Social Sciences

Admission requirements

As a general rule, every study programme comes with its own set of conditions. You will find all the requirements for your chosen programme by clicking 'admission requirements' under the 'programme' tab.

Which degree is required?

You'll need a high school degree that allows you to access a bachelor's or undergraduate programme. Some international high school degrees are considered as being equivalent to a Belgian high school degree and grant direct access to any of our bachelor's programmes provided you also meet the language requirements (see below). You can find a list of all equivalent high school degrees here.

If your high school degree is not equivalent to a Belgian high school degree , you'll need to send us your high school degree along with your transcripts and a letter of motivation. Our admissions committee will decide whether or not you are eligible to join the programme if you also meet the language requirements (see below). 

What are the language requirements?

We accept the following proofs of English language proficiency:

• A Belgian high school degree;
• A certificate from the institution where you finished secondary or higher education, stating that English was the language of instruction;
• A certificate of one of the following language tests corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference with minimum level B2:
  • TOEFL (only the internet-based test is accepted) with minimum level: 79
  • IELTS academic module, with minimum level: 6.5
  • Cambridge English minimum grade scale score of 170
  • ITACE with minimum level B2
     
• Please note that language test results cannot be older than 5 years at the moment of application.
• You must meet the language requirements before we can accept you. We do not issue letters of acceptance without it.

What are the required documents?
 

You'll need to upload the following documents during the online application procedure to start the screening process:

• Proof of identity (Passport or ID-)
• Headshot picture 
• High school degree (official documents, both original and translations)
• High school transcripts of records (official documents, both original and translations)
  • Only if your degree is not equivalent to a Belgian high school degree
• Motivational letter
  • Only if your degree is not equivalent to a Belgian high school degree
• Proof of English language proficiency
   

Eager to apply? 

Convinced about the program and decided to apply? Find out more about the administrative formalities governing your enrolment as an international student at our university:

Check the most important steps to consider

Be prepared

Will I cope with the programme? A question faced by many students. Making all the necessary preparations helps you embark on your studies with peace of mind. Do this by seeing if you have the right level of prior knowledge and filling in gaps wherever necessary.

Test your knowledge      Other preparations

Can't wait to join us, but wondering if you're well enough prepared? You'll need a good command of English, as our curriculum does not include English lessons. If in doubt, see our language admission requirements (at the top of the page). In need of some help with your language? Our VUB Language Centre ACTO offers language classes. If you are an international student, it is also the place where you can sit the ITACE test to demonstrate your language abilities.

If you've been accepted to join the programme, do not hesitate to prepare you for your stay in Brussels.

Ready, set, study!