**C O M M I S S I O N F O R E D U C A T I O N A L E X C H A N G E**

Between The United States of America, Belgium and Luxembourg

> ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.0in"
> height="0.3333333333333333in"}Royal Library, Boulevard de l\'Empereur,
> 4, Keizerslaan, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

> Tel: (02) 519.57.72 ∙ Fax: (02) 519.57.73 ∙ <adviser@fulbright.be> ∙
> [www.fulbright.be](http://www.fulbright.be/)
>
> The Commission for Educational Exchange between the US, Belgium, and
> Luxembourg is a tri-lateral Fulbright Commission in Brussels that also
> houses the primary Education USA center in Belgium. Our Advising
> Center, which serves the public on a walk-in basis and by telephone
> and email, offers information about undergraduate and graduate level
> studies, professional programs and intensive English courses.  In
> addition to maintaining a large collection of materials from U.S.
> institutions, we also produce guide books that help prospective
> students and their families understand the American higher education
> system, admissions requirements, application procedures and financial
> aid options.  To assist students with their preparations, we supply
> registration bulletins and practice materials for standardized tests,
> as well as reference books and writing guides for college
> applications. While our primary focus is American higher education, we
> also offer limited information about primary and secondary education,
> youth exchange programs and internships.   Our Center maintains two
> computer stations with Internet access to help students search for
> information, contact institutions and complete on-line application
> forms.
>
> ![](media/image2.png){width="1.2083333333333333in" height="0.75in"}
>
> **Services Available:**

-   Details and application forms for [Fulbright
    Scholarships](http://www.fulbright.be/Scholarships_Grants/Fulbright_Scholarships.htm).

-   Advice and information about [undergraduate
    studies](http://www.fulbright.be/Studies_in_the_US/Undergraduate.htm)
    (Bachelor's degree programs), [graduate level
    studies](http://www.fulbright.be/Studies_in_the_US/Graduate.htm)
    (Master's and Doctoral degree programs) and [specialized
    fields](http://www.fulbright.be/Studies_in_the_US/Specialized Fields.htm)
    (e.g. business, medicine and law). 

-   In cooperation with
    [EducationUSA](http://www.educationusa.state.gov/), we offer
    international student handbooks and reference books to assist with
    selecting institutions, preparing applications, writing personal
    statements/essays and pre-departure information.

-   [Certification](http://www.fulbright.be/General_Info/Certification.htm)
    of translations and academic documents needed for admissions
    applications and professional degree recognition.

-   Registration bulletins for standardized admissions tests, including
    the [TOEFL](http://www.fulbright.be/Tests/TOEFL.htm),
    [GRE](http://www.fulbright.be/Tests/GRE.htm),
    [SAT](http://www.fulbright.be/Tests/SAT.htm) and
    [GMAT](http://www.fulbright.be/Tests/GMAT.htm). 

-   Preparation materials and practice books for admissions tests.

-   Reference guides for finding English language programs across the
    United States.

-   Lists of organizations that offer youth exchange programs and
    internship opportunities. 

-   Computer workstations with Internet access for searching university
    web sites and preparing on-line applications.

-   A collection of over 3,000 college and university catalogues in hard
    copy and/or CD-Rom.

-   Information about additional scholarships for Belgian and
    Luxembourgian nationals as well as general financial aid books, and
    indexes.

-   Free copies of magazines and other publications relevant to U.S.
    higher education.

-   General information about obtaining student and scholar visas to the
    United States. 

In fiscal year 2005-2006, we handled over 2700 inquiries from the public
and, according to *Open Doors,* a total of 754 Belgian and 51 Luxembourg
students went to study in the USA. We also advise students of all
European nationalities interested in the Fulbright-Schuman program, a
transatlantic Fulbright scholarship co-funded by the European
Commission.

**Activities:**

-   Participation in the annual MBA2U fair

-   Participation in the Luxembourg Student Fair, hosted by the Minister
    of Culture, Higher Education, and Research (CEDIES)

-   Info sessions on Study in the USA at various Belgian universities

-   'Brussels College Night'-Coordinated by our Commission, St. John's
    International School, The International School of Brussels, and the
    Brussels American School: 54 universities in attendance

-   Program management of Fulbright scholarships

**Trends:**

-   Electronic advising on the rise and consequential development of our
    website

-   Strong interest in business programs as well as LLM's in the US

-   High demand for information on the Toefl and little knowledge about
    the IELTS

-   Very few undergrad hopefuls soliciting our services, exacerbated by
    the lack of undergrad scholarships from Belgium

-   Many inquiries on internships in the US and the necessary
    documentation

-   Strong interest in intensive English courses, particularly those
    located on college campuses

The Commission for Educational Exchange was created in 1948 by an
international agreement between Belgium, Luxembourg and the United
States. Until 1980, the Commission's advising services were only
available to candidates for the Fulbright grant program and information
was limited to graduate studies in the U.S.

In 1980, the Advising Center expanded and opened its doors to the
general public. The Advising Center supports the Commission's goal of
promoting student exchange by providing information about higher
education opportunities in the U.S. By virtue of its location in the
administrative capital of Europe, the Advising Center serves a wide
range of students. In addition to students from Belgium and Luxembourg,
the Advising Center receives inquiries from individuals of many
nationalities who are living or working in the European Union.

