Language Requirements
All students are required to demonstrate language proficiency at the latest upon enrolment.
Bachelor
- All bachelor programmes for which you can enrol at UGent are instructed in Dutch.
You cannot enrol without a valid proof of the required level of Dutch - Dutch at level B2 is required upon enrolment for most bachelor programmes
- Level C1 is required for the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Language Studies (Bachelor of Arts in de toegepaste taalkunde)
- Accepted language proofs
Master programmes taught in Dutch
- Most master programmes are instructed in Dutch.
You cannot enrol without a valid proof of the required level of Dutch. - Also applicable for its preparatory programme or linking course.
- Dutch at level B2 is required upon enrolment for most master programmes.
- Please note: from academic year 2025-2026, all educational master programmes will require a Dutch language certificate C1 (instead of B2 until now).
- Level C1 is required for bridging and preparation programs for master programs belonging to the field of study Applied Language Studies (toegepaste taalkunde).
- For certain programmes specific requirements apply: Specific language requirements
- Accepted language proofs
Master programmes taught in English
- Some master programmes are instructed in English.
You cannot enrol without a valid proof of the required level of English - Also applicable for its preparatory programme or linking course
- English at level B2 is required upon enrolment for most master programmes taught in English
- For certain programmes specific requirements apply: Specific language requirements
- Accepted language proofs
Erasmus Mundus
Please note: specific language requirements and language certificates apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes.
Please check the the website of these programmes.
Postgraduate courses (PGOP)
- If no Specific language requirements are mentioned, then knowledge level of Dutch B2 applies to study programmes in Dutch and English B2 to study programmes in English.
- Accepted language proofs
Micro-credential
- If no Specific language requirements are mentioned, then knowledge level O applies.
- Accepted language proofs
Predoctoral training programme, doctoral training programme and doctorate
- Predoctoral training programme: your mentor can confirm that you have the required language skills in the languages in which the course units are taught
- Doctoral training programme and doctorate; English at level B2 is required.
The supervisor can also confirm that you have the required level of English. - For certain programmes specific requirements apply: Specific language requirements
Validity of language proof
- Any accepted proof of language proficiency must be valid upon enrolment
- The validity date mentioned on the language certificate cannot be exceeded
- If no validity date is mentioned on the language certificate, the certificate can be no older than 4 academic years, counting from the academic year after the proof of language was acquired
Who is exempted?
Who does not need to submit a proof of language proficiency?
Or if you are admitted to a course based on a selection procedure under Erasmus Mundus Action 1 or Action 2, ICP courses, EU-US Atlantis, EU-Canada, where language proficiency is one of the selection criteria.