Belgium 2016/17 - 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)

From the beginning of the academic year until the end of the week before the Christmas holidays.

Academic year 2016/17:
until Saturday 24 December 2016

Two weeks around Christmas and New Year.
 
Academic year 2016/17:  
from Monday 26 December 2016 until
Sunday 10 January 2017

(2^ndsemester)

From the beginning of February until the end of the
3rd or 4th week of May.
 
Academic year 2016/17: 
from Monday 13 February 2017 until 
Saturday 27 May 2017.

There is an Easter holiday break of two weeks.
Academic year 2016/17: 
from Monday 3 April 2017 until 
Monday 17 April (Easter Monday)

Belgium - French Community

The first term starts on 14 September 2016; the second on 1 February 2017; the third on 1 July 2017.
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: 5 September – 28 October 2016

Autumn holiday: 31 October – 4 November 2016

Teaching activity: 7 November – 23 December 2016

Christmas holiday: 26 December 2016 – 6 January 2017

(2^ndsemester)

Teaching activity: 16 January – 24 February 2017

Carnival holiday: 27 February – 3 March 2017

Teaching activity: 6-31 March 2017

Easter holiday: 3-14 April 2017

Teaching activity: 18 April – 26 May 2017

Examinations of the academic year

Belgium - Flemish Community

(1^stsemester)

3-4 weeks in January

Examinations academic year 2016/17:
from Monday 9 January 2017 until
Saturday 4 February 2017

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

Class-free week academic year 2016/17: from Monday 6 February 2017 until Sunday 12 February 2017

From mid-August until the end of the third week of September
Academic year 2016/17: from Monday 21 August 2017 until Saturday 16 September 2017

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

Academic year 2016/17: from Monday 29 May 2017 until Saturday 8 July 2017

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

13 September of the next year

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.