Accommodation for (Exchange) PhD students

 

New applications - AY 2025-2026
For more information on our available options, you can contact us through this template.
- Applications are possible for any rental period until 13.09.2026. For an extension, please see below.

Re-applications - AY 2026-2027

  • At the beginning of May, we contacted all PhD-students with an agreement until 13.09.2026 with all information necessary to reapply.
New applications - AY 2026-2027
- (Re)applications for a full academic year will be possible (up to the full duration of your PhD trajectory)
- New applications from the new academic year onwards are possible from 15.05.2026 onwards
- More locations and types will become available; duration limit will be waived

Application criteria

Every PhD student with an affiliation with Ghent University can apply for accommodation.

The Housing Office will be able to process your housing application once your enrolment application has been completed. We will not be able to meet requests from PhD. candidates without an approved application.
Please note that there is a high demand for accommodation in the first semester. In the second semester it is easier to find a living unit on the private rental market .

As of September 2026: priority will be given to applications for a full academic year and re-applications become possible until the end of the PhD-trajectory. 

Terms and conditions

When you apply for a living unit in the University Halls of Residence, you agree to these terms:

Rental period

  • The minimum rental period is 2 weeks (first or second half of the month), and the maximum rental period is 6 months (during academic year 2025-2026).
  • As of September 2026
    • there is no maximum period anymore. PhD students can submit a reapplication every year until the end of their PhD trajectory.
    • priority is given to applications for a full academic year, with a reduced rental fee. 
  • It is only possible to rent according to our fixed contract dates! Find more information regarding the contract data.
  • Check-in is possible from 2 p.m onwards on the starting date of the agreement, or any later working day during opening hours of our reception desk. Check-in is not possible during weekends, with the exception of the months of February and September. Early check-ins are unfortunately not possible.
  • Check-out needs to be completed by 10 a.m. on the end date of the agreement, or any moment before that. Exceptions and late check-outs are unfortunately not possible.

Rental payment

  • Check out the rental fee for the correct academic year
  • The rent is due from the start date of the tenancy agreement for the entire reserved period. The tenant is obliged to keep the living unit that was allocated for the duration of the tenancy agreement.
  • The costs for the consumption of water, electricity, and heating, provision of bed linen (in case of a short-stay less than one semester), cleaning of the communal areas, repair service, and use of the internet are included in the monthly rent.
  • From January 2027 onwards, a student accommodation/second residence tax, imposed by the City of Ghent, in charged separately and on top of the rental fee. The monthly fee for this tax will be mentioned on your invoice next to the rent.
  • A monthly invoice will be sent to you by email. Please note that there is no need to pay anything pre-arrival or upon your arrival. The first invoice does not have to be paid until one month after receiving it.
  • As of September 2025, there is no deposit required at Ghent University for accommodation. Any damage after check-out will be charged by regular invoice.

Modifications and cancellations

  • In case you made a mistake or would like to change your application, please reply as soon as possible on the application letter you received.
    If NO living unit was assigned to you, you can still cancel or change the application free of charge.
  • All modifications and cancellations must be done in writing, stating the reason and including the necessary supporting documents.
  • Find more information on our policy regarding cancellations and modifications on this page.

Apply for a living unit - Academic year 2026-2027

Locations

  • Single person units
    • Single Room: Home Henri Pirenne
      • Agreements < 12 months: 573 EUR / month
      • Full term academic year: 521 EUR / month
    • Single Room plus: Home Henri Pirenne
      • Agreements <12 months: 666 EUR / month
      • Full-term academic year: 622 EUR / month
    • Single Studio: Home Henri Pirenne
      • Agreements < 12 months: 799 EUR / month
      • Complete academic year: 707 EUR / month 
  • Studio's & flats (single, or up to four individuals)
    • Large studio (no separate bedroom) with twin beds (Residence Loop 5; type 1)
      • Agreements < 12 months: 922 EUR / month
      • Full-term academic year: 831 EUR / month
    • One bedroom apartment with twin beds (Residence Loop 5;type 2)
      • Agreements < 12 months: 1.162 EUR / month
      • Full-term academic year: 1.056 EUR / month
    • Two bedroom apartment with two twin beds (Residence Loop 5;type 3)
      • AY 2026-2027: 1.414 EUR / month
    • Two bedroom apartment with twin beds and two single beds (Residence Loop 5;type 4)
      • AY 2026-2027: 1.414 EUR / month
    • One bedroom flat for one or two tenants (type 5): Home Heymans
      • Agreements < 12 months: 898 EUR/month
      • Complete academic year: 791 EUR/month 
    • Flat for families (type 6): Campus Merelbeke
      • AY 2026-2027: 1.149 EUR / month

Application procedure

Please read the terms and conditions before you apply for housing. You will be able to submit a housing application once you have applied for your Letter of Invitation/Admission.

Please note that applications for next academic year (2026-2027) can only be submitted from May 15 onwards
      • For Exchange Ph.D. students in the framework of Ph.D. studies at your home university, please apply via the exchange application form
      • For Ph.D. students: in order to apply for housing, you need to have a UGent (OASIS)-account.
        In case you have an active UGent email address, you can immediately proceed with the application.

        If you do not have an active UGent-account, your chairman, supervisor, promotor or lecturer-in-charge needs to initialize the application, after which you can complete the information needed for your enrolment and to apply for housing.
        After completion of your enrolment, don't forget to submit the application to the faculty for confirmation.

      Apply for a living unit - Academic year 2025-2026

      Locations

      PhD Rental Fee 2025-2026

      Application procedure

      Please read the terms and conditions before you apply for housing. You will be able to submit a housing application once you have applied for your Letter of Invitation/Admission.

      Please note that applications for next academic year (2026-2027) can only be completed from May 15 onwards
          • For Exchange Ph.D. students in the framework of Ph.D. studies at your home university, please apply via the exchange application form
          • For Ph.D. students: in order to apply for housing, you need to have a UGent (OASIS)-account.
            In case you have an active UGent email address, you can immediately proceed with the application.

            If you do not have an active UGent-account, your chairman, supervisor, promotor or lecturer-in-charge needs to initialize the application, after which you can complete the information needed for your enrolment and to apply for housing.
            After completion of your enrolment, don't forget to submit the application to the faculty for confirmation.

          More information?

          For more information about housing, please contact

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