Karel de Grote Hogeschool
Professional bachelor of Nursing
This programme starts next year in September 2026. Admissions will open in January 2026.
- Explore all areas of nursing: community health, surgery, general medicine, mental health, geriatrics, paediatrics, mother and child.
- Learn by doing with 2,300 hours of clinical training spread over four years.
- Learn Dutch alongside English to communicate confidently with patients and colleagues.
- Practice your skills through simulation training, group coaching, and internships.
- Get personal support from your lecturers, mentors, and fellow students.
- Study in an international classroom and learn to work in a diverse, multicultural healthcare environment.
- Kickstart your career in Antwerp, Belgium – Build your network with internships and strong links to hospitals and care organisations.
Interested?
- Start your nursing journey in September 2026,
stay informed about all programme updates - Read: how to apply
Want to know more?
- Attend an online info session or open day
- Chat with Eli: our Nursing (in Dutch) student
- Download a brochure
- Subscribe to our mailing list
What does this course contain?
Course in brief
This four-year programme combines theory with practical training from day one, building the skills and confidence you need to work in healthcare.
- Through simulation training, clinical placements, and expert coaching, you will develop the ability to provide professional care across different healthcare settings.
- You’ll learn Dutch to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues in Flanders, Belgium.
- Complete your experience with an optional study exchange or internship abroad.
What you will learn:
- How the human body works and how to care for patients in different medical situations.
- The core principles of nursing ethics, patient communication, and professional responsibility.
- How to perform essential clinical procedures safely and effectively.
- How to coordinate a healthcare team, organizing care in cooperation with doctors, therapists, and other care professionals.
- How to adapt to new technologies in nursing, including simulation training and digital patient records.
- How to interact with patients and families in a multicultural and multilingual healthcare environment.
- How to build resilience and problem-solving skills to handle the challenges of nursing.
Courses and credits
Courses
Clinical Expert: Anatomy and Fysiology
(
6 credits
)
You will learn about the structure and functions of organs and body systems. How do they work together? What happens when something gets out of balance? You will gain insight into how the human body works.
Clinical Expert 1
(
6 credits
)
You will learn the fundamentals of the profession and build up knowledge about the respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems. Resuscitation, assessing vital signs, placing a feeding tube and stoma care will be among your first new skills.
Clinical Expert 2
(
6 credits
)
You will study the urological system and the endocrine system. You will take your first steps in clinical reasoning and practise nursing skills such as administering insulin and inserting a urinary catheter, which you will apply in practice.
Clinical Expert 3
(
6 credits
)
How do the blood and immune system work? You will delve deeper into physiology and apply your knowledge in clinical reasoning. You will also practise taking blood samples and inserting IV catheters.
Communicator
(
5 credits
)
Good communication is essential in healthcare. You will learn how to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues and healthcare providers. First, you will practise the basics, then you will take it a step further: cross-cultural communication, goal-oriented care and health skills.
Health Promotor and Collaborator
(
3 credits
)
Healthcare is all about collaboration. How is that care organised? What is the social map and how do you use it? You will learn to work systematically on health promotion and discover how culture and diversity play a role in this.
Leader 1
(
4 credits
)
What does professional confidentiality mean and how do you deal with it? You will study the law on patient rights and welfare and learn how to develop a professional identity as a nurse.
Leader 2
(
4 credits
)
How do you take responsibility, as a person and as a professional? You reflect on your values and standards, explore ethical dilemmas and learn how to truly collaborate in a team.
EBP and Quality-of-Care Professional
(
3 credits
)
Good care is safe care. What makes care high quality? How do you ensure that patients receive the best possible care? You will gain insight into high-quality, patient-safe care, based on evidence and guidelines.
Dutch
(
6 credits
)
In this course, you will learn to speak, understand, write and read Dutch, applied to the nursing profession and depending on your entry level.
Clinical Practice
(
11 credits
)
Roll up your sleeves: as a first-year Nursing student, you will immediately gain 7 weeks of practical experience, supplemented by individual and group coaching during study groups.
What does your schedule look like?
This programme starts next year in September 2026.
- Around 24 hours of on-campus classes per week, including lectures, seminars, and hands-on training.
- You’ll have time for group projects and independent study, essential for mastering nursing skills.
- The academic year is split into four periods, helping you spread your workload and receive regular feedback.
- Some courses focus on continuous learning, with step-by-step skill development and assessments across multiple periods.
- Expect a balanced schedule, with a mix of classes, practical sessions, and self-study to prepare you for a career in healthcare.
Learning Dutch
Dutch is the official language in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, and is widely used in hospitals and care facilities. That’s why this programme includes a dedicated Dutch course to help you communicate effectively in a healthcare environment.
