NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

University education is intended to train senior managers and professionals capable of holding responsibilities in the area of
basic and applied research and in the area of devising and applying scientific research with a view to the development of new
technologies. Considerable importance is attached to theoretical and specialist training as well as to science-based education
and training.
Holders of university degrees are employed in a very wide range of senior posts in industry, public bodies, education and in
the non-trade sector. A specific university education is not usually based on a particular profession, except for the regulated
professions (lawyer, doctor,
dentist, pharmacist, etc.). The full universities (université de Liège,
université libre de Bruxelles (independent), université catholique de Louvain) are, by virtue of a decree, authorised to organise
training in all the scientific disciplines grouped into three sectors (social sciences, sciences, medical sciences).
In the other university establishments (université de Mons-Hainaut, faculté universitaire des sciences agronomiques de
Gembloux (Agronomic Sciences), facultés universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix à Namur, faculté polytechnique de Mons,
facultés universitaires Saint-Louis, facultés universitaires catholique de Mons), education is limited to a few disciplines
relating to the three abovementioned sectors.
It is notable that the universities and university faculties cannot organise university studies in disciplines for which they have
not been accredited by virtue of the law or of a decree. (In the rest of this chapter, the term ‘university establishment’ refers to
all university educational establishments.)
A fundamental reform of the organisation of university education entered into force at the start of the new academic year in
September 1995. This reform mainly aims to remove the distinction between university qualifications awarded as legal
degrees and those awarded as scientific degrees (see glossary). A single type of ‘academic’ degree will be awarded by the
universities. The new decree also grants greater autonomy to the universities, particularly with regard to setting the content of
curricula and university cooperation.
University studies are organised into the following 22 fields, grouped into three sectors:
SOCIAL SCIENCES SECTOR:
religious sciences
philosophy
history
arts and archaeology
law
criminology
psychology
education sciences
economic sciences
political sciences
social sciences.
SCIENCES SECTOR:
sciences
applied sciences
agricultural sciences and biological engineering.
MEDICAL SCIENCES SECTOR:
medical sciences