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Higher education decree

uclouvain |

In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, higher education (including university education) is governed by the so-called “décret paysage” (literally, “(educational) landscape decree”, often translated in English simply as “higher education decree”) of 7 November 2013, which defines the structure of higher education and the academic organisation of studies. A reform, known as the “Glatigny reform”, of this decree was adopted in December 2021 and introduced new rules governing academic progression and eligibility for student funding.

This webpage is intended to inform current and prospective students about the academic progression and funding eligibility requirements introduced by the higher education decree. The content of this page may be updated over time, so please consult it regularly. Additional information is available in interactive form at https://mesetudes.be/en/funding-eligibility/the-general-rules-of-fundability.
(Last updated: July 2025)

Does this reform affect you? Find out based on your situation.

At the start of the academic year, you registered for the course units of block 1. Your annual student programme (French initialism: PAE, see below) comprised 60 credits.

Read on, particularly the funding eligibility – or “fundability” – requirements.

You were already familiar with the new provisions of the decree, as they applied in full since the start of your studies. Refer to the table below according to your situation. Funding eligibility requirements apply.

Funding eligibility requirements apply to all students.

  • You are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s course:
    The priority is to pass all bachelor’s course units. The conditions for taking master’s course units in advance are now more restrictive. 
  • You are currently enrolled in both a bachelor’s course and a master’s course (BAMA):
    The priority is to pass all bachelor’s course units. It is no longer possible to take master’s course units in advance if you still have more than 15 bachelor’s credits to complete. 
  • You have failed course units that are prerequisites for other course units?
    Focus on these course units, as prerequisites can no longer be converted into corequisites (except at the end of a degree course).

Refer to the table below according to your situation.
As regards funding eligibility rules, the new provisions apply to all students.

2025–26 rules

First-time student = First enrolment in higher education. For example: I was in secondary school in 2024–25.
End 2024–25 situation 2025–26 UCLouvain enrolment 2025–26 student programme (PAE) Note
/ 11BA (1st year bachelor’s)
  • 60 block 1 credits
  
Situation end 2024–25 2025–26 UCLouvain enrolment 2025–26 annual student programme (PAE) Note
60 block 1 credits earned
 
>> Passed first year of bachelor’s  		1BA (continue bachelor’s)
  • Min 60 credits,* max 75 credits
  • Uncredited compulsory course units (UEs)  for which student was already enrolled in 2024–25
  • UEs from remainder of bachelor’s for which student meets prerequisites
  
Between 55 and 59 block 1 credits earned
 
>> Failed 		11BA (bachelor’s first year)
  • PAE max. 60 credits, or 65 credits with exam board approval
  • Uncredited compulsory UEs for which student was already enrolled in 2024–25
  • UEs from remainder of bachelor’s for which student meets prerequisites
  
Between 45 and 54 block 1 credits earned
 
>> Failed 		11BA (bachelor’s first year)
  • PAE max. 60 credits
  • Uncredited compulsory UEs for which student was already enrolled in 2024–25
  • UEs from remainder of programme for which student meets the prerequisites
 
Between 30 and 44 block 1 credits earned
 
>> Failed 		11BA (bachelor’s first year)
  • PAE max. 60 credits
  • Uncredited compulsory UEs for which student was already enrolled in 2024–25
  • With exam board approval, UEs from remainder of programme for which student meets the prerequisites.
  • Learning support activities (AARs) recommended.
  • AARs not registered in PAE
     
Between 1 and 29 block 1 credits earned
 
>> Failed 		11BA (bachelor’s first year)
  • Unrecognised block 1 UEs
  • Learning support activities (AARs) mandatory.
  • Mandatory AARs but not registered in PAE
0 credits earned
 
>> Failed 		Mandatory course change    
General note: “ portability” of 11BA credits : a student who has successfully completed the first year at another institution and comes to continue their course (same programme) at UCLouvain will be enrolled in 1BA even if the content of block 1 is not identical.
* PAE of at least 60 credits (max. 75 credits) except in the following cases:
  • At the end of the course
  • In the event of a reduced workload
  • In the event of joint organisation or student mobility
  • In the event of unmet prerequisites
  • For pedagogical or organisational reasons (PAE of at least 55 credits)
  • At the student’s request to balance their overall programme
Situation end 2024–25 2025–26 UCLouvain enrolment 2025–26 (PAE) Note
Between 55 and 59 block 1 credits recognised 11BA (bachelor’s first year)
  • PAE max. 60 credits, or 65 credits with exam board approval
  • Unrecognised block 1 UEs
  • UEs from remainder of programme for which student meets the prerequisites
  
Between 45 and 54 block 1 credits recognised 11BA (bachelor’s first year)
  • PAE max 60 credits
  • Unrecognised block 1 UEs
  • UEs from remainder of programme for which student meets the prerequisites
  
Between 30 and 44 block 1 credits recognised 11BA (bachelor’s first year)
  • PAE max 60 credits
  • Unrecognised block 1 UEs
  • With exam board approval, UEs from remainder of programme for which student meets the prerequisites
  • Learning support activities (AARs) recommended.
  • AARs not registered in PAE
     
Under 30 block 1 credits recognised 11BA (bachelor’s first year)
 
 
  • PAE max 60 credits
  • Unrecognised block 1 UEs
  • Learning support activities (AARs) mandatory.
     
