especially organized for students who enroll in March and is therefore mandatory for all students who enroll in March. Passing this course will affect the course work of the student in the Fall semester. After this course the student will be better trained to take up the subsequent Mathematics 1 course. After taking this course, there is no need to attend the precollege course in summer.

  • English for Academic Studies 1 – Mandatory course

English for Academic Studies 1 is a mandatory course. This course (normally scheduled in Fall) is especially organized for students who enroll in March and is therefore mandatory for all students who enroll in March. Passing this course will affect the course work of the student in the Fall semester. Students who have passed English for Academic Studies 1 during the Preparatory semester don’t have to take English for Academic Studies 1 again during the Fall semester. The advantage of taking English for Academic Studies 1 during the Preparatory semester is that the student will have more time to study for the science courses in the Fall semester.

  • Inorganic Chemistry 1: Structure of Matter - Elective course

The Inorganic Chemistry 1: Structure and Matter course is a mandatory course within the programme, which can be taken as an elective course during the preparatory semester. This course is an introduction to the basics of inorganic chemistry, with emphasis on the understanding of chemical structures and properties. The student who takes this course is expected to have a high school level knowledge of chemistry. The advantage of taking this course during the Preparatory semester is that the student will have more time to study other courses in the Spring semester.

  • General Biology - Elective course

The General Biology course is a mandatory course within the programme, which can be taken as an elective course during the preparatory semester. This course introduces the general concepts in biological sciences, as well as the major concepts in energy concepts and genetics. The student who takes this course is expected to have a high school level knowledge of biology. The advantage of taking this course during the Preparatory semester is that the student will have more time to study other courses in the Spring semester.

Cost

Three semesters for the price of two! The tuition for three semesters is the same as for two semesters and the Introduction to Engineering Mathematics is free of charge.

The extra Preparatory semester in the first year will not cost extra. The enrolment fee is paid only once for the three terms of the first year. Each term tuition fee is paid for the credit courses. After finishing the three terms of the first year a student who enrolled in March has followed the same courses as students who enrolled in September, so the amount of credits is the same.

Detailed instructions for the payment will be sent during January:

Enrolment fee: 2,000,000 KRW, paid at enrolment before the start in March
Course fee varies depending on the number of courses a student takes. Per course a student pays 1,500,000 KRW.

  • Fee per course: W 1,500,000
  • Possible combinations are the followings:
    • Introduction to engineering mathematics + English for Academic Studies 1 = 3,000,000 KRW.
    • Introduction to engineering mathematics + English for Academic Studies 1 + Inorganic Chemistry 1 = 4,500,000 KRW.
    • Introduction to engineering mathematics + English for Academic Studies 1 + General Biology = 4,500,000 KRW.
    • Introduction to engineering mathematics + English for Academic Studies 1 + Inorganic Chemistry 1 = 4,500,000 KRW.

Dormitory

Students should apply by the 1st priority deadline (November 30, 2023) to receive priority on dormitory room types (single/double).

More detailed info will be shared among applicable students.