FAQs

No, this is not a prerequisite for enrolling at UCLouvain. Please note that this programme does not guarantee your admission to a university study programme the following year.

The admission requirements are: 

• Having refugee status, subsidiary/temporary protection or an asylum application currently being examined in Belgium (have a recent orange card or an A card). 
• Mastery of the Latin alphabet in writing. 
• Having plans to resume your university studies.
• Being available to attend classes during the day.
• Being comfortable with IT tools. 
• Submitting a complete application file on time.

Also strongly recommended but exemptions are possible (depending on the applicant’s motivation):

• Being able to demonstrate a minimum A2 level in oral French. 
• Living in Belgium (maximum a one-hour journey from our premises in Louvain-la-Neuve).
• Having obtained at least a secondary education diploma AND started higher education in your country (if you do not have a non-restrictive equivalence of your secondary education diploma).
   

If you do not meet some of these conditions, the selection committee may nevertheless examine your application and require additional information by email. 

The call for applications is open between mid-March and mid-May, solely via this form. In order to analyse your profile, additional documents will be requested (diploma, identity documents, transcripts, etc.).

If your application is successful, you will be invited to an admission interview in June. The aim of this interview is to verify that Access2University is the programme best suited for your needs. To do this, we will discuss your motivations and your study project. Your level of French will also be assessed.

Those not selected will receive information and advice for the continuation of their academic/professional career in Belgium.

Classes begin mid-September and end at the end of June. Access2University follows the academic calendar.

In addition to the academic calendar, two weeks of preparatory French courses take place at the end of August. In January, you will also take French classes and participate in activities and information sessions.

A week of welcome activities is planned in September, before classes begin.

Access2University is made up of French classes, faculty classes, information sessions and social activities. 

Course syllabus (mandatory):

A French class common to the Access2University group (non-credited):

A French class for university purposes (2x/week, all year round).

French classes according to my level and one to three faculty classes, according to the discipline of your choice (maximum 20 ECTS):

• French as an international language class, depending on the student’s level of language (year-round). 
• Faculty class, depending on the chosen field of study (from second semester).

Information sessions and workshops (mandatory):

• Presentation of higher education in Belgium. 
  The request for diploma equivalency. 
  Social assistance to help finance studies. 
  How to register at UCLouvain. 
  Intellectual property protection: anti-plagiarism and referencing rules.

Individual appointments are also planned to help develop your study plans and provide support.

Social activities 

Activities to integrate into campus life are also planned: meals, sports, conversation tables, creative workshops, etc.

You can also propose your own activity!

The French class for university purposes takes place on Tuesday and Thursday, from 10.45am to 12.45pm. For the other classes, the schedule depends on your French level and chosen faculty classes. Attendance is mandatory.

Self-study is also essential. You will have to complete assignments and make oral presentations.

Example schedule for the first term (from September to January):

Example schedule for the second term (from February to June):

Enrolment in Access2University is free. Access2University is not a scholarship. However, limited financial aid is available to cover certain expenses related to university studies (for instance: reimbursement of public transport costs to travel to the Louvain-la-Neuve campus, meal tickets, reimbursement of the equivalency application fees, etc.). 

You will have the status of “independent student”. You will have the possibility of following 20 ECTS at UCLouvain. You will be allowed to take your exam, but this will not lead to a diploma.

At the end of Access2University, the student who has completed the programme will receive a certificate of participation. After passing an exam, the student will also be able to obtain a certificate reflecting their French level.

If you have a confirmed level of French or if your studies are in English and you wish to prepare for your studies, you can also take individual classes. An independent student can take a maximum of 20 ECTS credits per academic year, and is allowed to attend classes and take exams in order to familiarise themselves with the UCLouvain environment. No diploma is awarded. The independent student only receives a certificate of results. For more information, see the following page.