Partnership between University of Kerbala and Ghent University

The journey of international PhD students can be different. We advise you to check very informative pages on the website of Ghent University (Doctoral Research). This link gives an overview from the start until the end of a PhD process.

Ghent University has no ‘single point of contact’ for students. You will have to contact different people at Ghent University for enrolment, housing and etc. However for UoK scholarship holders we assist in different matters. Please direct your questions to uok@ugent.be.

Scholarship

Monthly payments 

Ghent University receives your allowances from UoK, and disburses it to you monthly. We will pay your scholarship after we receive the funding for you from UoK.

• Monthly amount: 1200 euro for Phd students, 800 euro for Master students
• Monthly instalments are paid at the end of each month for the upcoming month
• Payment can only start after transfer of funds from UoK

Bench fee

The bench fee guideline is applicable to all PhD students that enroll at Ghent University.

The amount depends on the study field. A waiver of 20% is given on the requested amount. UoK will transfer the bench fee to Ghent University. This is transferred to your promotor after withholding standard overhead of 17%. Your promotor needs to give us the code of his/her so-called “kas”. A code type E/…/01 is needed. 

You don’t need to pre-finance the bench fee yourself.

Tuition fee

UoK scholarship also covers tuition fee. It has to be paid after the enrollment at Ghent University and before the final defense of your PhD. For more information section 4.1.

Insurance

UoK scholarship also covers annual insurance fee. This insurance will be arranged for you by Ghent University. For more information section 3.3.

What to do before traveling to Belgium

COVID-19 measures in Belgium and at Ghent University

Read this important information regarding quarantine for international students coming to Ghent University!

Visa application

After completing the PhD application, Ghent University informs you about the decision by sending an official letter, signed by the Registrar. Along with other documents and this letter of admission (LOA) you can enroll and apply for a visa.

Ghent University does not assist in visa related questions. Please contact UoK in case of difficulties.

Housing in Ghent

Ghent University offers accommodation to PhD students only after the admission application has been completed and this for a maximum period of 6 months. As soon as you can log in to Oasis with your prospect number you can make this booking. The rooms are 550 euro/month but have all costs included.

Accommodation in a dorm at Ghent University to start can be practical, because you can domicile there and you have time to search for a place to stay on the private market.

If you are looking for a place to stay on the private market, you can request a list of short term rentals from accommodatie@ugent.be.

There’s a closed group on Facebook with rooms for expats.

Important is to ask the possibility of taking a domicile or not. Only the place with a possibility of a domicile is eligible for application for student residence permit.

It is advised at first to look for a place at University accommodation, because it is quite difficult to have a housing contract on private market before reaching Belgium.

Insurance

International PhD students are legally obliged to have a health insurance during their stay in Belgium (for themselves and their family members staying in Belgium).

Within the agreement Ghent University provides an insurance for liability, sickness and accidents for each HEC student. Therefore, please provide the following information:

• Surname:
• Name:
• Date of Birth:

In case you have family members who need insurance as well, the same information is needed for them. We need this information at least one month before your arrival to secure insurance from the day of arrival. Please communicate these details after your travel date is confirmed.

What to do after reaching Ghent, Belgium

Enrolment as PhD student by arrival – tuition fee

All PhD researchers must enroll as a student at the Registrar's Office at the start of their study, as well as re-enroll online every following academic year until graduation, after approval of an annual progress report.
 
After enrolment, UoK students send the invoice of their tuition fee to UoK@ugent.be. The tuition fee will be paid directly by the Research Coordination Department after transfer of UoK funds. You don’t need to pre-finance this yourself. Tuition fee is paid the first year of your PhD and the last year when your date of defense is set. For the years in between, re-enrolment is free.

Money and Banking

Practical info regarding banking and taxes in Belgium

In order to pay your monthly allowance, we need you to open a Belgian bank account.

