Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary or temporary protection
Are you a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary or temporary protection in Belgium and do you wish to have your higher education diploma recognised?
There are different ways to get your diploma recognised, but in all cases the procedure is completely free of charge.
In terms of recognition, two types of equivalence can be distinguished:
- equivalence for a specific academic degree;
- an equivalence attesting to the educational level of a diploma.
The difference is as follows: the 1st equivalence consists essentially of a comparison between an academic content achieved abroad and a study programme organised by our institutions. Whereas the 2nd aims to legally establish the superior nature of the studies completed abroad by specifying their level in relation to the diplomas awarded in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. In other words, a level equivalence does not mention any field of study.
You will find more information, as well as details of how to apply, in the section of this site dedicated to diploma equivalence.
In order to be able to assess the content or level of a foreign diploma, these procedures require the submission of a number of academic documents (such as diplomas, transcripts, training programme, etc.).
If you are unable to provide us with the documents normally required for equivalence, or some of them, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has set up an alternative recognition procedure. The aim of this procedure is to help you to have the level of your studies recognised.
What is this alternative procedure?
It is based primarily on a questionnaire to be completed which traces your academic career in higher education. An interview with a panel of experts in your field of study can also be arranged to supplement the information provided. These different steps will allow us, in the absence of classic academic documentation, to assess your level of training.
The best way to do this is to send us the documents you have in your possession via the section "Submitting a request for equivalence". Our Directorate will examine to what extent these are sufficient to process your request for equivalence.