Are you enrolled in a maritime training programme in Ostend or Bruges, or looking to have your foreign transcript recognised by HOGENT / HoWest or NARIC Flanders? A sworn translation into Dutch is essential. This guide details the procedure from Ostend and the specificities of the maritime and nautical sector.
Ostend and Maritime Training: A Unique Context
Ostend is Belgium's maritime capital. The city hosts internationally recognised nautical training programmes, notably through HoWest (Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen, Bruges-Ostend campus), which offers programmes in maritime navigation, port logistics and marine renewable energies.
Many foreign students and professionals wish to join these programmes or have their foreign nautical qualifications recognised in Belgium. For them, a sworn translation of their transcript into Dutch is the first step, whether for admission to HoWest, for NARIC Flanders recognition, or to validate their maritime certificates with the Belgian authorities.
It is important to distinguish between the academic transcript (used for university admission or degree equivalence) and maritime certificates (STCW, Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping), which fall under a separate procedure with the Federal Public Service for Mobility and Transport.
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Transcript translation in Ostend
Free quote in 1 hour. Sworn translators into Dutch, accepted by NARIC Flanders, HoWest and Flemish coastal institutions.
Documents to Translate for Maritime Training or NARIC from Ostend
- Official transcript of your navigation studies or any previous academic training
- Degree certificate or diploma attestation (maritime officer, nautical engineer, maritime technician, etc.)
- Study programme detailing the subjects taught and credits
- Apostille or legalisation if required by the country of origin before translation
Foreign Students at HoWest / HOGENT Bruges-Ostend
Candidates wishing to join HoWest's nautical programmes must submit a complete admission file. If their previous transcript was issued by an institution outside Belgium or the Netherlands, a sworn translation into Dutch is mandatory. HoWest collaborates with NARIC Flanders for the evaluation of foreign degrees.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does my maritime training transcript need to be translated for HoWest?
Yes, if your previous transcript was issued in a language other than Dutch or French. HoWest (Bruges-Ostend campus) requires a sworn translation into Dutch for documents in Arabic, Cyrillic, Asian scripts or any other non-Latin script.
Do HOGENT or HoWest accept translated transcripts for admission?
Yes. These Flemish institutions accept sworn translations into Dutch produced by a sworn translator appointed before a Belgian Court of Appeal. Depending on the programme, they may also request a NARIC Flanders equivalence attestation as a supplement.
How long does a transcript translation take?
The standard turnaround is 2 to 5 business days. An express service within 24 hours is available for urgent files. You receive the translation as a certified PDF by email and a paper original on request for submission to HoWest or NARIC Flanders.
Does my transcript need to be apostilled before translation?
If your country of origin is a signatory to the Hague Convention (apostille), the document should in principle be apostilled before the sworn translation. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the official document. If your country is not a signatory, consular legalisation may be required. Check with NARIC Flanders or HoWest for the specific requirements of your country.
Translate your transcript for Ostend, express 24h
Sworn translators into Dutch. Accepted by NARIC Flanders, HoWest and Flemish maritime training programmes. Free quote in 1 hour.