• We advise you to choose KBC Bank: make an appointment at gent.kouter@kbc.be Kouter 175, 9000 Gent.
• Or use a bank of your choice.
• Please email your bank details to uok@ugent.be and enter them in the OASIS student database, in order to be able to transfer the allowances.

Student Residence Permit (Registration at Stad Gent)

After enrolment at Ghent University, it is mandatory for every foreign student to register at the Stad Gent for issuance of student residence permit. For this registration, passport, enrolment at Ghent University, housing contract (either from university accommodation or from private market) and proof of sufficient means of subsistence is mandatory. This process might take 1-3 months, so it is advised to start it as early possible. It depends on your accommodation location and type, usually the process is relatively fast if you have contract from university accommodation.

When applying for a student / family reunion visa or residence permit, international PhD students need to prove that they have sufficient means of subsistence to cover their living expenses, study, healthcare and repatriation costs. This can be proved in different ways.

For more information visit the link. This procedure can only be started after reaching Ghent.

https://stad.gent/en/international-students/paperwork-administration/your-arrival-ghent

Health Fund

It might be interesting to also join one of Flanders health funds (called “mutualiteit”). In exchange for a small fee they (partly) refund basic healthcare that might not be refunded by the insurance Ghent University takes for you. They might also offer services like a small present when you get a baby, cheap baby-sit if you have to work and your child is sick, etc.

Read this important information about the insurance.

Public transport

Students can get reduction for a train pass. Once enrolled, you can print the document from your oasis account. Busses and trams only offer reduction to students under 26 years age. They can buy a buzzypass with their university student card.

Few of the secondary insurances (such as HZIV) covers subsidized transportation facilities that can be availed regardless of your age but depends on your monthly income. This offer is only for low income individuals.

Family reunion and work opportunities

Family reunion

In case your family would like to join you during your stay in Belgium you will have to prove sufficient means of subsistence as a family. The amount is 1600 euro/month irrespective of the number of children. This means that your scholarship is not sufficient and you will need the solvency procedure.

It's always good to have an idea about the costs of living in Belgium.

Work

During your stay in Belgium as a PhD student you are not entitled to a work permit but you can be employed as a student. You can work during term time up to 20 hours a week, provided your work doesn’t interfere with your studies. However, the job service of Ghent University does not facilitate PhD students.

Belgian work permit C is for certain foreign nationals who are staying in Belgium only temporarily, such as students or family members of consular officials, or whose right to stay is not confirmed, such as asylum seekers. It allows holders to take on paid employment in any field and for any job contract type for the validity of their residence permit, providing similar rights of employment as Belgian citizens. The permit is issued for up to one year and can be renewed under certain circumstances.

If your partner would join you through family reunion, he/she is not entitled to work.

More Information and opportunities

PhD charter

This charter creates an academic framework necessary to successfully conduct doctoral research in a scientific environment.

Ghent University PhD Community

Ghent University PhD Community is an inclusive community of and for all PhD students at Ghent University. A network of enthusiastic and dynamic PhD students is operating as PhD ambassadors that transcends the boundaries of faculties and science disciplines.

The PhD community is supported by the Doctoral Schools Ghent University and Gentse Pre- en Postdoc

Psychosocial well-being at work and ombudsperson

Doctoral and other students can contact their faculty's Ombudsperson in case of disputes with lecturers or problems during a doctorate for most statements or complaints. If this is, for some reason, not possible, then you can turn to the institutional Ombudsperson for further mediation. Visit this page (sorry in Dutch) for more details.

Always ask HEC for permission if you want to change promotors. They finance your studies and your stay. Please keep us informed (hec@Ghent University.be).

Courses at and outside of Ghent University

Low Countries Studies is a post academic program for exchange students and other foreign students and researchers, eager to learn more about Flanders, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Learning Dutch

University Language Centre (@ Ghent University)

In-Gent

https://www.in-gent.be/voor-jou/nederlands

Stad Gent

Read more about all aspects of 'life in Ghent for an international student'.