Hogeschool Gent

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.