Over 6,800 Candidates Compete for 1,947 Medical Study Places

More than 6,800 candidates gathered at Brussels Expo on Thursday to sit the entrance examination for medical and dentistry studies in Belgium’s French-speaking Community, competing for just 1,947 available places. The exam, organized by the Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (ARES), represents one of the most competitive academic selection processes in the country.

Record Registration Numbers

A total of 6,882 candidates registered for this year’s exam, an increase of 208 compared to 2025, according to L’Avenir. Of these, 5,211 registered for medicine and 1,671 for dentistry, as reported by Le Spécialiste.

However, not all registered candidates necessarily show up on exam day. Last year, approximately one in five registered candidates—about 21 percent—did not attend, a trend that organizers expect may repeat this year.

The Exam

The examination, held across several exhibition halls at Brussels Expo on the Heysel plateau, consists of 80 multiple-choice questions covering scientific subjects (chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics) as well as communication skills, critical analysis, and ethics, according to RTBF.

The exam is conducted on paper, a deliberate choice by organizers that ARES administrator Laurent Despy has defended. “At one time, one could joke saying ‘Look at the Flemish, they work on computers, the French-speakers are still at the paper stage!’” Despy said in previous coverage. “It allows one to step back and reflect. Paper, indeed, is easily controllable.”

Anti-fraud measures are strict, with approximately 300 supervisors hired for the event. Two different question sets are used (same questions in different order), and mobile phones, smartwatches, and earpieces are strictly prohibited at the entrance.

Quota System and Competition

Due to Belgium’s quota system for medical professions, only the top 1,947 ranked candidates will be admitted: 1,675 in medical sciences and 272 in dental sciences. The number of non-residents among admitted candidates is capped at 15 percent, the same as last year.

Among this year’s registrants, 2,661 do not have their primary residence in Belgium, according to L’Avenir. This means that despite the high volume of international interest, the vast majority of non-resident candidates will not secure a place.

The exam was established by a decree published in the Belgian Official Gazette on March 29, 2017, and has been held annually since 2023. Registration numbers have grown steadily: from approximately 5,300 candidates in the first edition to 6,674 in 2025 and 6,882 this year. The exam is organized by ARES and is mandatory for all students wishing to study medicine or dentistry at any university in the French-speaking Community of Belgium.

Absenteeism has also been a notable trend. In 2024, 15 percent of registered candidates did not show up; in 2025, that figure rose to 21 percent. The exam fee of 30 euros does not appear to be a significant deterrent, as registration numbers continue to climb year after year.

GP Shortage Context

The selection process takes place against a backdrop of significant physician shortages in Wallonia. Dr. Dominique Henrion, a general practitioner and teacher at UNamur, highlighted the urgency on LinkedIn during exam day: “We estimate that, in Wallonia alone, we will need more than 600 GPs within five years to replace, for example, the 300 GPs who are over 70 and still practicing.”

Henrion also noted that the shortage is compounded by poor geographic distribution: “In recent years, less than 25% of new practices are established in shortage areas.”

Results and Next Steps

Results will be published on September 4, 2026. Successful candidates will then be able to finalize their enrollment at universities across the French-speaking Community.

The exam is organized by ARES and costs 30 euros per candidate. Registration for next year’s exam is expected to open in May 2027, following the pattern established in previous years when the registration window runs from mid-May to early July via the official portal.

For the thousands of hopeful candidates who sat the exam on Thursday, the wait for results will be brief but decisive. With only about one in three candidates likely to secure a place, the competition reflects both the enduring appeal of medical careers and the structural constraints of Belgium’s healthcare training system.