13 - Belgium - Student assessment

Universities

The assessment for a course may consist in an oral or written exam or any other work carried out by the student for this purpose. Oral exams are public (but the public may in no way interact with the examiner or examinee during the test, nor disturb its proper conduction). Corrected copies of tests and written works may be consulted by students within 60 days from publication of the test results.

The academic degree of doctor is awarded after defending a thesis demonstrating the doctorand’s creativity and ability to carry out scientific research and disseminate its results. The doctoral examination consists of: 1° the production of an original dissertation in the discipline, in the form of either a thesis of personal character, an essay by the candidate showing the interest of a coherent set of publications and achievements for which the candidate is author or co-author; 2° the public presentation of this work highlighting its qualities and originality, as well as the candidate’s ability for scientific popularization.

For students in the first year of studies, the assessments at the end of the first term lead to exemptions: they may count towards all or part of the test, but do not count in case of failure. These assessments may lead first-generation students to spread out their studies or to follow during the second term a specific remediation programme, aimed at helping students to overcome the difficulties encountered and preparing them to start the next academic year with better chances of success. The remediation programme is defined by the academic authorities in consultation with the student, after a personalized assessment of his situation. This remediation programme can also be partially organized during the third term. Students who at the end of the first year of study successfully complete their customized programme and enrol again in the first year are considered as having enrolled only once in higher education.

Hautes Écoles

The government stipulates general regulations for examinations. These regulations establish exam periods, passing conditions, exam organisation and administration methods, how examining boards function, exemption conditions for students who repeat the same year of study, etc.

To be eligible to register for exams organised by a haute école, students are required to regularly attend the educational activities of the programme for the year of study in which they are enrolled (including internships and coursework). They must justify any absences. They must have scored 50% for internships and coursework.

Examination tests are written or oral. They are public (except exams requiring the presence of patients). Corrected copies of written exams may be consulted by students within 60 days from the publication of test results. All students may, upon request, receive their exam results. Marks given during the year are considered when determining final marks.

In the course of an academic year, a student may sit twice for exams or assessments of a same course. However, for duly motivated exceptional reasons, the haute école authorities may authorize a student to sit more than twice for assessments of the same course during the same academic year.

For first year students, the assessments at the end of the first four-month term lead to exemptions: they may count towards all or part of the test, but do not count in case of failure.

The boards of examiners are composed of staff members who have assumed the responsibility for the student’s educational activities and, when applicable, outside experts.

In certain sections, a dossier is examined in which selected examples of coursework and internship work are kept.

Art colleges

Only regularly enrolled students are permitted to register for examinations. Participating in more than two examination sessions or more than one artistic evaluation session during the same academic year is not permitted. However, for duly justified exceptional reasons, the school head may authorize a student to sit more than twice for exams of the same course during the same academic year.

The examinations are public. Students may consult their corrected work and receive their results. Boards of examiners for each study year deliberate without appeal on the basis of published criteria predefined by the pouvoir organisateur. Boards of Examiners are composed of staff members who have assumed the responsibility for the student’s educational activities and, when applicable, outside experts. By right, the government determines the methods for organizing exams and examination boards as well as the success criteria.

Architecture colleges

No legal text defines the practices of architecture colleges as regards student assessment.

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