Historical Background: A Modern University of Applied Sciences Born from the Merger of Four Institutions
Arteveldehogeschool was established on December 31, 2000, through the merger of four Catholic higher education institutions in Ghent. These four institutions were: EGON College of Business and Design, KaHoG College of Health Care, KLBO College of Teacher Training and Management, and KVMW Gent College of Social Work. At the time of the merger, the university had approximately 6,700 students and nearly 800 faculty and staff members, making it the third-largest institution of higher education in the Flemish Region at the time.
The university is named after the 14th-century Flemish national hero Jan van Artevelde, and its motto, “Denk.Doe.Word” (Think.Do.Achieve), accurately encapsulates its educational philosophy—emphasizing both theory and practice, and applying knowledge to real-world situations. As a public university with a Catholic background, Arteveldehogeschool has been an academic affiliate of the University of Ghent Alliance (AUGent) since 2003, sharing teaching and research resources with the University of Ghent, Belgium’s leading research university. Today, the institution has grown into a large public higher education institution with approximately 15,000 students and 1,300 faculty and staff members.
Campus Location and Urban Culture
Arteveldehogeschool’s 12 campuses are spread throughout the city of Ghent, allowing students to immerse themselves deeply in the daily life of Belgium’s largest university city. Located in the Flemish Region of northern Belgium, Ghent is just about 50 kilometers from Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp; its prime location makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the European continent. The city is renowned for its atmosphere, where medieval architecture blends with modern urban vibrancy—from St. Bavo’s Cathedral, home to Van Eyck’s masterpiece *The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb*, to the winding banks of the Leie River lined with bars, and a year-round calendar of cultural highlights such as the Ghent Festival and the International Film Festival. Whether it’s a leisurely afternoon by the river in summer or the warm glow of the Christmas market in winter, Ghent offers international students a diverse and enriching study abroad experience. To what extent do employers value Arteveldehogeschool Degree?
Flagship Disciplines and Five Expertise Networks
Arteveldehogeschool has organized its degree programs into five Expertise Networks, covering the most critical professional fields in today’s society.
- Business and Management: Focuses on developing management and entrepreneurial skills within a global business environment;
- Communication, Media and Design: Includes six creative disciplines covering fields such as cross-media design, media management technology, and new media development;
- Health and Care: Continuously supplies the workforce with professionals in the medical and healthcare sectors;
- People and Society: Focuses on fields such as social work, educational rehabilitation, and library science;
- Education: Offers over 200 subject combinations to train teachers for various educational levels.
The university offers 23 bachelor’s degree programs (5 of which are taught entirely in English), 5 master’s programs, and 11 associate degree programs. In the latest uniRank Belgian university rankings, the university is ranked 19th, placing it among the top 20 in the country.
Dual Degrees and Joint Programs
Arteveldehogeschool possesses significant international strengths in dual-degree and joint-degree programs. The university offers multiple dual-degree and triple-degree pathways, with partner institutions including University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (Austria), British Columbia Institute of Technology (Canada), and Millikin University (USA). In the field of health and care, it offers a dual-degree program in occupational therapy in collaboration with FH Campus Wien (Austria). The institution is also one of the university colleges in the Flemish Region that hosts the largest number of Erasmus students. In 2024, Artevelde was named an Erasmus+ Digital Process Champion for the European Student Card initiative (2025–2027) by the European Commission, in recognition of its outstanding contributions to simplifying the cross-border exchange of student data.
