Organisation
What is my child committing to by starting studies at HEC Liège?
The traditional academic path at HEC Liège consists of two cycles, totaling five years of study: the Bachelor's degree (180 credits - 3 blocks) and the Master's degree (120 credits - 2 blocks).
The Bachelor's degree is a so-called "transition" Bachelor's: it does not lead to a profession but grants access to university Master's degrees.
The terminology is constantly evolving: study programs are now presented in teaching units to which credits are attached. These credits correspond to the workload that your child must devote to a course. They take into account lecture hours, practical work, seminars, internships, personal work, etc.
1 Credit = 30 hours of learning activities
1 year of study = 1 Block = 60 Credits
Note that HEC graduates can then undertake
complementary Master's degrees or doctoral training.
I have heard about the "Décret Paysage." What exactly is it?
The "Décret Paysage" has organized the structure of higher education within the Wallonia-Brussels Federation since 2013. A reform of the Decree came into effect in September 2022, modified by the decree of 31 May 2024.
Discover here the three main principles of this reform:
- Enable students to acquire solid pedagogical foundations from the beginning of their studies and identify any difficulties to address them.
- Make the financing conditions more transparent.
- Strengthen the resources dedicated to success aids for students in difficulty to support them towards success and graduation.
If you have any further questions, please contact us at paysage@uliege.be
For further information, visit the Wallonia-Brussels Federation website.
How is an academic year organized?
The academic year begins in mid-September and represents a full-time workload. It combines periods of:
- Teaching, training, and learning
- Study periods and exams
- Free time and holidays
It is divided into 3 quadrimesters, each covering about 4 months. Learning activities are spread over the first 2 quadrimesters, except for certain evaluations or professional integration activities.
When are students evaluated?
All courses are evaluated at the end of the quadrimester during which they are organized. If the course runs throughout the year, a partial exam will be organized at the end of the quadrimester.
When and how will my child receive their results?
The jury deliberates in June (1st session) and in September (2nd session), then officially announces the results (= proclamation).
The jury automatically declares the academic year passed if the student has scores equal to or above 10/20 in all courses. Under certain conditions, a score below 10 can still be credited (= considered as passed).
Students can find the date of the proclamation (= results announcement) and all the information about the applicable deliberation rules in the "Infos Corner" section of Lol@, HEC’s online course platform.
Within a few hours after the proclamation, each student can access their grade report online via MyULiege, the University’s intranet.
Understanding the grade report
For each course in their program, the student can see the grade they received (from 0 to 20, or an "A" if they were absent from the exam). If the letter “C” appears next to the grade, it means the credits are earned, meaning the course is passed.
The grade report also indicates the overall result for the academic year:
- Annual Program Passed (RPA)
- In Progress
- Adjourned
| End of June | September | |
RPA - Annual Program Success |
Champagne! Your child has passed all their courses; they can enjoy their holidays and return in good shape in September! |
The summer was probably tiring, but it was worth it! |
| IN PROGRESS | Your child has failed some exams but has passed all Block 1 courses. Encourage them to retake the exams they haven't passed in August: it will make their life easier in the future! | Your child has failed some exams but has passed all Block 1 courses. Their program will include courses from Block 2 and Block 3. Reminder: except for specific arrangements, all Bachelor's courses must be passed in a maximum of 5 years. |
| Adjourned | Your child must still pass at least one Block 1 course. Unless they already know they want to reorient themselves, encourage them to take their second session. The absolute priority should be given to Block 1 courses. Every passed exam grants credits and advances them in their studies! |
Your child has failed at least one Block 1 course and thus remains in the beginner cohort. In some cases, they can complete their Block 1 program with courses from the next blocks. Note that, except for specific arrangements, they have a maximum of two years to pass all Block 1 courses. You may advise them to check in with their jury president (marie.mawhin@uliege.be) or their academic advisor (christine.puit@uliege.be). |
If your child falls under the “Adjourned” category, they are still considered a “beginner” student (still in Year 1 of the Bachelor's program), but several scenarios are possible:
If more than 30 credits from Year 1 remain to be earned:
The student cannot take any courses from the next phase of the program and must add learning support activities to their curriculum. They must repeat the first year without being able to move ahead.
If 16 to 30 credits from Year 1 remain:
With the board’s approval, the student may add courses from the next phase of the program for which they meet the prerequisites. The total program cannot exceed 60 credits. The student is then considered to be “between” the first and second year.
If 1 to 15 credits from Year 1 remain:
The student may add courses from the next phase of the program for which they meet the prerequisites. The program must not exceed 60 credits total (or 65 if only 5 or fewer Year 1 credits remain). They are also considered “between” years.
Three key milestones during the Bachelor's degree:
Except in special cases, the major steps are:
- By the end of the first year at HEC, the student must have passed at least one course to continue.
- By the end of the second year, all Year 1 courses must be passed to continue.
- There is a maximum of 5 years to complete the Bachelor's degree.
We are here for our students!
We are happy to answer their questions about their academic path and the regulations:
- Marie Mawhin, Chair of the Examination Board – marie.mawhin@uliege.be
- Christine Puit, Academic Advisor – christine.puit@uliege.be
