International students on individual mobility

Consult the student's guide (update in progress)

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The aim of this conference was providing you with useful information concerning your arrival in Brussels and at ULB. The following topics have been presented: obtaining a visa, the procedure for blocked accounts, health insurance, opening a bank account, transport services in Brussels, obtaining the student card, activities organised by the ESN student association.

Discover the video of the conference in English

Discover the slides of the conference

Discover the slides

Before your arrival in Brussels - enrolment file and visa

Are you an international student who has chosen ULB or is about to do so? Conditions, equivalences, residence rights: before submitting your enrolment, find all the useful information and procedures to follow.

• Preparing your file
• Submitting a visa application (for non-EU students)
• How to apply for a blocked account (for non-EU students)
• Finding accommodation

Organising your stay - administrative procedures

In Belgium, whether you are an international student or researcher, the visa you need will depend on both the duration of your stay and your nationality. Although some of the formalities need to be completed in your home country, don’t forget that you will still need to complete some of the administrative processes once you arrive in Belgium.
You must register with the local authority of your place of residence in order to obtain your residence permit.

• Registering with the local authority

Medical insurance in Belgium: compulsory for all foreign students

• Get informed and choose your health insurance

Learning French

ULB is a French-speaking university. Even though many Masters courses are taught partly or entirely in English, French is still the main language used for teaching and in the student's everyday environment.
Studying at the Université Libre de Bruxelles is a fantastic opportunity to improve your knowledge of the French language while living in the highly cosmopolitan world of the capital of Europe.
In order to improve the language skills of international students, ULB offers a wide range of French courses, both before and during the academic year:
French language courses for students and Erasmus

Calculating your budget

To live in Brussels on a modest budget, you should expect to spend around €800 per month, of which just over half will be needed to pay for housing.  

• If you do not have a scholarship, you can take a student job to help make ends meet, but bear in mind that this will not be enough to finance your study stay, as there are legal restrictions on the number of hours students can work.
• If you come from a European Community country, registration with the local authority and your ULB student card are all you need to access student jobs.
• For non-European students, you will need to apply for a work permit to have the right to take a student job.

InfOR-Études: Study information service

The InfOR-Études advisors can answer any questions about your studies, student life, ULB services, the University's study programmes, job prospects in each area, etc., at any time, throughout the year.
Not sure what to study? Want to change programme or need help to choose the right Master? The Study information service will provide you with information and advice throughout your studies at university.