General acces conditions to the Doctorate


The 3rd cycle is the highest level of university studies. Students with a Masters degree may access enter the doctorate under certain conditions.

General access conditions for the doctorate

The doctorate includes :

  • the doctoral training, santioned by the research training certificate. No one may obtain the degree of doctor without having successfully completed a corresponding doctoral training programme.
  • the work related to the preparation of a thesis and its defence of this thesis, sanctioned by the academic grade of doctor

Access to postgraduate studies is reserved for students who hold a Master's degree obtained after 5 years of study (300 credits/ECTS) and who have distinguished themselves during their postgraduate studies.

However, students who obtained a 4-year Master's degree before the "Bologna" decree came into force may also be admitted to a 3rd cycle.

You are also advised to consult the general regulation of the doctorate.

The access conditions to postgraduate studies are governed by articles 115 and 116 of the decree of 7 November 2013 defining the higher education landscape and the academic organisation of studies.

Access to postgraduate studies (doctorate) is granted to holders of either:

  • either an academic degree of Master in at least 120 credits and who have distinguished themselves during their 2nd cycle studies
  • or a similar academic degree awarded by a higher education institution, in the French Community or outside it, by virtue of a decision of the academic authorities and under the additional conditions that they set
  • or a foreign academic degree recognised as equivalent to those mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 pursuant to the decree of 7 November 2013, a European directive, an international convention or other legislation, under the same conditions
  • or a title, diploma, degree or certificate of second cycle, in the French Community or outside it, which does not give access to postgraduate studies by virtue of literas 1 to 3, but for which the totality of the successful studies can be valued by the jury for at least 300 credits
  • or, by way of derogation, a title, diploma, degree or certificate awarded outside the French Community which, in that system of origin, gives direct access to doctoral training or studies and work relating to the preparation of a doctoral thesis, even if the studies attested by these titles or degrees are not organised in distinct cycles or in at least five years. This admission must be exceptional and duly justified on the basis, in particular, of formal and authentic proof of this capacity to pursue doctoral studies in the system of origin


Specific cases

Conditions for students from the european union (outside Belgium)

Conditions for students from outside the european union

Additional resources

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