Flanders’ universities are welcoming their first recognised refugee students since the beginning of the refugee crisis

The start of the new academic year in higher education will also be a new start in the lives of recognised refugees, according to press agency Belga, which obtained figures from Flanders’ universities.

Last year, The Free University of Brussels (VUB) started the Welcome Student Refugees Programme to make it easier for newcomers to register. The refugees must meet the same requirements as other students. Via the programme, 18 recognised refugees have registered for the new academic year. About 70 others are also eligible to be accepted, but still have to fulfil language requirements or provide necessary documents.

Ghent University (UGent) currently has 12 registrations, “but the registration process is still ongoing,” said spokesperson Stephanie Lenoir, who also noted that registering students are not obliged to indicate that they are refugees.

UGent also notices a sharp increase in the number of students enrolled in the preparatory course for non-Dutch speakers. “Many of them are refugees, and we expect that many of them will register at the university next year,” said Lenoir.

At Antwerp University, 10 recognised refugees are starting a preparatory language programme in Dutch. “Next year they can then enrol in a study programme at the university,” said spokesperson Peter De Meyer.

No figures are yet available for the University of Leuven or Hasselt University.

Photo courtesy Antwerp University