[Question] Incoming Erasmus at Antwerp Maritime Academy (HZS) - Starting Module 2.2 (April). Am I screwed?

I’m a Navigation student from Georgia coming to HZS Antwerp for Erasmus+. My start date is April 20th (Module 2.2) and exams start June 8th.

I need some real talk from current students or alumni because I'm freaking out about the timeline:

1. The "7-Week" Semester:

I only have about 7 weeks of classes before exams. Is this normal for Module 2.2? Do professors realize we have less time than the students who started in February, or is the pacing extremely fast? I feel like I'm starting the race 50 meters behind.

2. Grading & "Erasmus Factor":

I keep hearing the Belgian 10/20 system is brutal. Be honest: Do professors show any flexibility for Erasmus students (especially with English vocabulary in oral exams), or are we graded 100% strictly like the locals? I'm taking Advanced Stability and Law, and I'm worried that one wrong word in English will fail me.

3. The Reality:

Is it realistic to pass these heavy subjects in just 7 weeks, or is the failure rate for short-term Erasmus students high?

I don't need sugar-coated advice, just the reality of what I'm walking into so I can prepare. Thanks.

Posted Feb 7, 2026, 10:54 PM UTC

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