# Language Requirements for Exchange Students

**Source**: https://www.ugent.be/prospect/en/administration/application/application-exchange/overview.htm/languagerequirements.htm
**Parent**: https://www.ugent.be/en/research/globalsouth/exchange-phd/exchangephd.htm

Ghent University is located in Flanders (Belgium), where the official language is **Dutch,** which is also our official language of instruction. However a growing number of courses is taught in **English**. Please check the [exchange programmes](https://www.ugent.be/en/programmes/overview.htm) to find out which language the courses are taught in.

## Language certificate

As not all incoming students have a sufficient knowledge of Dutch, Ghent University requires a good knowledge of **English (CEF B2-level or higher)** in order to communicate and function in an academic context. \
As prospect exchange student you need to provide one of the following language certificates, including test results from your language skills in speaking, writing, listening and reading.

- A **TOEFL** certificate: minimum score 510-559 (paper-based) or 87-109 (internet-based)
- An **IELTS** certificate: minimum score 6.0
- A **Cambridge certificate**: FCE, CAE or CPE
- A certificate of a **university language centre**: minimum level B2
- A proof that you are a **native speaker** of English this can be a copy of your identity card/passport)
- A proof that you successfully finished a **study programme** of at least one year which was completely taught in English

Attention: specific language requirements apply for exchange students at the faculty of Bioscience Engineering and the [faculty of Economics and Business Administration](https://www.ugent.be/eb/en/exchange-student/overview.htm "FEB_language requirements").

## Validity of language proof

- Any accepted proof of language proficiency must be valid upon registration.
- The validity date mentioned on the language certificate cannot be exceeded.
- If no validity date is mentioned on the language certificate, the certificate can be no older than 4 academic years, counting from the academic year after the proof of language was acquired.

## More information

For more information about the language requirements please contact the 'FCI administrator' of the faculty you are applying to.\
Their contact details can be found [here](https://www.ugent.be/en/ghentuniv/mission/internationalisation/fci/overview.htm).