A significant issue when one arrives in a country as an exchange student can be the accommodation. Belgium is not an exception to this rule. However, some provisions have been put in place to make your life easier. We will guide you among them. First of all, you need to distinguish very clearly your registration process at UCL with your application process to book an accommodation. Indeed, as soon as you have received confirmation from UCL that you are registered as a future regular student or as an exchange student, you will need to start your application process to book your accommodation. 

All the necessary information for this application process at UCL can be found on this web page.

General information

3 types of accommodations are available:
• UCL University accommodation
• Real estate agents’ housing
• Private owners

 

1. UCL Accommodation

Booking

All exchange students, provided their exchange is officially recognized by EPL in the frame of bilateral exchange agreements, are eligible for student accommodation managed by UCL.  The UCL Accomodation Office manages the accomodation requests on a first come first serve basis. In order to book your UCL accommodation, please go to UCL housing online Request . 
This should be done by :

• 30 June, if you will be studying at UCL during the first semester only or if you are staying the whole academic year (September - January or September - June)

• 14 December, if you will be studying at UCL during the second semester only (February - June) .

Contact at UCL Accommodation office for international students at EPL : Laurence Mairesse.  If student housing is available at the time of your request, your accommodation request will be considered as a provisional reservation. This reservation will become final once the Student Office has registered your enrolment. You will then receive a confirmation of your reservation by post or by e-mail.
 

Lease and rent

The lease for an entire academic year is concluded from 15 September to 14 July (10 months). A lease for the first semester covers the period from 15 september to 25 January and a lease for the second semester goes from 26 January to 14 July. The rent (all extra costs, "charges"included., except for electricity) ranges from € 275,- to € 390 per month. In addition you will have to pay a € 150 warranty when you sign your lease.

Types of accommodation
1.1. Reserving a room in a "kot à projet"
The "kots à projets" are a unique formula of social student life, invented by UCL! Between six and twelve students live together in a shared flat (private bedroom, shared kitchen, bathroom and toilets), and work together on a project of social, cultural or humanitarian dimension for the duration of an academic year. To give just a few examples of projects: raising public awareness of the environment, health, or of the problems faced by developing countries; general services to the community; the organisation of an exhibition or a music concert; a project on the language or the culture of a given country; assistance for students with special needs, ... just name it! There are over 120 kots à projets, or KAP's, as they are also called.  
Some of these kots à projet have reserved one of their rooms especially for an exchange student. Living in a kot à projet is a wonderful way to work on interesting projects, develop transferrable skills, get to know the Belgians and Belgian culture from the inside and improve your French.  
The number of rooms available in kots à projets is limited. International students who would like to be part of a kot à projet should contact the UCL Accommodation Office. The University actively supports the kots-à-projets through an attractive rent for the participants and by funding some of their activities.
1.2. Reserving a room in a shared flat
Renting a room in a shared flat ('kot') is probably the more classical option to find accommodation. Shared flats are composed of 3 up to 12 private bedrooms with a shared kitchen, bathroom and toilets. The shared flats can be either mixed or house exclusively female or male students. Attention, the number of rooms in shared flats is also limited.

Practically speaking: your arrival
If UCL accommodation has been reserved for you and you have received a confirmation, you must plan your arrival in Louvain-la-Neuve from Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 14:00. This way you will have the time to visit your room, sign the lease and pick up your keys.   Note: If there should be no more University accommodation available at the time of your request, you will be put on a waiting list that is maintained until 31 July (first semester) or 14 January (second semester).

 

2. Private owners

Quite a few private owners let rooms, studios and apartments in Louvain-la-Neuve and the neighbouring towns. A list of accommodation proposed by private owners is available on the web site of the Accommodation Office. If you wish to rent accommodation this way, you will have to contact the owner by phone or e-mail, and come to an agreement with them directly.

 

3. Estate agents and other channels of housing

You will find also in Louvain-la-Neuve several real estate agencies and a few public organisations offering you alternative solutions.