Depending on your status, the length of your studies or your budget, you can choose between renting a room in a university residence and private accommodation (rental from private individuals).

The university residences offer rooms whose prices vary in line with the facilities offered and level of comfort. The student usually sleeps in an individual room but shares the kitchen, lounge area, shower and toilets with other students. This type of accommodation (known as a “kot”) allows you to get to know students from all over the world and of all levels of studies.

The average price of a room is 270 euros per month.

In Belgium, individual rooms for students (in a university residence or in communal apartments belonging to individuals) are known as « kots ».

As the number of places are limited, it is important that you complete certain administrative procedures within very specific deadlines. To do so, you must contact the housing office of the university, university college or art academy where you intend to study.

To find accommodation in the private sector, two options are open to you: a personal search and search via a specialised agency.

A personal search can be conducted on the web and by consulting the notice boards in stores and in certain bookshops or supermarkets. Trailing the streets on the lookout for vacant accommodation carrying “à louer/to rent” signs is also a popular way of finding accommodation.

An estate agency is mainly used to find more expensive styles of accommodation. If you have enough revenues to pay a high rent, it can be practical to use an agency.

The average prices of accommodation in the private sector (furnished rooms – kots, studios or apartments) vary between 250 and 500 €/month, depending on the type of accommodation.

In order to find accommodation in a university residence or in the private sector, housing offices set up within higher education institutions guide you in your search.

If you arrive in Wallonia-Brussels without having arranged accommodation, we advise you to book a room in a hotel, guesthouse or bed and breakfast in the town of your destination.

Essential information about renting accommodation

The lease (rental contract – le “bail”): for all rentals, you must sign a rental contract, whose duration is generally one year. At the time of signing the contract, you must pay the amount of the rental deposit.

The deposit, a sum equivalent to one or two months’ rent is requested at the time of signing the contract. It will be refunded to you at the end of the lease after an exit inventory of fixtures, the return of the keys and the closing of the accounts.

Most institutions have cafeterias and restaurants on their campuses. These spaces are open to all students enrolled in the university, university college or art academy. You will be able to eat a complete meal for a reasonable price in a friendly atmosphere.

Around the campuses there are a host of small food shops, snack bars, restaurants and bistros to choose from.

Every year, several thousand students work during the academic year or during the holidays to finance their studies.

Working during your studies

Foreign students can work during their studies if they follow a full time course in a higher establishment recognised by the Federation Wallonia-Brussels and if they have a valid residence permit.

If you are a national of a country outside the European Economic Area, a work permit may be necessary.

Useful links: Website of the Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue

Working after completing your studies

After completing your studies in Belgium, if you are recruited by a Belgian company, you will need to find out about the legislation in force for nationals of the European Union or a State from outside the European Union (request for a working permit for foreign students from outside the EU, contracts, taxes, etc.)

Useful links: Website of the Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue

Employment services are set up within most higher education institutions in order to help you to plan your professional career and to get your foot on the career ladder. These services will also offer you tools to help you draw up a CV, cover letters and recruitment interviews – links.

Please note: The theoretical courses are often supplemented by professional internships during or at the end of the course of study (transition between higher education course and the world of work). The internships offer students the possibility of acquiring practical experience in the business world or European and international administration.

Your student life in Wallonia-Brussels will be a whirlwind of cultural, sporting and associative activities.

With names like Magritte, Delvaux or Rops in the field of the fine arts, Simenon in literature, Toots Thielemans in the Jazz world, Hergé for the comic strip, the Dardenne brothers representing Belgian film, César Franck or Eugène Ysaÿe for classical music, not forgetting the singer Jacques Brel, Wallonia-Brussels boasts a culture that is very much its own.

If you are a fan of music, painting, drawing, theatre, cinema, a rich cultural programme is proposed through the year by student associations or special services within institutions. Participation in cultural activities will allow you to meet other students outside the strict context of studies and will not only be a rich source of experiences but also make you feel part of your new home.

The cultural activities appear in the calendar of activities of the institutions, available on the websites.

Most of the institutions are situated in urban centres that offer an intense cultural life exhibitions, concerts, shows, conferences and workshops are proposed to students at very accessible prices.

Useful links: http://www.culture.be/

Most of the higher education institutions have high quality sporting infrastructures.

The cities where they are based also offer many possibilities to practice sports: sports centres, tennis courts, football, rugby, volleyball, basketball pitches, swimming pools and even golf courses. Within the institutions, there is generally a sports department that organises and coordinates all of the sports activities on the campus or externally.