Welcome at Ghent University!

Congratulations! You are now officially a student at Ghent University! On this page you will find all practical information for a good start.

What can you expect as a student? Our alumna Laura Govaerts gives you a short tour in Ghent:

Welcome Guide

An elaborate overview of everything you might want to know when starting your studies:

Off to a good start

Welcome days

The Welcome days are designed to make your transition to Ghent University and university life as smooth as possible. You will find a wide variety of sessions, events, and social gatherings to help you get to know our university and city better, find answers to your questions, and get to know fellow students.

Welcome @ your faculty

All practical and contact information about starting your study program can be found on the page of your own faculty:

Get connected

UGent account

To secure our applications, everyone with a UGent account uses multifactor authentication (MFA). With MFA, you do not just enter your UGent mail and password to log in, but also a second identifying factor, such as an SMS code or a verification on an app on your smartphone. Not sure how it works? Check out the helpsdesk pages for more information or consult the frequently asked questions. If you don't find an answer to your question, reach out to the DICT Helpdesk. Should you have any other questions about your UGent account, browse these pages.

Wifi

How to connect?

  • Select the Eduroam network and enter your loginname@ugent.be (or your email address) and your UGent password.
  • Accept the certificate

Oasis

This digital environment holds an overview of your enrolments at our university. You can:

  • Register for your course units
  • Download your personal timetable
  • Download certificates (public transport, proof of enrolment)
  • If you did not yet receive an UGent account yet, you can log in here

Ufora

Ufora is our digital learning environment. It contains information and study materials concerning your courses. It is an important medium to communicate with teachers and fellow students.

Timetables and course details

Each faculty drafts its own class and exam timetables. Bear in mind that the second semester timetables can drastically change.

For specific course details and location, check out your faculty websites. Faculty activities may take place at different locations, which are not necessarily at the official address of the faculty.

Special status

Under certain circumstances you can obtain a special status. Depending on the grounds on which the special status was given to you, one or more facilities may be granted. The special status can be granted on the grounds of:

  • Functional impairment
  • Approved top-level sports activities
  • Professional artistry
  • Holding office
  • Exceptional social or personal circumstances
  • Student entrepreneurship
  • Foreign-language speaker

You may alsof receive a special status if you are combining work and study.

Registration and insurance

Make your educational life at Ghent University as adventurous and educational as possible, but live it the safe way by making sure that you have the necessary minimum permits and health insurance and possibly also other coverage!

Support and guidance

International Student Support

The International Student Support team provides information and support for international students (degree students as well as exchange students).

Points of contact at your faculty

  • The Monitoring service: student counsellors and learning path counsellors join forces and take several initiatives to make studying for students as smoothly as possible.

Medical support

Other

Improving your study skills? Financial advice? You will be able to find support for any issue

Rules and regulations

To stimulate students to take responsibility for their study progress, a system of learning account has been established in Flanders. This may affect all students.

As a registered international student, you agree to comply with the rules and regulations under which the University, its staff and students must operate. The principles of the regulations underpinning these are set out in a number of codes and regulations.

Evaluation and exams

Examinations are held in January and June. A course unit must be fully completed before an exam can take place. However, full-year course units take longer than only one semester. Examinations for these courses always take place in June. At the end of August / beginning of September a second examination period is organized. Students can use this period to retake (failed) courses from both the first and the second semester.

Examinations can be oral and/or written. This is clearly described in the ECTS course specifications in the Ghent University Course Catalogue of the current academic year.

Grades received for practical exercises and the results of written and oral tests during the year may also be taken into account for the final result, as part of a system of permanent evaluation. For each course unit the evaluation/examination method is indicated in the course catalogue, as well as the minimum requirements for awarding credit points. Ghent University uses a grading system of 0–20 with intervals of 1 point. No half points are used.

  • 10 to 20 are the passing marks
  • 0 to 9 are failing marks.

You can find more information on the academic system in the Education and examination code

You are encouraged to raise any complaints or grievances with an appropriate member of staff at the earliest opportunity, as complaints that are dealt with informally at an early stage have the best chance of being resolved effectively. Where informal procedures have failed to resolve the problem, you may bring a complaint under the attention of the faculty ombudsperson.

Student life

Don’t miss out on the broad range of cultural and social events that Ghent University offers students and staff each year!

Mobility