Study in Ghent

Why study in Ghent

With 70,000 students enrolled across its higher education institutions, Ghent holds the title of Flanders' most popular student city. That concentration is visible everywhere: university buildings, student housing, cycle lanes, and a social scene shaped around academic life are woven into the historic center in a way that few Belgian cities match. For an international student, this density matters because it means the infrastructure around studying, including housing options, public transport, sports facilities, and support services, is built to accommodate a large and diverse student population.

Ghent University sits at the core of this environment. Ranked 162nd in the QS World University Rankings and 112th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, it is one of the most internationally visible research universities in Belgium, with 17.5% of its student body coming from abroad. For students who want a research-intensive program, doctoral opportunities, or an internationally recognized credential, Ghent University is the primary draw. But the city's academic landscape extends beyond a single institution: HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Artevelde University of Applied Sciences offer professionally oriented pathways across arts, business, health, and education, serving students whose goals point toward applied fields rather than academic research.

One practical reality shapes every decision about studying here: student accommodation is under pressure. Ghent University explicitly warns that finding suitable housing takes substantial time and energy because of a shortage of student rooms. This is not a minor inconvenience; it means that admission offers and housing applications need to be treated with equal urgency. Students who delay their housing search until after they receive an acceptance letter face a significantly harder market.

The city maintains a dedicated English-language information portal for international students covering registration, arrival steps, and public services, a signal that Ghent treats incoming students as a distinct group with specific needs rather than leaving orientation entirely to individual universities. While university and city-level support services operate in English, the wider official environment and most workplaces in Ghent are Dutch-speaking; students who intend to integrate more deeply or access the local job market benefit from learning Dutch alongside their studies, even at a basic level.

Universities and colleges in Ghent

Founded in 1817, Ghent University is a public research university organized across 11 faculties, offering bachelor, master, doctoral, exchange, and lifelong-learning programs. It is the strongest choice for students who want international name recognition, research-intensive study, and access to a full range of student services, including housing, sports facilities, dining, bicycle rental, and a dedicated student job service. Within the university, notable faculties for international applicants include the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, and the Faculty of Sciences; each publishes separate admissions information and may impose faculty-specific requirements such as GMAT or GRE scores for non-EEA master's applicants.

An important distinction applies to language of instruction: all bachelor's programs open for enrollment at Ghent University are taught in Dutch, so English-taught routes at the university are at master's level or through exchange mobility. Students who are not confident in Dutch should filter programs by language of instruction first. The Study in Flanders program database lists English-taught master's options at Ghent University and allows filtering by field and institution, making it a practical first step for international students building their shortlist.

HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts is Ghent's main hogeschool (university of applied sciences), offering professionally oriented bachelor, graduate, postgraduate, and continuing-education programs across campuses in Ghent and Melle. Its School of Arts follows a separate admissions route that includes portfolio or artistic assessment, making it the relevant choice for students in visual arts, music, design, or drama. The distinction between a research university and a hogeschool matters for students planning further academic study: the two degree types carry different academic weights in graduate-school systems outside Belgium, so checking requirements at home before choosing is important.

Artevelde University of Applied Sciences is a third Ghent institution with programs spanning business, communication, health, and education. It publishes dedicated international-student guidance on housing, support, and study options, making it a practical option for applied-sciences students whose field aligns with its offerings.

For exchange students, Ghent University organizes program and faculty information at the faculty level; the relevant faculty international office is the correct first contact rather than a central admissions desk.

Admissions and fees in Ghent

The application process differs by institution, but Ghent University's online portal is where most international degree applicants start. There is no application fee for degree applications submitted through the portal. The costs that do fall on the applicant are external: diploma legalization, sworn translations, language tests, and any faculty-required standardized test scores such as GMAT or GRE. These are the applicant's responsibility and are not reimbursed.

