Language Requirements for Exchange Students

Ghent University is located in Flanders (Belgium), where the official language is Dutch, which is also our official language of instruction. However a growing number of courses is taught in English. Please check the exchange programmes to find out which language the courses are taught in.

Language certificate

As not all incoming students have a sufficient knowledge of Dutch, Ghent University requires a good knowledge of English (CEF B2-level or higher) in order to communicate and function in an academic context.
As prospect exchange student you need to provide one of the following language certificates, including test results from your language skills in speaking, writing, listening and reading.

• A TOEFL certificate: minimum score 510-559 (paper-based) or 87-109 (internet-based)
• An IELTS certificate: minimum score 6.0
• A TOEIC certificate: minimum score 785-944
• A Cambridge certificate: FCE, CAE or CPE
• A certificate of a university language centre: minimum level B2
• A proof that you are a native speaker of English this can be a copy of your identity card/passport)
• A proof that you successfully finished a study programme of at least one year which was completely taught in English

Attention: specific language requirements apply for exchange students at the faculty of Bioscience Engineering and the faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

Validity of language proof

• Any accepted proof of language proficiency must be valid upon registration.
• 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.

More information