Application for academic year 2025-26 opens October 2024! Follow the steps below for a successful application:

  1. Carefully read the academic admission requirements …
  2. … and the language requirements of the programme.
  3. Ensure you have all of the information and documents needed to complete your online application.
  4. Complete the online application.
1Academic Requirements

Candidates must:

  • Hold a Bachelor’s degree of min 180ECTS (equivalent to 3 years) from a university or recognised equivalent institute.
  • A Grade Point Average (GPA) for this BSc of at least 70% of the maximum grade
  • Demonstrate through their transcripts of records to have successfully acquired basic science training in at least 5 out of 7 of the following fields:
    (i) Mathematics
    (ii) Physics
    (iii) Chemistry
    (iv) Biochemistry
    (v) Biology
    (vi) Microbiology
    (vii) Engineering
  • Statistics qualifications at level 1 and 2*
  • Some academic or professional background in aquaculture is recommended

(*) see Wageningen University study guide for details

2Language Requirements

The applicant must be proficient in English. English language proficiency can be met by providing a certificate (not older than 2 years) of one of the following tests:

  • TOEFL IBT 92, with subscore for speaking 23
  • ACADEMIC IELTS 6,5 overall score, with a min. of 6 for writing and 6 for speaking
  • CAMBRIDGE English CAE (Advanced) score between 176-210 or Grade C
  • Cambridge FCE/B2 Certificate, score between 176-190 or Grade A

note! TOEFL/IELTS predictive tests and TOEIC will not be accepted

Language of instruction is not accepted, except for:

  • applicants who are nationals from or have obtained a bachelor and/or master degree in a higher education institute with English as the mode of instruction in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Canada (when graduating from a Canadian institute a student must have a certificate that the mode of instruction was English).
3Documents to upload during application

Along the online application you will be asked to upload:

  • pdf of your passport
  • short CV (max 2 pages)
  • bachelor diploma (or certificate of enrolment if you are still in your last year)
  • transcript of records
  • English language certificate (only certificates listed above are accepted!)
  • motivation letter (max 1 page)
  • reference letters are not required. You can provide it voluntarily but it will not be taken into account in the evaluation score

4 Start your online application

We recommend checking the Manual of the online application tool (pdf, 2.4MB).

Application deadlines

Application deadlines

* Please note, no scholarships are available for 2025-26

I submitted my application, what happens now?

Once you submitted your application file, your academic suitability will be assessed. If you fit the academic requirements you will receive a Letter of Admission (LoA), after which you will be invited to send scanned versions of the legalised copies of your Bachelors degree, Transcripts of Academic Records. You will be informed via email throughout the application process on how to proceed.

Apply for your visa

If you need a visa to enter Belgium, you should start your visa application as soon as you have received your Letter of Admission.

The AquaH programme includes student mobility to other Schengen countries, therefor you need to apply for a long stay student visa type D with code B35. With this visa, after your arrival in Belgium, you will be able to apply for a 2 year residence permit that will allow you to travel to other Schengen countries without having to apply for a visa in these countries.

When applying for a visa, you will be asked to prove your solvency (i.e. creditworthiness). This solvency can be proved in different ways:

  • A scholarship award letter (document certifying that you have been granted a scholarship)
  • An affidavit of support (or a financial guarantee)
  • A blocked account and solvency letter: Ghent University can provide a letter to prove sufficient means of subsistence provided you have transferred the required financial means to a bank account of Ghent University, where they will be blocked on a personal account. The financial means will then be reimbursed to you on a monthly basis. For more information, contact solvencybama@ugent.be

Questions related to the application procedure

  • For all questions in relation to the application procedure and other questions regarding tuition fees, accommodation, visa matters, etc. please contact applications.itc@ugent.be.
  • More information about the legalisation procedure can be found here.

Other questions