Belgium 2015/16 - academic year

Beginning of the academic year

Belgium - Flemish Community

At the earliest 1 September and at the latest 1 October. Occurs generally between mid-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 14 September 2015.
In practice, teaching activities begin around 14 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 2015 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 the end of the week before the Christmas holidays.

Academic year 2015/16:
until Saturday 19 December 2015

Holidays: Two weeks around Christmas and New Year

Academic year 2015-16:
from Monday 21 December 2015 until Sunday 3 January 2016.

(2^ndsemester)

Teaching activities: From the beginning of February until the end of the 3rd or 4th week of May.

Academic year 2015/16:
from Monday 8 February 2016 until Saturday 21 May 2016.

There is an Easter holiday break of two weeks.

Academic year 2015/16:
from Monday 28 March 2016 until Sunday 10 April 2016

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

Start holidays academic year 2015/16:
Monday 4 July 2016

Belgium - French Community

The first term starts on 14 September 2015; the
second on 1 February 2016; the third on 1 July 2016.
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 - 30 October 2015

Autumn holiday: 2-6 November 2015

Teaching activity: 9 November - 18 December 2015

Christmas holiday: 21 December 2015 - 2 January 2016

(2^ndsemester)

Teaching activity: 11 January - 5 February 2016

Carnival holiday: 8-12 February 2016

Teaching activity: 15 February - 25 March 2016

Easter holiday: 28 March - 8 April 2016

Teaching activity: 11 April - 27 May 2016

Examinations of the academic year

Belgium - Flemish Community

(1^stsemester)

3-4 weeks in January

Examinations academic year 2015-16:
from Monday 4 January 2016 until Saturday 30 January 2016

Followed by one week without class between the first and the second semester

Class-free week academic year 2015/16:
from Monday 1 February 2016 until Sunday 7 February 2016

(2^ndsemester)

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

Academic year 2015/16:
from Monday 23 May 2016 until Saturday 2 July 2016

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

4-8 January 2016
6-24 June 2016

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.