In Belgium, most higher education programmes are open to anyone with a secondary school diploma. A few are exceptions and begin with an entrance exam, a competitive exam or an admission test. Which ones, and how do these exams differ between the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (French-speaking Belgium) and Flanders? Here is an overview.
Do you need an exam to get into university in Belgium?
As a rule, no. In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the CESS (the upper secondary education certificate) gives access to the vast majority of bachelor’s degrees, at university and at university college alike. In Flanders, the secondary education diploma plays the same role.
Access to higher education is therefore largely open. Entrance exams apply to a small number of programmes, for two main reasons:
- to limit student numbers where places are scarce, as in medicine and dentistry;
- to check specific skills before students start, such as mathematics for civil engineering or artistic practice at art schools.
There is also a general admission exam for candidates who do not hold the required diploma. The rules differ from one Community to the other, so it is best to know them by the final year of secondary school.
Entrance exams in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
Medicine and dentistry: a competitive entrance exam
Since 2023, access to medicine and dentistry has been through a competitive exam. The number of places is set in advance, and only candidates ranked high enough may enrol. Reaching a minimum mark is therefore not enough: you need to be among the best.
The exam is organised by ARES in a single session at the end of August (27 August in 2026). Registration is online, on concoursmd.be. The exam covers the science subjects (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics) as well as communication and the critical analysis of information. To prepare for it, see our medical school prep.
Veterinary medicine: a competitive entrance exam from 2027
Until now, selection in veterinary medicine took place at the end of the first year, through a ranking. A decree adopted in July 2026 moves it to the start of the programme: from the 2027 academic year, a competitive entrance exam modelled on the one for medicine and dentistry will replace this system.
Students starting in 2026 still follow the old system. If you are aiming for veterinary studies, check the rules for your year with ARES and the universities concerned.
Civil engineering: a mathematics admission exam
To start a bachelor’s in civil engineering (or civil engineering and architecture), you must pass a special admission exam. It is organised by the engineering faculties of UCLouvain, ULB, ULiège and UMONS, on a common syllabus.
The exam covers mathematics: calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Two sessions are held every year, one in early July and the other in late August or early September. Students who took 6 hours of mathematics a week in secondary school are best prepared; with fewer hours, catching up through private maths lessons is often useful.
Art schools: an admission test
The French-speaking art schools (écoles supérieures des arts: visual arts, music, theatre, film…) require you to pass an admission test set by each school. It assesses the candidate’s artistic aptitude: practical work, portfolio, audition or interview, depending on the department.
Without the CESS: the admission exam
Candidates without the CESS can sit the admission exam for first-cycle studies, organised by the universities twice a year. It covers French, mathematics and a modern language in particular, plus optional subjects.
Passing it opens most bachelor’s degrees, except those with their own exam (civil engineering, medicine, dentistry, some arts programmes). Another route to obtain the diploma itself is the Wallonia-Brussels Federation examination board, described in our article Preparing for the CESS.
Entrance exams in Flanders
Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine: the toelatingsexamen
In Flanders, medicine (arts), dentistry (tandarts) and veterinary medicine (dierenarts) start with an entrance exam, the toelatingsexamen, organised by the Flemish Community. A quota of places is set every year, and only the highest-ranked candidates may enrol.
The exam is held once a year, in early July, with one day per programme. Registration takes place in spring. The exam is in Dutch, so a French speaker aiming for a Flemish university should also work on their Dutch.
Engineers and future teachers: a compulsory starttoets
For some programmes, Flanders requires a starting test (starttoets, formerly called ijkingstoets). This applies in particular to engineering degrees (burgerlijk ingenieur, industrieel ingenieur, bio-ingenieur) and to teacher training.
Taking part is compulsory, but the result does not close the door: students can enrol whatever their score. If they fail, however, they must follow a remedial programme, before or during the academic year.
Art schools and candidates without a diploma
Arts programmes at Flemish university colleges (audiovisual and visual arts, music and performing arts) require candidates to pass a binding artistic admission test. Candidates without a secondary school diploma can take an admission exam set by the institution (toelatingsonderzoek), or a common admission test (toelatingsproef) for graduaat programmes.
Competitive exam, admission exam, starttoets: what is the difference?
- Competitive exam (medicine, dentistry and soon veterinary medicine in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation; arts, tandarts and dierenarts in Flanders): a limited number of places and a ranking. A good mark is not enough, you need to be among the top candidates.
- Admission exam (civil engineering in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, exam without the CESS): a level to reach. Everyone who passes may enrol.
- Artistic admission test: an assessment of aptitude, specific to each school.
- Flemish starttoets: a compulsory but non-eliminatory test, which leads to remedial support if needed.
Dates, syllabuses and registration fees change from year to year. The reliable source is always the organiser: ARES, the Flemish Community, the faculty or the school concerned.
Preparing in good time
These exams often draw on subjects from the end of secondary school: mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology. The most useful step is to compare the exam syllabus with what you have actually covered in class early on, so you can spot the gaps to fill.
Since 2003, My Sherpa has supported pupils and students with coaches chosen by an educational adviser according to the subject and the goal. Lessons take place at home anywhere in Belgium, or online. To find out more about how we support students, visit our page on higher education.
