Programme organised in cooperation with KU Leuven, ULB, VUB, UdeLiège, UCL & UAntwerpen
Duration of the programme:
The BHSC is a 2 year formation, consisting of 4 modules per year, each comprising of 2 days (Friday and Saturday, each 8 hour sessions). These modules are organised alternately at each university with a presence obligation for the students of 80% during the courses. The teachers of every module are appointed by one of the participating universities in the perspective to guard the optimal quality of the training.
Registration Fee: 1.250EUR per year
Number of contact hours: 128
Study load (preparing for the exam, writing a dissertation): estimation 66 hours
Objectives:
The Belgian Hand Surgery certificate (BHSC) of inter-university training in surgical pathology of the hand and peripheral nerves corresponds with a Continuing Education Program (PVG) with Certificate to train specialist physicians having specific competences in surgery of the hand and peripheral nerves.
- Optional Clinical Observerships
In this edition, the BHSC introduces new clinical observership opportunities with the steering committee members.
These observerships:
- are voluntary and require separate registration,
- but are included in the overall tuition fee (1.250EUR/year),
- and allow participants to gain additional real‑world exposure in specialised hand‑surgery environment.
- Extra Half‑Day Ultrasound Course
Another new component is an additional half‑day therapeutic sonography course, focusing on essential diagnostic skills relevant to hand surgery.
This session:
- also requires separate registration,
- but is fully included in the programme’s fee,
- and provides valuable hands‑on experience in hand and elbow ultrasound.
Academic coordinator: Prof. Dr. Ilse Degreef
Secretary: IORT – Kelly Claes
Financial antenna: Hilde Steeno
An oral exam before the interuniversity jury is organised after the 2 year formation has been completed. The student can enrol to this exam if a minimum of 80% of the eight modules was attended. Additionally students will make a dissertation (peer reviewed publication or dissertation on hand surgery). They will choose and submit their subject of their dissertation by January 31st 2027. Definite submission of the final dissertation is obliged by May 31st 2028.
The oral exam consists of a minimum of 2 oral examination sessions with minimal 2 different juries. Every jury is multilingual, so the student can choose to undergo the examination in Dutch, French or English. Oral exam needs to be taken within 2 years after the end of the 2 year formation.
The juries evaluate all students’ results after the exam sessions are finished and conclude on pass/fail. If ‘pass’ is decided by the conjoined jury, the “Belgian Hand Surgery Certificate” is granted. If ‘fail’ is decided by the conjoined jury, the “Belgian Hand Surgery Certificate” is not granted and a motivational file is made available on request. Re-exam will be organised within 3 months after communication of this decision and students are allowed one attempt.
- Students with a degree obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community:
After admission procedure
The BHS Certificate is accessible to holders of one of the degrees of Master in Medicine or Medical Doctor, subject to an enquiry into the suitability of the holder by the Steering Committee.
- Students with a degree not obtained at an institution of the Flemish Community:
After admission procedure
The BHS Certificate is accessible to holders of one of the degrees of Master in Medicine or Medical Doctor, subject to an enquiry into the suitability of the holder by the Steering Committee.