Secondary education
The Brussels-Capital Region is home to a host of secondary education institutions across all networks, teaching in various languages. Several international schools also operate in the Region.
Directory of schools
The Brussels-Capital Region is home to a large number of secondary schools teaching in French or Dutch.
School schedule
Secondary schools work to a set calendar.
Apprenticeships - alternating education
If you are in work and you would like to continue your education or take your career in a new direction, it’s important...
Secondary education is part of compulsory education. All children must attend school until they reach eighteen years of age. Following a part-time course from 16 years of age is also an option (15 years of age if the student has followed a second full year of secondary education). This is what is called an apprenticeship - alternating education.
Secondary education is split into four tiers, with four orientations:
- general education
- technical education
- vocational education
- art education
All these orientations provide access to higher education, except vocational education, for which a seventh year must be completed to obtain the Certificate of Higher Secondary Education).
More detailed information on these secondary education orientations (FR/NL)External link and the apprenticeships combined with work placement (FR/NL)External link is available at www.belgium.be.
Find out more:
These pages contain information on:
- the directory of secondary education institutions in the Brussels-Capital Region
- the school calendar of secondary education
- apprenticeships - alternating education (part-time course combined with an apprenticeship).
Good to know:
The central examining board enables students that have not followed or completed their secondary education to prepare for exams and obtain their 'Certificat de l'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur' (CESS, Certificate of Higher Secondary Education).
