Country education guide
Belgium
Education is governed separately by the Flemish, French, and German-speaking Communities.
📚 School stages
Grades, stages, and local pathways
Community-specific pre-primary education
Entry ages, curriculum terminology, and administration follow the responsible Community.
Primary education · normally 6 years
Primary schooling and its completion certificate are organised by each Community.
Lower secondary · Community pathway
Stages, study forms, and curriculum outcomes must be resolved to the school’s Community.
Upper secondary · general, technical, artistic, or vocational
The route and final certificate depend on Community and study form.
Community higher-education systems
Applications and qualification equivalence follow the relevant Community and institution.
📝 Examinations and qualifications
Selectable records for Belgium
Each record links to the authority that publishes its current rules.
Upper-secondary completion certificate
CESS / diploma secundair onderwijs / Abschlusszeugnis
Community-specific credentials that certify completion of the applicable upper-secondary route.
- Completion or score rule
- Award requirements are set by the responsible Community and study form. Foreign-study equivalence is a separate process.
- Where it applies
- Flemish, French, and German-speaking Communities
🔗 Official source library