**Information**

While its primary focus is American higher education, the Center also
offers limited information about primary and secondary education, youth
exchange programs and internships. The Center maintains two computer
stations with Internet access to help students search for information,
contact institutions and complete on-line application forms.

**Advising**

The Center's advising activities fall into three general categories:
individual 'walk-in' advising, telephone inquiries and Internet/Email
advising. The Center offers open advising hours Monday through Thursday
from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. During these hours, the Adviser keeps her
schedule open to meet with visitors and to answer questions. If students
are unable to visit the Center during these posted hours, the Adviser
will see students by individual appointment.

As in many countries, the Brussels Advising Center has seen a sharp
increase in the number of students seeking information on the
Commission's web site and sending questions via E-mail. The website
offers a clear and user-friendly design and provides a central source of
information about the American educational system, programs of study and
Fulbright grant opportunities. While the web site expands the Center's
reach and provides a useful starting point for exploring educational
options in the U.S., students continue to ask for personal assistance
from the Adviser. During the academic year 2005-2006, the Center
responded to over 1,860 email inquiries. The Adviser strives to provide
accurate and thorough responses to Email inquiries, which comprises a
significant amount of advising time.

**Outreach**

The Educational Adviser visits each of the Belgian universities at least
once a year to provide general information about studying in the U.S. as
well as an overview of the Fulbright grant program. The Adviser
participates in the Brussels MBA2U Forum each September and the
Luxembourg Student Fair each November.

As a service to the local community, the Advising Center also
coordinates a Brussels College Night for secondary schools students. The
location of this event rotates each year among the three international
secondary schools of Brussels. Representatives from each school work
closely with the Educational Adviser to promote and organize the fair.
Approximately 50 American universities and 600 parents and students
attend each year.

**Educational System Overview**

"Belgium is a country with three main official languages (French, Dutch,
German) and the right to education in one's mother tongue is seen as a
basic human right and personal freedom. The German speaking community
falls under the umbrella of the French speaking community of Wallonia in
regards to their educational system and to their Ministry of Education.
The Dutch speaking community of Flanders has their own Ministry of
Education.

"The educational system is broken down in to preschool education for
ages 2 ½ to 6; primary education for ages 6 to 12; secondary education
and higher education. The secondary system has two branches; a modern
system which was introduced in 1969-1970 and a traditional curriculum.
Higher education is classified as university and non-university
education. Preschool education is free and non-compulsory, and is
offered at three levels. Primary education is for a total of six years
and is divided into three two-year groupings. Upon completion of primary
education, a student is awarded a certificate at the end of the sixth
year.

Within the secondary system, there are two systems; Type I-Modern
education and Type II-Traditional education. In 1983, all state schools
were converted to the Modern system. Type I and II education are divided
into two channels. The transition channel is mainly for students who
intend to continue their studies into higher education, and the
qualification channel which prepares students intending to enter
directly into a professional or technical profession. The secondary
system can be broken down again into four major branches; general,
technical, artistic and vocational. Upon successful completion of each
year of secondary studies, students are awarded with a certificate and a
final certificate when leaving secondary school which normally affords
them access to higher secondary education." [^1]

The Grading is as follows;

\% (Numeric grades) Mentions U.S. Equivalent

90-100 (18-20) *Plus grande distinction/ A+*

> *Grootste onderscheiding*
>
> (greatest distinction)

80-89 (16-17.9) *Grande distinction/ A*

> *Grote onderscheiding*
>
> (great distinction)

70-79 (14-15.9) *Distinction/Onderscheiding B*

(distinction)

50-69 (10-13.9) *Sastisfaction/Voldoening C+/B-* (65%-69%)

> (satisfactory) C (60%-64%)
>
> D (50%-59%)

0-49 (0-9) *Ajourne/Uitgesteld* F

> (failure)

\*The minimum passing grade is 50% and 60% for courses in the mother
tongue. "

Contacts:

**Flemish Language Community**

Ministry of the Flemish Community

Education Department

Hendrik Conscience Building, Koning Albert II-laan 15

B-1210 Brussels

Tel: + 32 (0) 2 553 86 11

Fax:+32 (0) 2 553 96 55

Email: <infolijn@vlaanderen.be>

[www.flanders.be](http://www.flanders.be/)

NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre)

NARIC-Vlaanderen

Hendrik Consciencegebouw, Toren A, Koning Albert II-laan 25

B-1210 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0) 2 553 98 19

Fax: +32 (0) 2 553 97 05

**French Language Community**

NARIC-INFOSUP (National Academic Recognition Information Centre)

Boulevard du Jardin botanique 20-22

Tel : +32 (0) 2 690 81 90

Fax : +32 (0) 2 690 82 38

Email : <cyberecole@cfwb.be>

[www.cfwb.be/infosup](http://www.cfwb.be/infosup)

Main Belgian Universities :

Universiteit Antwerpen/University of Antwerp

Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB)

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL)

Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)

Universiteit Gent (UG)

Université de Liège (UL)

Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)

Université de Mons-Hainaut

\*for a complete listing of all MOE recognized institutions, please see
the individual language community websites.

-The average cost of university is around 500 Euros per year in most
State run universities.

[^1]: Fletcher, Ann, *World Education Series*, American Association of
    Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 1985