Where and Why Study Communication at a Haute École?

Considering a Career in Communication? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re considering communication as your future field of study. Before diving in, you should know that in Belgium, there are different ways to study communication—you can pursue it at either a university or a university college (haute école). In this article, we’ll focus specifically on communication programs offered by university colleges.

If you’d like to understand the difference between the two types of education, click here, and if you want to learn more about university-level communication studies, click there.

What Does a Communication Program Look Like?

Communication studies are often known for their broad scope—the curriculum covers a wide range of topics and offers great variety. When studying communication at a haute école, the approach is more hands-on. This means you’ll be pursuing a professional bachelor's degree, designed to prepare you for the job market with practical skills. You’ll learn to write articles and press releases, master video production and editing, photography, graphic design, social media management, and more. Compared to university programs, you’ll get more in-depth training on Adobe Suite tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), as well as hands-on courses in photography, graphic design, video, and audio production. These aspects are typically less emphasized in university programs.

You’ll also take foundational courses in law, economics, politics, and social sciences—offering a well-rounded education, just like in university programs.

At a haute école, you’ll be following a short-cycle program, meaning you’ll earn a Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) over three years. However, you’ll have the option to continue with a Master’s degree (120 ECTS over two years), depending on the institution and your career aspirations. If you complete both your Bachelor’s and Master’s at a haute école, your diploma will hold the same value as a university degree, even if your skillset is slightly different. However, if you only complete the Bachelor’s program, you’ll graduate with a more general skill set rather than a specialization.

Is This Program Right for Me? ✅

As with any field of study, excelling in communication requires certain skills and qualities. You should be well-organized and comfortable with technology and digital tool, creative and highly adaptable, strong in interpersonal communication and empathy, curious and interested in general culture, as communication covers a wide range of industries

A strong grasp of languages is also a major advantage! You’ll be expected to use English and Dutch regularly—both during your studies and in your professional career. While some institutions allow you to choose another language instead of Dutch, having a good command of Dutch is highly recommended if you plan to work in Belgium after graduation. In some hautes écoles, language courses are crucial, so it’s best to have a decent level before starting. However, most institutions offer support for students who need extra help.

Where Can I Study Communication? 📍

Several hautes écoles in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles offer a Bachelor’s in Communication. The program name may vary, and some institutions also provide Master’s programs.

📍 Brussels

• IHECS (Institut des Hautes Études des Communications Sociales)
• ISFSC (Institut Supérieur de Formation Sociale et de Communication)

📍 Hainaut

• HELHa (Haute École Louvain en Hainaut) – Tournai
• Condorcet (Haute École de la Province de Hainaut) – Charleroi

📍 Liège

• HEPL (Haute École de la Province de Liège)

📍 Namur

• HEAJ (Haute École Albert Jacquard)

What Master’s or Further Studies Can I Pursue After This Degree? 🎓

After earning a Bachelor’s in Communication from a haute école, you’ll have access to various Master’s programs, either at a university or a haute école (sometimes requiring a "bridging year").

Here are some Master’s options you can pursue : Public Relations, Event Management, Journalism, Advertising & Commercial Communication, Multilingual Communication, Information & Communication Technologies, Media Education, Sociocultural Animation & Permanent Education. If you want to enroll in a university Master’s after a haute école Bachelor’s, you’ll likely need to complete a bridging year—so keep this in mind when making your decision! However, many excellent Master’s programs at hautes écoles do not require a bridging year.

What Careers Can I Pursue After Studying Communication? 💼

A degree in communication whether from a haute école or a university opens doors to numerous career paths across different industries. Your specialization will depend on whether you pursued a Master’s degree, but even with just a Bachelor’s, you can apply for jobs in Journalism, Television, radio, and film production, Advertising and communication agencies, Social media management (community management), Content creation & digital marketing, Cultural management & publishing. With the rise of digital media, companies are actively looking for professionals to manage their online presence, making communication degrees highly relevant.

One major advantage of studying at a haute école is the opportunity to develop technical skills that allow you to work independently in roles such as Photographer, Graphic designer, Web designer. These freelance career paths are less common for university graduates, making hautes écoles a great choice for students interested in hands-on creative work.

For more insights, read Paul’s testimonial, a student pursuing a Master’s in Press & Information at IHECS, who previously earned his Bachelor’s in Applied Social Communication.

💰 Looking for a student job to gain experience during your studies? Check out our student job listings!