Howest University of Applied Sciences

Key Highlights

• Public Flemish university of applied sciences operating in 2026–2027
• Current institutional form dates from 1995
• Degree teaching is distributed across Kortrijk, Bruges and Oudenaarde
• English-taught degrees coexist with a broader Dutch-language portfolio

Student Life & Environment

Student Services, known as STUVO, supports students across areas including psychological well-being, study coaching, financial and socio-legal guidance, disability-related adjustments, accommodation, mobility, sport and cultural activity. Support is available in both Kortrijk and Bruges, with appointment and welcome-hour arrangements published by the institution. Howest recognizes student organizations in both cities and provides them with advice and financial support. The published organizations cover general student activities as well as communities connected to particular fields such as electronics, industrial sciences and design. International students can also be matched with student buddies who help them become familiar with the campus, city and local student life. Housing is available through Howest residences and the private rental market, but it is not guaranteed. The institution advises students to begin searching as soon as their application is approved and explicitly states that it cannot provide emergency accommodation on arrival. For 2026–2027, its Kortrijk residences include Pixelkot, The House and Kaaikot. The official housing page reported these options as fully booked at the time it was accessed, with new applicants placed on waiting lists. Students should therefore check live availability and investigate licensed private rooms through Kotwest rather than relying on a residence place.

Location & Surroundings

Howest’s principal administrative base is in Kortrijk, a city in Belgium’s West Flanders province. Its Kortrijk teaching network includes Campus Buda and several Kortrijk Weide sites, including The Level, The Penta, The Core and the Industrial Design Center. Different programmes use different buildings, making the precise campus address an important part of programme selection and housing planning. The institution also teaches in Bruges. Officially listed locations include buildings by Bruges railway station and a sport-innovation campus in Assebroek. Its 2026–2027 materials additionally identify English-taught study opportunities in Oudenaarde. Students should not assume that they can take every Howest programme in Kortrijk simply because the database record names that city. Accommodation options reflect this multi-city structure. Howest manages residences in Kortrijk and Bruges and also directs students to the licensed private market. Several Kortrijk residences stand next to the Kortrijk Weide campuses, while the Bruges residence is integrated into the Bruges Station campus area. International students living in Kortrijk can use an assisted English-language city-registration procedure on campus during September; outside that period, registration is handled directly with city hall.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, tuition for most English-taught bachelor’s programmes is calculated from a fixed charge plus a per-credit charge. The published total for a standard 60-ECTS year is €1,181.40 for Belgian and EEA students and €8,000 for non-EEA students who do not fall within an exempt category. The Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics has a separate 30-ECTS annual price: €743.40 for Belgian and EEA students and €4,000 for relevant non-EEA students. Postgraduate certificates use programme-specific prices. Howest also publishes additional study costs, so tuition should not be treated as the full cost of attendance. Housing is another substantial expense. For 2026–2027, Kortrijk residence prices range from €408 per month for a standard room at The House to €750 for the largest Kaaikot rooms; listed prices include water, electricity, gas and internet. Contracts are generally for 12 months, deposits are €500, and shorter Erasmus contracts can carry a monthly surcharge. Availability is limited, and private-market prices may differ. Career preparation is connected to Howest’s applied curriculum. The institution operates a career portal providing students with regional and international vacancies, information about professions and student-job opportunities. External organizations can also offer projects, internships and bachelor’s-thesis assignments through Howest. Internships form part of the institution’s professional approach, including supported opportunities abroad. No reliable institution-wide graduate salary, employment rate or employer-outcome figure was found, so applicants should seek programme-level outcome evidence directly from the relevant department.