Studying in Ghent: universities, costs, housing and student life

Studying at Ghent University

Ghent University (UGent) is one of Belgium's largest research universities, with faculties spanning science, engineering, medicine, law, humanities and social sciences. The university teaches a substantial number of its master's programs fully in English, which has built a sizeable international student community inside an otherwise historically Flemish-speaking city.

Belgium follows the Bologna degree structure across its universities: a three-year bachelor's worth 180 ECTS, a one or two-year master's on top, and a doctorate beyond that. UGent sits alongside a handful of smaller Ghent institutions, but dominates the city's academic identity much as its historic core dominates the skyline.

How to apply

UGent runs its own online application system, with requirements and deadlines set per program rather than through a single Belgian national portal. International applicants should check their specific program page early, since some master's programs ask for a motivation letter, reference letters or proof of English proficiency alongside academic transcripts.

Non-EU applicants generally need a student visa and residence permit before arrival, applied for once you hold an unconditional offer letter. Begin this process immediately after acceptance, since visa and permit processing can take considerably longer than the local registration EU students complete after arrival.

Tuition fees

Flemish public universities, UGent included, charge a capped tuition rate for EU/EEA students, set by the Flemish government each academic year. Non-EU/EEA students pay a separate, program-set rate that runs higher and varies by faculty. Because these amounts change yearly, confirm the current figure directly on UGent's own tuition fee pages rather than relying on a number from a previous intake.

The academic calendar

The Belgian academic year starts in late September and splits into two semesters, each ending with an exam period, the first in January and the second in June, followed by resit exams in late August or early September for students who need them. The weeks before the January exams are known locally as the blok, a period students traditionally spend studying intensively, often in dedicated study halls the university opens for the purpose.

Expect a short break around Christmas and New Year that overlaps with part of the blok period, plus a shorter spring break around Easter. Course timetables run lighter earlier in the semester than in the intense pre-exam weeks, so pace your workload with the calendar rather than assuming a steady load across the whole term.

Housing in Ghent

UGent's Housing Office manages university halls and residences for international students, covering exchange students, full degree students, short-program (ITP) students and PhD candidates, with rooms rented on an all-inclusive basis that covers electricity, water and internet. Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year, running from September 2026 onward, opened on 15 May 2026 , so mark that kind of date on your own calendar for future intakes and apply the moment the window opens.

UGent itself acknowledges a real shortage of student housing in the city, and advises applicants who cannot secure a university room to stay flexible on arrival timing, since the private market often eases later in the semester. If you search the private market, look for a registered kot, the Flemish term for a rented student room, through the city's approved listing channels rather than unverified private ads, which reduces the risk of substandard or unsafe housing.

Start your housing search as early as your offer allows regardless of route, since Ghent's mix of a large student population and a compact historic center keeps demand for rooms close to campus consistently high.

Choosing where to live

The Overpoort area, next to UGent's main humanities and social science buildings, holds one of the highest concentrations of student housing in the city and puts you at the center of student nightlife, at a price that reflects the demand. The area around Sint-Pietersstation, Ghent's main train station, offers a similarly central position with easier access to faculties spread across town.

Muide-Meulestede and other neighborhoods further from the historic center generally cost less and suit students who prioritize space and quiet over walking distance to lectures. Check which of UGent's several campuses your program uses, since faculties sit in different parts of the city, and factor your daily commute into any housing decision rather than choosing purely on price.

Getting around Ghent

Ghent's historic center is compact and mostly car-restricted, so walking and cycling cover most daily trips between lectures, home and the city center. De Lijn, the Flemish public transport operator, runs trams and buses that reach the parts of the city and student neighborhoods outside easy walking or cycling distance.

Ghent's train station connects to Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges within a short ride, making day trips and weekend travel straightforward without a car.

Living costs and admin to plan for

Beyond tuition and rent, budget for health insurance, food, study materials and a bicycle, close to essential for getting around the city efficiently. EU students rely on a European Health Insurance Card alongside mandatory Belgian insurance registration, while non-EU students typically register with a Belgian health insurance fund (mutualiteit) soon after arrival.

Register with the local city administration within days of moving into permanent housing, a legal requirement in Belgium, bringing your passport, residence permit and rental contract. Opening a Belgian bank account early simplifies paying rent and managing day-to-day expenses.

Scholarships and funding

UGent runs its own scholarship programs for selected international master's students, and the Flemish government funds VLIR-UOS scholarships for students from a defined list of developing countries enrolled in specific master's programs. EU exchange students on a partner program access Erasmus+ funding through their home university, covering part of the cost of a semester or year in Ghent.

Check current eligibility and deadlines directly on UGent's scholarship pages and on the VLIR-UOS website, since available programs and criteria change year to year. Apply for external scholarships well ahead of your program deadline, since decisions often come in before final enrollment closes.

Working while you study

EU/EEA students in Ghent work under the same rules as Belgian citizens, with no special permit needed. Non-EU students holding a valid residence permit for studies work part time during the academic year, with maximum hours set by Belgian immigration policy, so confirm the current limit with UGent's international office before accepting a job.

UGent's student job service and Ghent's dense mix of shops, cafes and administrative employers offer a steady supply of part-time roles suited around a lecture schedule, and the university's own job board is often the fastest route to an employer used to hiring students.

Student life in Ghent

Ghent's medieval center, anchored by the Gravensteen castle, the Belfry and a network of canals, gives students a walkable, photogenic backdrop for daily life. Overpoortstraat, a street lined with student bars near the main university buildings, is the traditional center of the city's student nightlife.

UGent's faculties and student associations run introduction weeks, sports clubs and cultural events that help new arrivals, Belgian and international, settle into the city quickly. Ghent's size sits between Leuven's small-town feel and Antwerp's larger scale, giving students a full range of amenities without the costs typical of Belgium's biggest cities.