The Belgian University Cities
Each VLIR-UOS programme is hosted at a specific university in a specific city. The city you live in significantly affects your budget and daily experience.
KU Leuven
Leuven
A compact university town 25km east of Brussels. Roughly 100,000 inhabitants, about 30% students. Safe, very walkable and cyclable. Strong international student community.
University of Antwerp
Antwerp
Belgium's second-largest city — a port and diamond trading hub with a strong creative scene. Cosmopolitan and diverse. Good English-language community.
Ghent University
Ghent
Belgium's most consistently student-friendly city. About 260,000 inhabitants, 75,000+ students. Active cultural life, excellent cycling infrastructure.
VUB & co-host programmes
Brussels
Capital of Belgium and de facto capital of the EU. Most expensive Belgian city. Extremely international — over 180 nationalities. English very widely spoken. Budget carefully.
VIVES University College
Bruges
Medieval UNESCO World Heritage city — very compact, tourism-heavy, quieter than other cities. More expensive for food due to the tourism economy. Peaceful study environment.
UHasselt
Hasselt
Small Flemish provincial city — affordable and low-key. Smaller international community. Less expensive than Ghent or Antwerp. Good for focused study.
Thomas More
Geel
Very small town in the Kempen region. Very affordable. Limited English-language social scene. Excellent for focused study if you do not need urban stimulation.
The Visa Process
The steps from award letter to arrival in Belgium, in the right sequence.
Receive your award letter
Mid-May to June. The award letter, combined with your university admission letter and the DGD certificate from the host university, forms the basis of your visa application.
Contact the Belgian embassy in your home country
Locate the nearest Belgian diplomatic post at diplomatie.belgium.be. Some countries do not have a Belgian embassy — you may need to travel to a neighbouring country or apply at a different EU post under bilateral arrangements.
Gather required documents
- ◆Valid passport (12+ months beyond end of scholarship)
- ◆Completed visa application form (Type D — long stay)
- ◆VLIR-UOS scholarship award letter
- ◆University admission confirmation
- ◆DGD certificate (issued by host university)
- ◆Medical certificate (your cost is reimbursed by the scholarship)
- ◆Police clearance certificate from your home country
- ◆2 recent passport photographs
- ◆Travel insurance (covered by scholarship)
Submit your visa application
Apply as early as possible after receiving your award letter. Processing takes 4–8 weeks in most countries — it can take longer.
Arrive and register at your commune
Within 8 working days of arriving, register at your local commune (municipal office / gemeentehuis). Bring your passport, visa, proof of enrolment, and scholarship documents. You will receive your residence card (A-card for students).
Finding Accommodation
Start looking as early as possible. Belgium has plenty of student housing — but it fills fast before the academic year.
University housing services
Most Belgian universities have international student housing offices. KU Leuven, UGent, and VUB all have university-managed residences. Contact the housing service at your host university immediately after accepting your scholarship — spaces fill quickly.
Kotnet and Kotweb
Belgian student housing platforms where private landlords list rooms. Common and reliable.
Facebook groups
"[City name] student rooms" groups exist for Ghent, Leuven, Antwerp, and Brussels. Private rooms are frequently posted here and can move quickly.
Arrival timing
If you arrive in August or early September before the academic year, you may find better availability. Arriving late September when the academic year has started is harder.
Deposit — plan ahead
Typically 1–2 months rent as deposit. Budget for this from the installation allowance plus your own savings — the allowance does not cover the full setup cost.
Getting Around
Belgium has one of Europe's most extensive rail networks. Getting between cities is fast and frequent.
National Rail (NMBS/SNCB)
Monthly local transport passes: €37.50–49/month. Student NMBS discounts may apply — confirm with your university whether VLIR-UOS scholars qualify.
City Transport & Bicycle
Brussels (STIB/MIVB)
Metro, tram, and bus network. Monthly pass: €49.
Bicycle
Universally used in Flanders. Most Belgian university cities have excellent cycling infrastructure. A secondhand bicycle (€50–150, available on Facebook Marketplace or local secondhand shops) is a very practical and cost-saving investment for daily commuting.
Dutch — How Much Do You Actually Need?
The honest answer, not the one that makes it sound more daunting than it is.
Zero Dutch is required to complete your programme.
All 20 ICP Connect programmes are taught entirely in English. VLIR-UOS and Flemish universities have large international student communities. English is widely spoken in shops, restaurants, and services in all Belgian university cities.
Practically useful Dutch (to make daily life easier)
Grocery signage, municipal documents, and landlord communications are in Dutch; basic reading comprehension helps but is not essential. Many communes now process student registrations in English given the volume of international students. If you study in Brussels, French is equally or more prevalent in daily life.
First Month — What to Prepare
The practical setup you need to complete in the first weeks. Some steps depend on others — read the sequence.
Bank account
Belgian banks (KBC, BNP Paribas Fortis, ING) offer student accounts. Bring your residence card, passport, and proof of enrolment. Some banks require being already registered at the commune first — plan the sequence.
Phone SIM
Proximus, Base (Telenet), and Orange Belgium all offer SIMs. Base offers affordable prepaid options. A Belgian SIM is needed for local contacts and banking.
Supermarkets
Lidl and Aldi for budget shopping. Colruyt for mid-range. Carrefour and Delhaize for convenience. For the monthly scholarship amount, Lidl and Aldi are your primary grocery destinations.
Health insurance
Covered by the scholarship. Confirm registration with the insurer named in your scholarship documentation on arrival.
First-month budget: plan for €1,000–1,500 above your monthly allowance
This covers deposit, bedding, kitchen supplies, initial groceries, transport card, and SIM. The installation allowance partially but not fully covers this. Arrive with personal savings to bridge the gap.
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Frequently Asked Questions
35 VLIR-UOS questions answered directly.