Ana Miranda
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Diploma Equivalence in Belgium 

21/12/2015

20 Comments

 

Last year I followed the Integration Program for foreigners, which consists of a social orientation class, Dutch classes and work/study coaching. They also intermediate diploma equivalence processes for free.

I have a Brazilian diploma in English teaching and this is what my recognition process looked like:

  1. I provided Kom-Pas (now In-Gent) with the following documents:

  • A copy of my diploma and a copy of my grades history (they had these translated).
  • Official (original or scanned) subjects’ descriptions (provided by my University).
  • Translation of the subjects’ descriptions (a summary in English made by me).
  • My résumé.
  • Letters from former employers or any document proving professional experience (optional).
 
   2.   My dossier was sent to Flemish Universities for analysis.

   3.   I was invited for an interview and a sample English lesson.

   4.   I received an official document saying my diploma is equivalent to Bachelor Secundair Onderwijs - onderwijs vak: Engels.

It seems like a very straightforward process, but in reality there’s a lot of waiting around, of being asked for documents you can’t provide and of more waiting around. This little process lasted a year and a half.

There were moments I completely forgot about it and I never really counted on it. I thought of it as a bonus, if it worked out well.

It did, and now I’m allowed to work as a teacher. And I hope I’m done with paperwork for a while. 

Have you had your diploma recognized? How was it? 

Or are you going to try? 


Here are some useful links: 

National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC-Vlaanderen)
​
Inburgering (Civic Integration Program)
In-Gent Integratie en Inburgering
20 Comments
Monica link
8/1/2016 07:35:13 pm

Interesting. I did the same process, for a Bachelors Secondary Education: Music and English However, I did not have to do an interview or sample lesson for English or music. I wonder why that is.

Reply
Ana Elisa Miranda
8/1/2016 10:13:08 pm

Hi Monica, thanks for sharing. I wonder why similar cases can be handled so differently. Did you get your diploma recognized? How's work in Belgium going for you?

Reply
Ingrid
30/1/2016 07:44:07 pm

Hi, my process took 3 years and the first time it was turned down. Then last year I did it via kom-pass and I only got a Bachelor recognition. I am a primary school teacher but not allowed to work in Belgium :(. My diploma is from Spain.

Reply
Ana Elisa Miranda
3/2/2016 02:29:30 pm

Hi Ingrid,
Sorry to hear you're not allowed to work as a teacher here in Belgium.
What have you been working with?

Reply
Lyuba
3/2/2016 03:36:16 pm

I submitted all the documents in October 2015 to recognize my Master diploma from Ukraine. So far no news... I guess it may take a few years. I am currently working , no one ever asked for my diploma. So I am wondering is it really necessary unless you work as a teacher/doctor/engineer?

Reply
Ana Elisa Miranda
3/2/2016 05:32:05 pm

Hi Lyuba,
Yes, it might take a while. I don't know what determines how long. I hope you hear from them soon!

Some professions definitely demand a recognized diploma, for others it might not be really necessary, but I don't know which ones.

Are you working in your area of study? What do you do?

Reply
Lyuba
3/2/2016 07:06:48 pm

I have graduated with diploma in Management and worked before in marketing. Currently I also work in a marketing field, e-commerce business. So luckily aligned with my education and professional experience. I decided to recognize my diploma because I could do it for free via inburgerings programma. Besides if I even want to work for any governmental organization I would need it too. Not that I really plan it but you never know :)

Ana Elisa Miranda
8/2/2016 12:40:30 pm

You never know, it's a good card to have up your sleeve :)

Reply
Lyuba
15/3/2016 11:35:21 am

Hi Ana!

I have good news - my diploma has been recognized as Master in Toegepaste Economie. I am very happy , it didn't take that long. The lady from Inburgering told me it is because I had all documents in place before applying.

