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Accommodation

Brussels is a very lively city with many different districts gathering a lot of cultures. Every year it welcomes about 75,000 students, which makes it the biggest student city in Belgium.

Although Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel (HUB) does not have on-campus housing, the Social Services HUB can help you with your search for a suitable place to stay. This is what you need to know.

Types of accommodation

  • Student Rooms: single rooms in private student houses shared with 5-10 other students. Generally the rooms are furnished and are about 12 to 15 m² in size. Bed linen, towels and kitchen utensils are not provided. Every room has a private sink, but in most cases kitchen, showers and toilets have to be shared. Rent varies between 350 and 400 EUR per month, depending on the size, comfort and location of the room.
  • Studios: one-room flats with a private kitchenette and bathroom. The average size is 15 to 20 m². Rental prices range from 400 EUR for a single studio to 700 EUR for a double studio.
  • Apartments: the rent goes from 700 to 1000 EUR per month, depending on the size, location and furnishing.

The average rental term is 12 months.

Where can you find a room?

If you intend to stay for one semester, you have the possibility to register for one of the rooms HUB reserves in the international students house 'Van Orley' of Brik. Send an e-mail to housing@hubrussel.be before 15 June (students coming for the first semester) or 15 November (students coming for the second semester). Mention your contact details (name, address, telephone number, e-mail) as well as the period of your stay in Brussels and the expected arrival date.

Please note that the HUB rooms are rented for a minimum period of 5 months. If you want to stay for a longer period (max. 6 months) or for a shorter period, you have to contact Brik directly.

If you plan to study in Brussels for the entire academic year, you are referred to the website of Brik (http://www.brik.be). This stands for Brussel & Ik (Brussels and I), the initiative of the Dutch universities and colleges in Brussels and Quartier Latin. Brik is an organisation for students in Brussels that wants to promote the city as an interesting place to live and study. They organise a number of famous student events in Brussels and are also managing the student housing in Brussels. This organisation has got approximately 400 rooms in the centre of Brussels that they manage themselves.  Apart from this, they also coordinate an online database with 4000 rooms and flats of private owners.  You can find all the available accommodation through their website: www.brik.be > International Students > Find Room.

The rental period of student rooms starts at the beginning of July. If you want to make sure you have a room for next academic year, it is important to start your search for a suitable place in time.

It is advisable to have found a student room by August at the latest. You can either make all the arrangements from abroad or come to Brussels in order to see the room before signing the contract.

Brik offers the possibility of 'Summer Stay' in the international student house 'Van Orley'. You can rent a room for minimum two weeks. Price per day for a single room: 22 EUR, price per day for a double room: 36 EUR (18 EUR per person).

Students from developing countries can also contact following non-profit organizations in Brussels who have student rooms at cheaper rates (€200-€300). Since they receive many demands for the reservation of a room, it is important to send your request as soon as soon as possible (by e-mail).

  • Solidarité Etudiants Tiers-Monde (SETM)
    Rue de Parme 26, 1060 Brussels
    Tel.: +32 (0)2-533 39 84
    Contact: florence.binon@setm.be (Mrs. Florence Binon)
    This organisation has got 60 rooms and 70 beds available, some rooms are double.
  • Entraide Educative et Sociale (EES)
    Place Loix 20, 1060 Brussels
    Tel : +32 (0)2-534 95 52
    Contact: ees@brutele.be
    This organisation has got 30 individual rooms (only for women) and 10 rooms (double) for men.
  • La Maison Africaine asbl
    Rue d'Alsace Lorraine 33, 1050 Brussels
    Tel: +32 (0)2/513.75.92
    Contact: administration@maisonafricaine.be
    Website: http://www.maisonafricaine.be/
    This organisation is only for African students and you have to fulfill some conditions (valid visa and passport and registration at a university/school of higher education).
    They have 77 rooms: 64 single rooms and 13 double rooms.

You can also rent a room through a private housing agency or contact the Social Services HUB for a list of websites where to find (temporary) accommodation in Brussels. If you prefer to stay in an other city rather than in Brussels, contact housing@hubrussel.be in order to receive the adequate information.

For assistance, practical information and questions related to housing, do not hesitate to send an e-mail to housing@hubrussel.be or contact Marieke Steurs at +32 2 609 88 16.

More questions about accommodation in Brussels? Download the housing brochure here and carefully read the information.