- Learn medical Dutch vocabulary and phrases commonly used in hospitals and care settings.
- Practice patient communication and gain confidence in speaking with families and healthcare teams.
- Develop the skills to read and write patient records in Dutch.
- Adapt to working in a multilingual and multicultural healthcare system.
- Apply your Dutch skills from day one through interactive lessons and real-life practice during internships.
- Already have B2-level Dutch? Choose advanced electives or take courses from the Dutch-language Nursing programme.
By the time you graduate, you will be ready to work in Belgium and communicate with confidence.
SkillsLab: practice makes perfect
At KdG, you’ll train in our high-tech SkillsLab – a state-of-the-art simulation space that feels just like a real hospital. This is where you build your confidence, learn by doing, and prepare for real patient care.
- Train in a high-tech simulation lab, designed to mimic real hospital environments.
- Practice essential nursing skills on simulation mannequins and patients in a safe setting.
- Get hands-on experience with blood sampling, injections, wound care, CPR, and emergency response.
- Learn through real-life scenarios, guided by expert instructors from the control room.
- Step into the world of nursing with virtual reality simulations for an immersive experience.
- Connect with experienced nurses and healthcare professionals who share their knowledge first-hand.
Take a tour inside our high-tech Skillslab.
Learn how to do blood sampling and injections.
Practice on simulation mannequins and patients.
Requirements
- This course is taught in English. Good proficiency in English is required.
- You hold a secondary education certificate that grants access to a comparable higher education degree programme in the country it was granted.
- Before your first internship, you’ll need to complete a few standard health and safety checks (a basic medical screening, proof of Hepatitis B vaccination, and sometimes a criminal record extract). These are standard requirements for anyone working with patients in Belgium.
Your profile
- You care about people and want to make a real difference in their lives.
- You’re a team player who stays calm under pressure.
- You enjoy hands-on learning and real-life practice.
- You take responsibility and are eager to grow.
- You’re open to new cultures and languages – ready to study in an international group and learn Dutch along the way.
Study in Antwerp, Belgium
- Home to around 50,000 students and more than 170 nationalities.
- Antwerp is a safe, diverse and welcoming international student city.
- Situated on the River Scheldt, this mini metropolis is a gateway to the world.
- A perfectly located economic hub steeped in history, and always evolving.
- Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris and London all within easy reach.
Atypical Antwerp, the movie
Your campus
- Study at campus Zuid, located in the vibrant district of Antwerp Zuid.
- With excellent public transport and a bike-friendly environment, you’ll have no trouble getting to class.
- On campus, you'll find:
- A cozy coffee bar to grab a quick drink between classes.
- A student restaurant with a food market-style atmosphere for a variety of options.
- Plenty of study spaces for individual work or group projects.
- Excellent bus and tram links make getting around easy. Antwerpen-Centraal station is close by, connecting you to Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, and London.
Campus Zuid
Brusselstraat 45
2018 ANTWERP
+32 3 613 18 00
info@kdg.be
After graduation
There is a big demand for skilled professionals in the healthcare sector.
- As a nurse, you’ll find countless opportunities across hospitals, home care, nursing homes, and corporate health services.
- With your European-recognized bachelor’s degree, you’ll be ready to work anywhere in Europe as a nurse responsible for general care.
- You'll be equipped to work confidently in a multilingual and multicultural healthcare environment.
- Continue developing your skills with access to postgraduate courses and professional development opportunities.
- Pursue a Master's in Nursing or Midwifery through a bridging year, or explore other Master's programs in fields like Psychology, Criminology, and Social Work.
The scope of career opportunities within nursing and healthcare is always growing. At KdG you will get the skills that the world needs more of. You’ll be able to choose how you will make a difference.
Want to know more?
Join us at an open day or online info session
Thursday 11 December 2025 from 16:00 till 17:00 CET
More info
Saturday 14 March from 10:00 till 16:00 in Antwerp
Saturday 25 April from 10:00 till 14:00 in Antwerp
Apply
Interested in applying for Nursing?
- Admissions will open on January 7th, 2026, as the programme starts next year in September 2026.
- Leave your e-mail address below, we'll send you a message when admissions open, and all the details on how you can apply for a place in the programme.
In the meantime, we’re more than happy to answer any questions you might have about this programme or studying at KdG. You can reach us at study@kdg.be.
Stay informed about all programme updates
Quality education you can count on
As a KdG student you can be sure of a high-quality education at our dynamic university.
- Your teachers are experts in their field, passionate about helping you to develop your potential.
- KdG is an accredited university: quality guaranteed on an international level.
- A detailed management system is in place to systematically review every degree programme.
KdG’s goal is sustainable development: of students, staff and society. We consistently strive to get the best out of everyone.
And by so doing, we help to shape a better future.