Practical Information

Before departure

• Visa requirements may apply depending on your nationality. See the website of Foreign Affairs.
   
• Healthcare and Insurance 

All foreign students, EEA as well as non-EEA, must have a health insurance and show a proof of insurance at the beginning of their studies. The exact requirements depend on your country of origin. Via your enrolment as a student at EhB, you are automatically insured for the risk of accidents within the domain of EhB and during all school activities. Yet you have to be insured for risks outside EhB as well.
 

- EU students

EU students should not forget to bring their own (blue) European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This free card - provided by your national health insurance provider -  gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during your Eramus stay in Brussels, under the same conditions and at the same cost that apply to Belgian citizens.

- Non-EU students

Self-sufficient students, or students with a scholarship that does not include health insurance, must take out health insurance. With your proof of registration, you can take out health insurance with the insurance company of your choice.
 When you take out (extra) insurance, you will be obliged to pay a contribution. Depending on your personal situation, there are two possibilities:
 
- You take out an insurance as a student: this option is mainly intended for students who are studying in Belgium for a short period of time. You must obtain a certificate from your institution stating that you are enrolled in a programme of study.
 
- Insurance enrolment as a 'resident of Belgium': most students can enrol as a resident. Condition: you must have a (temporary) Belgian foreigner's card.
 

• Tuition Cost
  
  Tuition costs vary, depending on if you're an EEA or non-EEA citizen. Find out more about the prices here.
   
• Housing options
  • International Student House Van Orley
  • If you want to look for a room on the private market, Brik are experienced in finding housing (a "kot") for international students. They're also a helpful source for the practical side of things: see their page on preparing to move to Brussels and also their handy search engine for finding a student room in Brussels.
• Travelling
  • Getting there

During your stay

• Immigration and registration
  If you will be staying in Belgium for more than 3 months, consult the Immigration service for any additional modalities. Register with the municipality in which you will be staying. The Brussels region is subdivided into 19 municipalities.

• Academic calendar (2023-24)
  • Survival Dutch classes: September 4-14
  • Welcome Days for international students: September 14 & 15
  • Fall term: September 18 - February 2
  • Fall holidays: October 30 - November 5
  • Winter holidays: December 25 - January 7
  • Fall Examinations: January 8 - February 2
  • Spring term: February 12 - June 28
  • Spring holidays: April 1 - April 14
  • Spring Examinations: June 03 - June 28

• Want to discover more of Brussels and Belgium in general?
  You will be informed on all interesting things in Brussels and Belgium during the orientation day. ESN Belgium also organizes many excursions to the major cities of Belgium.

Upon leaving

• Confirm with the international office to make sure your certificate of stay is signed and in order;
• In case of a stay longer than 3 months, deregister from the municipality in which you are staying.

How can I stay in touch?

• We have an extensive alumni-network on LinkedIn and a Facebook page.

Good To Know
 

To prepare you a bit before coming to Belgium, we have gathered some useful tips. We know it can be hard to adjust to a new culture with its typical habits and practices. How about we discuss a typical day for a student in Brussels? You get up, get in the shower and prepare for the day. Students in Brussels usually get to their campusses by bike or with public transport.

In Brussels, the company that operatest he public transport is called MIVB. The cheapest way to get by is by buying a subscription. As a student from EhB, you get a discount. Use this link to get more info about it. If you want to bike your way through Brussels, you could buy one, or you could rent one. https://www.brussels.be/bicycle, for example, lets you use a bicycle, which you afterwards need to drop at a ‘bicycle station’ again. You can also get a subscription to the city bikes: Villo.

 If you want to cook a meal for yourself, here’s an indication on what groceries could cost you:

Bear in mind that prices do differ, depending on which grocery store you’re at and which brand you’re buying.

In the evening, there’s plenty of time to explore. There’s room for culture: think theatre, cinema, concerts,… But also nightlife and restaurants. Everything’s very easily accessible. Take a look at our own RITCS-café, walk in to the closest café or check Brussels its cultural agenda. 

You can also Join ESN. The European Student Network organizes several activities during the year. It could be easy to get adjusted to all things new and build up a network.