Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium disqualified 5 candidates from medical, dental, and veterinary entrance exams for suspected ChatGPT cheating. Education Minister Zuhal Demir confirmed 25 were investigated; 23 defended themselves, 20 cleared.
As GVA News reported, Belgium’s examination board has disqualified 5 candidates from the medical, dental, and veterinary entrance exams. The move follows an investigation into suspected cheating.
What led Belgium to disqualify 5 medical, dental, and vet candidates?
After reviewing all cases, the committee confirmed that 5 candidates would be removed from the rankings. Their results will also be canceled for any other entrance exams they may have taken. The remaining 20 candidates successfully refuted the fraud allegations and were cleared.
Participants under investigation for suspected cheating on Belgium’s medical, dental, and veterinary entrance exams were given the chance to explain the incidents. Many candidates showed that technical problems or normal computer processes caused the unusual activity.
For example, some computers entered energy-saving mode, which created irregular patterns during the exam. The examination committee examined each explanation to decide whether the anomalies were caused by deliberate cheating or were the result of explainable technical issues.
The committee also reviewed whether the disqualifications would affect the starting quotas for each program. The final number of participants eligible to start will be confirmed on Monday, Sep 15, 2025, after the committee completes its review.
“The targeted participants were individually heard by the examination board to present their version of events,”
the office of Education Minister Zuhal Demir stated in a response.
“That is standard procedure, but essential for the minister. Based on that hearing and the file, the examination board made an autonomous decision. An external agency confirmed this.”
The controversy over Belgium’s medical, dental, and veterinary entrance exams began in early September 2025. Authorities suspected that some candidates may have used ChatGPT. The examination board immediately launched an investigation and invited 25 candidates to explain the incidents. Legal proceedings followed in mid-September as questions arose over the legitimacy of the exam results.
The chairperson of the examination committee resigned on September 10, 2025, amid the unfolding case. An independent review by Belgian data company Youston later confirmed the committee’s findings.
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