At the KdG University in Antwerp, 700 candidates have already applied for a new nursing programme that will only start next academic year. Only 100 places are available at most. The programme, which takes four years, is taught in English, but students also receive Dutch language lessons. Enrolment starts in January.
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700 candidates for 100 places at new English-language nursing programme up in Antwerp
Colin Clapson
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The new nursing programme will not start until next academic year, but 700 candidates have already applied, with around 100 more joining every month. 'The unique thing about the programme, which is taught in English, is that students also learn Dutch during the four-year programme. This allows them to enter the labour market immediately after graduation and fill the shortage,' says Kris Achten, who coordinates the international programmes at KDG.
‘Nowadays, you often see nurses being flown in from South Asia. They don't speak Dutch, which makes it more difficult for them to integrate into a hospital.’ To be admitted, prospective students must speak English and have a secondary school diploma. No prior knowledge is required for the new programme.
Lots of interest from Africa
Even though enrolment doesn't start until January, there have already been applications from 70 countries, with a quarter of candidates already living in Belgium. There are students from Asia, but there's also a lot of interest from three African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
Because there is so much interest, the university college will apply the principle of 'first come, first served'. Anyone who already lives in Belgium and wants to enrol must therefore do so in January.
Student visa and additional procedure
‘Only when non-European students have been admitted and enrolled in the programme can they obtain a student visa,’ says Kris Achten. 'There is also an additional procedure: they must deposit a certain amount of money in a blocked account so that they can prove to embassies that they are really coming here to study. Once they are here, the money will be returned to them in instalments.
Because there is so much interest, the university will apply the principle of 'first come, first served' for enrolments. Anyone who already lives in Belgium and wants to enrol must therefore do so in January.