Reply
Ana Elisa Miranda
18/3/2016 01:14:21 pm

Hooray! Congratulations and lots of success :)

Reply
Fernanda
15/6/2016 08:23:01 am

Hey, Ana, thank you for this post.
Finding your blog and reading all the information you've shared shows me amazing synchronicity, as a colleague sent it to me right after an 'important' meeting at work, if I can put it that way :) .
I suppose we've got the same degree (Letras - Portugues/Ingles). I am just starting to consider applying for the equivalence, but I have not finished my teaching degree (licenciatura). Have they taken your licenciatura (sorry, I just can't find an appropriate English term for this word) into account during the process?
I currently work as a LA at a British School in Flanders and would love doing some teaching here, but I just don't see that coming for me. Have you considered getting a degree in Europe?
Super thank you and best of luck in Belgium!

Reply
Ana Elisa
15/6/2016 03:31:39 pm

Hi Fernanda, you're welcome. And thanks for visiting the blog and reaching out.

My degree is Letras - Inglês and the "licenciatura" (I can't translate it either) wasn't separate. So in the end the Flemish government recognized my diploma as Bachelor Secundair Onderwijs - Onderwijs vak: Engels. I'm allowed to teach English at secondary schools. However, I currently work at a primary international school as a teaching assistant and haven't applied for any teaching jobs using my diploma, haha!

Yes, I have thought of getting a new degree in Europe, but haven't found the perfect one yet. How about you?

Reply
Fernanda
15/6/2016 06:00:02 pm

I used to work with primary school kids in SP and loved it! I now work for the Secondary School EAL department and it's been a whole new, amazing experience! I mainly assist students in mainstream lessons, but part of my timetable includes working with small groups of students and homework support.
I have been thinking about doing something related to language acquisition, still unsure... I live in the Leuven region, and the KU Leuven offers a limited number of courses in English, being a Master in Education the closest to my real interests.
To follow a degree in Dutch I must improve my Dutch DRAMATICALLY, haha (was that strong enough or should I write it in bold and underline it?), but I haven't given up! I'm following intensive French in Brussels over the summer... Have you started learning French?
I was very excited with your answer and got absolutely addicted to your blog... It feels great to know that someone else has been through similar experiences (and in the same country). Keep up the awesome work and please don't think I'm a stalker when you read my comments to different posts! :)

Ana Elisa
17/6/2016 12:37:17 pm

Fernanda,

Thank you so much for your comments, I'm glad the posts are helpful :)

The Masters in Education in Leuven is also the only one that I thought I could do, but I'm not quite convinced yet. I'm still searching for an online degree in English, with no luck. My Dutch is not nearly good enough to follow a degree here and my French has been abandoned for a while.

Good luck with everything and keep me posted!

Reply
Paulo
29/6/2016 04:40:57 pm

Boa tarde Ana.Muito obrigado por ter criado esse espaço,eu sou cidadão Holandês,mas estudei no Brasil onde me formei em letras Portugês-Inglês e respectivas literaturas,eu regressei pra Holanda em Janeiro,mas em fevereiro me mudei para Bélgica(Antwerpen),finalmente esse mês recebi do ministério da educação da Holanda o reconhecimento do meu diploma,foi feita uma equivalência um processo que durou seis meses e meu diploma é equivalente ao de um professor na disciplina de língua inglesa para o ensino medio e ensino primário aqui na Holanda.Gostaria de saber se é possível com essa equivalência obtida na Holanda lecionar na Bélgica?

Mais uma vez muito obrigado,

Paulo.

Reply
Ana Elisa
2/7/2016 11:43:49 am

Oi Paulo, eu não sei. Entre em contato com a secretaria de educação da província ou da cidade. Boa sorte!

Reply
Cristina
6/1/2018 03:06:38 pm

Hello! I am in the same situation right now. I sent my documents a month ago to NARIC, but I haven't received any email that says that they received them... did they tell you if they received you papers after you send them? I am also not expecting a positive answer, but it would be awesome if they recognise my diploma :)

Reply
Ana Elisa
10/1/2018 06:12:40 pm

Hi Cristina,
The Integration Office mediated the process for me. I can't really remember if I heard anything when they received my documents. I remember at first they asked for more papers, but after that; nothing. I just waited...
Good luck!

Reply
mish
18/2/2018 03:47:47 pm

Hi..interesting blog.. Im also going for the interview. Did they asked you tough questions?

Reply
Ana
21/2/2018 08:47:14 pm

Hi,

No, they didn't ask tough questions. I presented a sample English lesson and then the examiner gave me advice.

Good luck!

Reply

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