International students can choose from various accommodation options. Depending on how long you’ll stay in Belgium, there are different possibilities.
Think about what you want before you start searching. For example, do you want a private kitchen and bathroom, or do you prefer a room with shared facilities (bathroom and kitchen)? Do you want to live in the city centre or in a more quiet area? Do you want to stay in a house on the private market or in a residence hall? Please note that the majority of student accommodation is privately owned; university-managed residence halls account for only 20% of all student accommodation.
Accommodation prices depend on the location, housing type and comfort level. In bigger cities like Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp or Leuven, prices will typically be higher than in smaller towns.
Do not wait to start looking for student housing because the options become more limited the longer you wait.
Do you want to look at all available options in a specific city? Check the housing databases. Some of them are managed in cooperation with other educational institutions.
Rental contracts in the university residence halls are mostly for ten months. However, on the private market, most rental contracts are drawn up for 12 months. Few private market landlords are willing to let for 10 or 11 months. If you don’t need your room during the summer months, a 10-month contract is the best deal.
Are you staying for a semester? Some landlords allow you to rent for one semester (5 months), from September until February or from February until the summer. However, the price of these rooms is usually higher than when you rent for an entire year.
Are you looking for housing as a staff member coming to Belgium?