How to register

How to register

0. Registration is not possible any more for 2010-2011. The pre-registration form will be available again in 2011.
1. Fill in the pre-registration form (not possible for the moment) and print it;
2. Go to the school between May 7, 2011 and September 15, 2011 with the filled-in form mentioned above to complete your registration. Also bring your documents (Which documents? See FAQs below, first question);
3. Pay the registration fees with the transfer document you will receive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need?

Two possible scenarios:

• You’ve just obtained your secondary education degree
  • 1 passport photo
  • a copy of the Belgian identity card or foreign identification papers (both sides);
  • a sample of the official birth certificate or certified copy thereof;
  • the original provisional version of the CESS (Belgian higher secondary education degree);
  • proof of payment of all registration fees.
• You have already started higher education studies, you have worked, or you are a registered jobseeker:
  • 1 passport photo;
  • a copy of the Belgian identity card or foreign identification papers(both sides);
  • a sample of official birth certificate or certified copy thereof;
  • a copy of the CESS (Belgian higher secondary education degree);
  • the original certificates of attendance signed by the head of the institution for higher education studies you have pursued in Belgium or abroad mentioning your results or supporting documents covering any other activity in Belgium or abroad (certificates of employers, FOREM … failing that, a sworn statement dated and signed);
  • a certificate of health check (see Article 6 from the Decree of May 16, 2002);
  • proof of payment of all registration fees.

I am a foreign student, what are the formalities?

You have to register, complete your application, pay the registration fees (plus 992 € for non-EU students whose parents are not Belgian residents).

As soon as you are settled in Belgium you should give the student secretariat a copy of your residence permit, a copy of ‘annex 33′ (document for citizens from member states bordering Belgium), a copy of the certificate of registration in the register of foreigners, a copy of the declaration of application for asylum.

My degree is not the Belgian CESS (French baccalaureat, diploma from Luxembourg ….), can I join?

Yes, but you have to fill out an equivalence request with the competent Belgian authorities BEFORE THE 15TH OF JULY;
This request must be sent by registered letter and it is absolutely necessary to pay the fees for the examination of this request before the 15^th of July.

You are responsible for your own case and must thus see to it that the file is complete and handed in to the office in charge of your request. You are strongly recommended to go to the office in person in order to submit your request.

Here is the address where to send your request:
SERVICE DES EQUIVALENCES DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT OBLIGATOIRE – Rue A Lavallée, 1 – 1080 Bruxelles

If you decide to hand it in in person you have to make an appointment by phone : +32 2 690 86 86 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 12 and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 13.30 to 16 and then go to Rue A. Courtois, 4 – 1080 Bruxelles. The office can be contacted by phone at +32 2 690 86 86 from Monday to Friday from 9 to 12 and from 13.30 to 16.

Website: www.equivalences.cfwb.be
Email: equi.oblig(Remplacez cette parenthèse et son contenu par le signe @)cf.be

A copy of the registered mail receipt or a certificate for the submission of your request must be added to your school registration file as a proof that your equivalence request was sent or submitted before July 15.

(For your information only. We invite you to refer to the French Community Ministry’s circular relating to requests for foreign primary and secondary education qualifications recognition and to check the website of the ‘Service des équivalences’.)

I returned my request to the ‘Service des équivalences’ late, can there be consequences for my registration?

Yes, you will immediately lose your status of officially registered student as well as the rights attached to success in examinations. You will thus only be allowed to follow the courses as an auditing student.

My record is incomplete (documents and / or payment) at the beginning of the academic year, can I attend classes?

Yes, but the secretariat will not issue any certificate: family allowances, registration …

I am unemployed at the time of my registration, can I attend classes as a regular student?

The quality of unemployed person in receipt of benefits is incompatible with the status of student in full-time education for lack of appropriate exemption from the relevant authorities granting unemployment benefits.

However you get obtain an exemption. To do so you must ask your unemployment office for form C39 and ask the school to fill it in.

This exemption is granted in two cases:

• graphics techniques are on the list drawn up by the ONEM (Belgian employment agency) for the academic year concerned (website: www.onem.fgov.be)
• graphics techniques are not on that list: in this case you can be exempted is you are a fully unemployed person in receipt of benefits and that you have received unemployment benefits for at least 312 days over the two years preceding the beginning of your studies.

This information is purely indicative. You should check with the relevant authorities to ensure that these provisions are applicable to your situation …

If I make a false declaration of past activities when registering, what may be the consequences?

In case of false declaration of past activities, you immediately lose the quality of officially registered student as well as the rights attached to success in examinations.

I wish to register as an auditing student, could my request be refused by the head office?

Your registration can be refused as institutions have no obligation on this matter.
The purpose of this kind of registration is to allow students to continue studying even if they are no longer within the legal deadline to register as a regular student. They can still benefit from family allowance provided that they draw up a programme of at least 13 hours per week with the head of the department.

I’ve changed my mind after completing the registration form, my record and after paying the fees, is a refund possible?

You have to inform the Head of the department of your decision.
Several possible scenarios:

• If you cancel your registration before the start of the academic year you’ll recover the full amount paid.
• If you withdraw between September 15 and September 30, provided you did not participate in any teaching activity, you will get a refund of all paid sums.
• If you withdraw between September 15 and November 30, the refund is limited to the French Community tuition (‘minerval’).
• If you withdraw from December 1 onwards, no refund is possible any more.

I have administrative, financial or other difficulties, who can I go to?

Please contact the student secretariat for administrative issues related to your registration file.

You can also contact the Haute Ecole’s student welfare officer, Ms France Demeure, whose role is mainly to deal with welfare problems and to assist the Conseil Social de la Haute Ecole (Financial support committee) with its tasks.