Hogeschool Gent

About Hogeschool Gent

HOGENT is a public, degree-granting university college formally named Hogeschool Gent. It was created in 1995 through the merger of thirteen institutions, followed by a further merger with Mercator Hogeschool in 2001. In 2013 it became a public-law university college with substantial organizational and administrative autonomy. Its registered office is in central Ghent, while its educational footprint extends beyond one campus. The institution describes nine schools covering teacher training, healthcare, social welfare, the built environment, IT and digital innovation, business and management, bioscience and industrial technology, the arts, and associate-degree education. This breadth makes HOGENT relevant to applicants seeking professionally focused study as well as arts education. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts and Royal Conservatory form its School of Arts, where the institution’s master’s provision is concentrated alongside other graduate offerings shown in the accredited catalogue. External quality assurance is an important distinction for applicants evaluating the institution. NVAO identifies Hogeschool Gent as a Flemish university college, records a positive institutional review running from October 2022 through September 2028, and lists accredited programs at bachelor’s and master’s levels. HOGENT is therefore distinct from Ghent University and should not be treated as a campus or department of that research university. It is also distinct from its constituent schools, which operate within the parent institution.

Admissions depend on citizenship, prior credentials, intended credential, teaching language, and whether the applicant is entering HOGENT for a full degree or an exchange period. A degree student enrolls as a regular student for a HOGENT award; exchange students remain enrolled at their home institution and follow a different process. Applicants holding a Belgian secondary-school diploma, Belgian bachelor’s or master’s degree, or recognized equivalence can generally proceed to registration without the foreign-credential approval route, although the applicable Dutch-language evidence is still required. Belgian citizens with a foreign credential may need admission review unless they already hold an equivalence. Applicants with other foreign credentials should follow the route corresponding to European Economic Area or non-EEA status and submit the documentation requested by HOGENT. The official page available on 20 August 2026 has already moved to the 2027/28 international cycle. It states that EEA applications with foreign credentials open in November 2026 and that applications submitted by 1 June 2027 will be assessed. For non-EEA candidates, expressions of interest begin in November 2026, selected candidates may apply from 4 January 2027, and a €150 application fee applies. HOGENT also says processing capacity for the current non-EEA intake is full. Dutch requirements stated for Dutch-taught programs are B1 for associate degrees and B2 for bachelor’s degrees. Most School of Arts programs additionally use artistic admission tests. Candidates should verify their exact program’s diploma, language, portfolio, audition, and deadline rules before applying.

HOGENT’s academic model centers on applied and professionally oriented higher education. Its published degree overview separates associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, advanced bachelor’s programs, and master’s degrees. Bachelor’s options cover fields including education, healthcare, social work, business, computing, engineering-related disciplines, biosciences, and the arts. The School of Arts houses the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and Royal Conservatory and offers arts master’s programs. NVAO’s institutional record independently lists accredited bachelor’s and master’s awards. Applicants should pay close attention to credential type. An associate degree is a separate Flemish higher-education award and has not been converted into a bachelor’s equivalence in this profile. Advanced bachelor’s programs normally require a prior bachelor’s degree. Program length, curriculum, campus, professional placement, and language requirements vary, so decisions should be based on the current program page and study guide rather than institution-wide assumptions. Dutch is central to regular degree study. HOGENT states that all associate-degree courses are taught in Dutch, while its admissions guidance specifies Dutch at B1 for associate-degree study and B2 for bachelor’s study in Dutch-taught programs. Some advanced bachelor’s or international curricula use English, but availability is program-specific; English-taught exchange courses should not be confused with full degrees available to new degree students. Academic support includes study-skills guidance, tutoring, learning-path advice, help with study contracts, and consideration of previously acquired qualifications. Students who require examination or educational accommodations can apply for individual measures under the institution’s procedures.

Key Highlights

• Public Flemish university college established through a 1995 merger
• Positive NVAO institutional review valid through September 2028
• Nine schools spanning applied fields, arts, and associate-degree education
• Campuses or teaching locations in Ghent, Aalst, Melle, Lokeren, and Bottelare

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed across HOGENT’s campuses rather than concentrated in a single enclosed campus. The main Schoonmeersen campus is near Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station, while other Ghent sites and locations in Aalst, Melle, Lokeren, and Bottelare serve different programs. New international students can use Welcome Days to become familiar with the institution and city. HOGENT provides study and course guidance, social support, confidential mental-health assistance, and procedures for individual educational or examination measures. Its sports service offers both individual and competitive activities, including access to activities at the Schoonmeersen sports facilities. Students can also participate through the HOGENT student council. These services are useful, but availability and working language should be confirmed directly where language access matters. Institution-managed accommodation is available at the Mercator and Schoonmeersen residences in Ghent. Rooms are furnished and include internet access, with shared kitchens and laundry facilities. Eligibility and priority rules apply, so accommodation is not guaranteed. For 2026/27, applications opened on 1 April 2026, and international students receive priority for a limited number of rooms in Mercator D. HOGENT also directs students to the private Ghent market when its residences are unavailable.

Location & Surroundings

The database record identifies Ghent as HOGENT’s city, and the institution’s registered office is in central Ghent. Prospective students should nevertheless check the location attached to their chosen program because HOGENT operates across multiple campuses and cities. Its published campus network includes sites in Ghent as well as Aalst, Melle, Lokeren, and Bottelare. Ghent is the capital of East Flanders and a major higher-education center. Its historic center, cultural venues, restaurants, and large student community create a city-based experience rather than a residential campus environment. Walking and cycling are common ways to travel locally, supplemented by buses and trams. Transport access is a practical strength for students based at Schoonmeersen: HOGENT describes its main campus as within walking distance of Gent-Sint-Pieters, Ghent’s principal railway station. The station has national rail connections, including services toward Brussels. This can support commuting, but journey time and housing convenience will depend on the actual teaching campus. Applicants assigned to Aalst, Lokeren, Melle, Bottelare, or another HOGENT location should plan around that site rather than assuming all classes take place in central Ghent.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026/27, HOGENT’s current Dutch-language cost page lists tuition for a standard 60-credit bachelor’s or associate-degree year at €1,181 for a non-scholarship student, €623.40 at the near-scholarship rate, and €139.40 at the scholarship rate. The amount depends on credits and fee status. Program materials, equipment, travel, and other course-specific expenses may add to this total, so applicants should consult the cost information for their chosen program. Eligibility for subsidized fee categories is governed by Flemish rules and should not be assumed for every international student. Institutional housing offers a comparatively transparent additional budget item. Published 2026/27 monthly prices are €290 for a room with shared sanitary facilities, €356 for a room with a private shower, and €423 for a room with a shower and toilet; utilities and internet are included in those amounts. A Ghent student-housing tax applies from January 2027, and residents pay a €400 security deposit. Housing is capacity-limited and subject to eligibility and priority rules. HOGENT frames its degrees around professional preparation and long-term employability, but it does not publish one institution-wide salary or placement outcome that can responsibly be applied to every graduate. Career value should instead be assessed through each program’s curriculum, placement or project requirements, professional recognition, and likely working language. Study and learning-path advisers can help students align program choices with prior qualifications and goals.