You jump off the train in Gent-Sint-Pieters station and then the big adventure starts. Whether you like it or not, you will definitely find some administrative burdens and practical issues on your study-abroad path, which you should better carefully look after, if you want to enjoy your stay to the max. If you follow the steps described below, there is not so much to worry about.

We refer to the Welcome Guide for International Students for a detailed description of the below and other sections.

If you want somebody to wait for you in Sint-Pieters Station (train or bus) upon arrival, please contact the students of ESN (Erasmus Student Network) on the ESN-website

Accommodation

• Rooms on the private market
  Search for a private room ('kot'). Ask the Housing Department to help you with your search and to give you a list with addresses of private rooms.
• Rooms in university residences
  Read more about the online procedure, if you want to apply for a room.
• Youth hostel, B&B, Hotels
  

Visit the Exchange Student Adviser

Announce yourself at your faculty

• Upon arrival, you should meet your professor and your faculty responsible to arrange academic matter, talk about courses & professors, adjust your Learning Agreement, etc.  
• Most faculties have developed their own pages to guide their incoming students.

Registration at Ghent University: UGent Student Card

• Obligatory for all Exchange Students
• Go to the Student Administration Office to receive your UGent student card
• Address: UFO, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 33, B-9000 Gent
• Read how to register.

Registration at the City of Ghent

• Obligatory for all international students
• Read more about the online registration procedure

Dutch language course in the UCT

• Go to the Exchange Student Adviser to collect your voucher for a course of Dutch in the University Language Centre ('UCT'). You will pay only 50€ for books & registration, not for the course itself.
• You can follow other language courses in the UCT at half price (with a valid UGent student card).
  The UCT is located in the Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 136, B-9000 Gent (open Monday - Thursday 10h00-18h30, Friday 10h00-14h00).
• Read more about Dutch and other language courses at UCT

Most important: Enjoy your stay in Ghent!