Belgium 2014/15 - academic year

Beginning of the academic year

Belgium - Flemish Community

At the earliest 1 September and at the latest 1 October. Occurs generally between 15 September and 1 October.

Belgium - French Community

The legal act of 7 November 2013 fixes annually the beginning and end of each four-month term. The academic year is a one-year period beginning on 15 September 2015. In practice, teaching activities begin around 15 September in most institutions. In order to encourage student and staff mobility within the French Community, the government may lay down further conditions when determining this academic calendar. (Relative) institutional autonomy.

Belgium - German-speaking Community

2 September 2014 The relevant legislation states that the government fixes the date of the beginning of the academic year between 1 September and 15 September.

Teaching activity and holidays of the academic year

Belgium - Flemish Community

(1^stsemester)

Teaching activities: From the beginning of the academic year until 20 December

Holidays: Two weeks around Christmas and New Year

(2^ndsemester)

Teaching activities: Start first week of February until the end of the 3rd or 4th week of May. There is an Easter holiday break of two weeks.

Holidays: From the beginning (1st or 2nd week) of July until next academic year

Belgium - French Community

The first term starts on 15 September 2014; the second on 1 February 2015; the third on 1 July 2015. The two first terms include at least 12 weeks of teaching activity.

Teaching activity starts on the first Monday of the term.

For purposes of curricular organisation, each of the three four-month terms includes assessment and holiday periods.

Institutional autonomy

Belgium - German-speaking Community

(1^stsemester)

Teaching activity: 2 September - 24 October 2014

Autumn holiday: 27-31 October 2014

Teaching activity: 3 November - 19 December 2014

Christmas holiday: 22 December 2013 - 2 January 2015

(2^ndsemester)

Teaching activity: 12 January - 13 February 2015

Carnival holiday: 16-20 February 2015

Teaching activity: 23 February - 3 April 2015

Easter holiday: 6-17 April 2015

Teaching activity: 20 April - 29 May 2015

Examinations of the academic year

Belgium - Flemish Community

(1^stsemester)

3-4 weeks in January

(2^ndsemester)

Last week of May until the end of the last week of June or the 1st week of July

From about 17 August until the end of the third week of September.

Belgium - French Community

Curricular activities leading to an academic qualification in the first or second cycle are spread over the first two four-month terms in the academic year (with the exception of certain forms of assessment or professional integration activity). Each of these first two terms involves at least 12 weeks of activity and may not exceed four months. A period of assessment occurs at the end of each term.

The third term includes assessment periods (as well as professional integration or personal project activity).

Institutional autonomy.

Belgium - German-speaking Community

5-9 January 2015
8-26 June 2015

End of the academic year

Belgium - Flemish Community

The day before the start of the new academic year. For most students the academic year ends de facto after the last examination.

Belgium - French Community

Le 13 septembre de l'annee suivante

Belgium - German-speaking Community

The relevant legislation states that the government fixes the end of the academic year on the first Friday in July at the latest.