The application window opens in October each year. There are two deadlines: April 1 for students who need a Belgian visa, and June 1 for students who do not. Applications must be complete, including a verified diploma, by the relevant deadline; incomplete files are not processed. Complete applications take an average of three months to process. The International Admissions Desk first checks general and document requirements, then the faculty assesses whether the applicant's competences are equivalent to those of students with direct Flemish access. A foreign qualification does not grant automatic admission.

A complete Ghent University degree application requires the following documents:

• A PDF of your diploma and transcripts.
• A degree verification through Qualification Check (Ghent University receives the result directly).
• A diploma supplement or equivalent showing courses, outcomes, and credit load.
• Sworn translations into Dutch, French, German, or English for any document not already in those languages.
• A copy of your passport (or EU identity card for EU applicants).
• Proof of Dutch or English language proficiency valid at enrolment.
• Faculty-specific documents where required (GMAT or GRE for Engineering, Economics, and certain Sciences master's programs with non-EEA diplomas).

Students who have not yet graduated at the time of the deadline must still submit before the deadline, uploading an official declaration from their institution confirming the expected graduation date and diploma title, plus their most recent transcript. A legalized copy of the diploma is then required upon enrollment if admitted.

Language proficiency must be valid at enrollment. Dutch-taught programs require Dutch at B2 level; English-taught master's programs require English at B2 level unless a program-specific requirement applies. Accepted English evidence includes IELTS overall 6.5 (minimum 6.0 for writing), TOEFL 86 internet-based, TOEIC 1,560 combined, or a Cambridge B2 Certificate. A test result without a validity date may be used only if acquired no more than four academic years before enrollment.

Tuition at Ghent University depends on student category. EEA students and eligible non-EEA students pay a standard rate of EUR 305.40 fixed plus EUR 14.60 per credit, totaling approximately EUR 1,181 for a standard 60-credit year. Most non-EEA students pay a higher faculty-determined rate: Tuition Fee A totals approximately EUR 2,297 for 60 credits, and Tuition Fee B totals approximately EUR 7,079 for 60 credits. Specialized joint programs may carry additional fees; one EIT-linked engineering master's lists EUR 4,000 per year for EEA students and EUR 16,000 per year for non-EEA students.

HOGENT charges a non-refundable application fee of EUR 150 for non-EEA applicants with a foreign degree when applications open for the following intake. EEA applicants follow a different route without this fee.

The main scholarship program available to international students applying to Ghent University programs is the VLIR-UOS scholarship, which awards full scholarships to applicants from 29 eligible countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America for selected English-taught programs at Flemish universities and hogescholen. Ghent University programs covered include Bioscience Engineering tracks in Aquaculture, Food Technology, Nutrition and Food Systems, and Rural Development, as well as Sustainable Land Management. For VLIR-UOS applicants, the scholarship application is embedded in the program admission application, and the deadline is typically February 1, which is earlier than the standard non-EEA deadline.

Support for international students in Ghent

Ghent University operates two dedicated structures for incoming international students: Team International Support and the International Relations Office, located at Korte Meer 9 and Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 51. Together, they cover visa questions, housing guidance, academic-life orientation, and cultural adjustment before and throughout a student's stay. Each semester, the university runs structured welcome events for new international arrivals; these events are the most practical starting points for navigating arrival tasks and meeting other students. All incoming international students receive access to the UGent International Student Guide, which contains event dates, practical information, and step-by-step guidance for starting a degree or exchange period; downloading it before arrival simplifies the first week considerably.

HOGENT provides study advice and well-being support through its study advice service (email: studieadvies@hogent.be; phone: +32 9 243 34 73, weekdays 8 am to 6 pm CET). It also participates in the city-wide Student in Warm Ghent initiative, a collaboration between all Ghent higher-education institutions, the City of Ghent, Logo Gezond+, and Fonds GaVoorGeluk that organizes well-being workshops for students across the city. Artevelde University of Applied Sciences offers student support at Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25, with access to group training, workshops, peer contacts, e-health tools, and psychotherapy referrals inside or outside the institution.