  • Mandatory AARs but not registered in PAE
General note: The rule stipulating that the exam board may not recognise more credits than those recognised by the exam board of the institution where the course unit was taken is repealed. The exam board has full discretion to recognise credits earned by students during successfully completed courses or parts of courses. It is no longer bound by the number of credits recognised by the exam board of the institution where the courses were taken and credited.
Situation end 2024-25 2025–26 UCLouvain enrolment 2025–26 (PAE) Note
16 or more credits remain to be earned in bachelor’s 1BA (continue course)
  • Min. 60 credits and max. 75 credits
  • Uncredited bachelor’s compulsory UEs for which student was already enrolled in 2024–25
  • UEs for which student has fulfilled the prerequisites
  • If student is in last stage of course, the exam board may convert prerequisites into corequisites
  
  • Students are considered in the final stage of their course when they have registered in their PAE all remaining credits required for graduation.
Max. 15 credits remain to be earned in bachelor’s (BAMA15)** Student enrolled in two degree levels.
 
  • Bachelor’s (1BA) as primary
  • Master’s (120 or 60 credits) as secondary
  • PAE max. 60 credits (bachelor’s + master’s)
  • Remaining bachelor’s UEs
  • Uncredited compulsory UEs for which student was already registered in 2024–25 (BAMA student in 2024–25)
  • Master’s UEs for which student meets prerequisites
  • No enrolment for 120-credit master’s dissertation (but enrolment for 60-credit master’s dissertation is possible)
  • 60-credit master’s course dissertation registration possible for PAE max. 60 credits (bachelor’s + master’s)
All UEs in bachelor’s are credited
>> Successful completion and bachelor’s degree 		Master’s (2M or 2M1)
  • Min. 60, max. 75 credits
  • Uncredited compulsory UEs for which student was already registered in 2024–25  (BAMA student in 2024–25).  
 
** The number of credits allocated to the bachelor’s is determined by the most recent decision of the undergraduate exam board of the preceding enrolment period. The BAMA15 status acquired by the student remains unchanged regardless of the number of bachelor’s credits that will be registered in their PAE in subsequent academic years. Any change in the number of credits allocated to a single course unit from one academic year to the next will therefore not affect the student’s existing entitlement to complete their annual programme with course units from the master’s.

What are the key points of the reform?

At the start of the academic year, you must draw up your annual student programme, also known as the PAE. In practical terms, you will list all the course units (UEs) that you will be taking during the year. Each course unit is worth a certain number of credits. In the vast majority of cases, your PAE will total 60 credits.

Please note: To pass your first annual block, you must pass all your course units, i.e. the 60 credits of your PAE.

=> At university, we no longer talk in terms of “years” but rather “annual blocks”. A bachelor’s course is divided into three annual blocks.

In practical terms:

If you start your course in the 2025–26 academic year and, at the end of your first year at university, you have not earned the 60 credits required for your PAE, you will remain enrolled in the first year (11BA). If you pass your 60 credits, you will be admitted to continue your course and will be enrolled in the second annual block (1BA).

Please note:

From the start of the 2023–24 academic year, you will no longer be able to take master’s course units in advance if you have more than 15 bachelor’s credits left to complete. You will therefore be enrolled solely on the bachelor’s course.

In practical terms:

Prioritising the completion of your bachelor’s course ensures that you graduate with a bachelor’s degree and are able to embark on a master’s course at the university.

Explanation:

A prerequisite is a course unit that you must pass before you can take one or more other courses units later in your programme.

A prerequisite becomes a co-requisite when the exam board considers that you can take both course units simultaneously in the same academic year, even though one was normally a prerequisite for the other.

Being in the last stage of your course programme means that you have registered in your PAE all the remaining credits required for graduation.

Please note:

If you fail a prerequisite and you are not in the final stage of your course, the exam board will no longer allow you to add the “follow-up” course to the same PAE as the prerequisite (and therefore to take them in the same year).

In practical terms:

We recommend that you complete your prerequisites as soon as possible to avoid any delays in your studies or even the risk of losing your funding. If you have to make choices, focus first on passing your prerequisites!

In practical terms:

If you have earned fewer than 30 credits in the 11BA programme, you will remain enrolled in the first year of your bachelor’s course, but you will receive support to give you the best possible chance of passing: you will be required to supplement your annual programme with learning support activities.

If you have earned between 30 and 44 credits in the 11BA programme, you will remain enrolled in the first year of your bachelor’s course, but you will receive support to give you the best possible chance of passing: you will be able to supplement your annual programme with learning support activities. We strongly advise you to take part in these.

 

Fundability: what has changed

Student fundability rules* have been simplified.

Who is affected by the new fundability rules?
All students are subject to the new fundability rules.

* What is fundability? An student for whom the university receives funding from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation is eligible for said funding, or “fundable”. To be declared eligible, the student must meet several conditions, including those relating to their academic results. If a student is no longer eligible, their enrolment application may be refused by the university.

Deliberations

Understanding deliberation results.

Administrative calendar