Students who need to build their Dutch before or during their studies have two main structured options. The Ghent University Language Center (UCT) runs August and September summer Dutch courses specifically for incoming UGent students. Separately, Amal Ghent helps anyone in Ghent, including students, find a Dutch course matched to their existing level, including total beginners. HOGENT additionally provides all its students with free access to Alinea in the Cloud, a compensating software tool supporting reading, writing, and studying in Dutch, French, English, and German, and offers an online language-support course called Taalwijs through its Chamilo platform.

Where to live as an international student in Ghent

Student neighborhoods in Ghent

Ghent's student housing is distributed across the city rather than concentrated in a single district, so the most practical approach is to match your neighborhood to your campus before considering anything else. A shorter daily commute consistently outweighs proximity to the historic center, and the city is compact enough that a well-connected student area outside the center functions well for daily life.

The Arts Quarter (Kunstenkwartier) is the most central student-oriented zone, with several Ghent University and university-college campuses, a high density of student rooms, museums, cultural venues, and cafés within walking distance. It suits students in arts, humanities, and social sciences whose teaching is in or near the historic center. The Sint-Pieters and Gent-Sint-Pieters station area is practical for students who rely on trains, trams, and cycle links; HOGENT's Schoonmeersen residence is close to both the railway station and the Schoonmeersen campus, and the Mercator residences are within walking distance of Mercator campus, Bijloke campus, and a student restaurant.

Students whose programs involve the University Hospital or Sterre research facilities are best placed in the UZ/Sterre area, where Ghent University manages campus-linked accommodation including Home Boudewijn and Home Bertha De Vriese. The Heuvelpoort/Kantienberg zone is another dense student-housing area; Ghent University's Kantienberg homes are reserved for international students, making this area directly relevant for incoming degree students seeking university-managed accommodation.

Public transport across student areas runs through De Lijn trams and buses. Students under 25 use a Buzzy Pass annual subscription; students aged 25 and over use an Omnipas. Both give access to the De Lijn network across Ghent and Flanders.

Student accommodation in Ghent

Ghent University is explicit on this point: finding suitable student accommodation takes substantial time and energy because of a housing shortage. The practical consequence is that institutional housing applications open months before the academic year begins, and students who wait until summer to start their search face a much harder market. Applications for UGent institutional housing typically open in May each year; HOGENT degree-student applications typically open in April. Securing a place in university-managed housing requires being enrolled for at least 27 credits under a diploma contract.

HOGENT student residences start at EUR 235 in rent plus EUR 55 per month for utilities (electricity, gas, water, and internet) in the lower-cost option, rising to EUR 296 in rent plus EUR 60 per month in larger or better-located rooms. First-time higher-education students receive priority over returning students. Ghent University manages its own halls of residence on a 12-month contract and has prioritized student allocation in those halls. The university's Housing Office also advises enrolled students on the private rental market.

On the private market, shared rooms and student housing in Ghent run at approximately EUR 400 to EUR 650 per month. Utilities are typically billed separately from base rent, so always confirm what is included in the quoted monthly figure before signing. A City of Ghent student accommodation tax comes into force from January 2027; both HOGENT and UGent have stated that their published rental prices do not include this tax, meaning monthly invoices will rise for students whose housing extends beyond the first semester.

The two main platforms for searching private student rooms are iKot, a private listing aggregator with regularly updated Ghent inventory, and Kotatgent, the City of Ghent's official student-room search portal where students contact landlords directly. Both should be used alongside institutional housing channels, not instead of them.

Cost of living for students in Ghent

Ghent University estimates total monthly living costs for a single student at EUR 1,200 to EUR 1,800, with accommodation consistently the largest individual expense. Students on tighter budgets reach the lower end by securing institutional housing early and cooking at home rather than relying on cafés and restaurants for daily meals.

Accommodation takes the largest share of that monthly range: EUR 400 to EUR 650 on the private market, or from EUR 235 in rent plus EUR 55 for utilities in HOGENT institutional rooms. Food costs run from EUR 250 to EUR 500 per month depending on diet and shopping habits; university restaurants on campus offer subsidized meals and are among the most cost-effective daily food options for enrolled students.

Transport costs range from EUR 0 to EUR 60 per month depending on how much a student cycles. Students who cycle pay little beyond occasional maintenance. Those who use the De Lijn network can buy an annual Buzzy Pass (under 25) or Omnipas (25 and over) for approximately EUR 215 per year, averaging around EUR 18 per month. Enrolled students can also rent a comfort city bike through studentENmobiliteit vzw for EUR 70 per year. Books and study materials add roughly EUR 600 per academic year, spread across both semesters. Personal expenses including leisure, phone, and clothing run EUR 100 to EUR 200 per month. Enrolled students at Ghent University receive a UGent card that unlocks discounts on culture, sports, and mobility, helping reduce those discretionary costs.

Student jobs in Ghent

EEA students and Swiss nationals have the same student-work rights as Belgian students and may work without restriction under the Belgian student-employment system. Non-EEA students with a valid Belgian residence permit (electronic A-card) may perform student work without a separate work authorization, provided the work is compatible with their studies and their permit remains valid. The practical limit during the academic year is 20 hours per week.

Belgian student employment operates through an annual 650-hour quota tracked through the Student@work portal. Within this quota, both student and employer pay a reduced solidarity contribution rather than full social-security rates. Once the 650-hour limit is exceeded in a calendar year, normal rates apply. Students should register on Student@work before starting any job and share the quota overview with each employer. The minimum hourly rate is set by the sector collective agreement for the employer's industry. Where no sector agreement applies, the guaranteed minimum applies: EUR 13.08 per hour for students aged 21 and EUR 11.77 per hour for students aged 20 (rates from January 1, 2026, for a 38-hour reference week).

Common student jobs in Ghent span hospitality and restaurant work, marketing and content creation, childcare, care-related roles, and cleaning, reflecting the city's mix of university, service-sector, and healthcare employers. Dutch is the dominant workplace language for most Ghent student-job listings; students without Dutch will find their options more limited, particularly in hospitality, care, and cleaning roles.

The main channels for finding student jobs in Ghent are VDAB (the Flemish public employment service, with live student-job listings for Ghent postal codes), UGent Jobdienst (Ghent University's own student job service for enrolled UGent students), and HOGENT Career Center (for HOGENT students, covering student jobs across Flanders and Brussels). Use Student@work to manage your quota and generate attestations for each employer.

Student life in Ghent

Ghent University recognizes 118 active student associations covering study fields, cultural interests, diversity and inclusion, debate, sport, e-sports, social activities, and international backgrounds. Association life is the primary social infrastructure for students in Ghent: activities range from traditional events like cantuses (formal initiation dinners with songs and structured rules, common in faculty and social associations) and parties to debates, lectures, marathons, and sports challenges. Joining an association in the first weeks of the semester is one of the fastest ways to build a social network outside of class.

ESN Ghent (Erasmus Student Network) is the dedicated social organization for international and exchange students, running events, trips, and activities designed to help non-Belgian students build connections outside their study program. ESN Ghent is particularly useful in the first weeks before associations and class groups have formed. Students living in Ghent University halls of residence can also connect through Home Councils, which are residence-level participation structures that organize community activities and give residents a voice in hall management; these are a low-barrier way to meet neighbors, particularly for students who have not yet joined a student association.

Ghent is a compact, bikeable city where most student districts, university campuses, cultural venues, cafés, and markets are within easy cycling or tram distance of each other. The combination of low transport costs, an active association scene, and a historic center with a strong café culture makes daily student life in Ghent comparatively social and affordable once housing is secured. The city's scale means that the gap between academic life and social life is unusually small: most of what students need, from a concert hall to a student restaurant to a weekend market, is reachable without leaving the central districts.

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