Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen

Kortrijk, Belgium Public Website

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Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen, commonly known as Howest University of Applied Sciences, is a public Flemish university college based in Kortrijk, with teaching in Kortrijk and Bruges. The institution took its present form in 1995 through the merger of six higher-education institutions. Its portfolio is oriented toward professional practice and includes bachelor’s, associate-degree, advanced-bachelor, postgraduate, and selected master’s study options. Subject areas range from business, health, education, and social work to design, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital arts. Most of the wider catalogue is taught in Dutch, but Howest also recruits international students to a defined group of English-taught degrees and exchange semesters. Its positive NVAO institutional review runs from 2024 through 2030.

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Key Highlights

Public Flemish university college operating under the legal name Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen
Current institutional form dates from a 1995 merger of six higher-education institutions
Principal study locations are in Kortrijk and Bruges
Positive NVAO institutional review applies for 2024–2030

Student Life & Environment

Student life is organized across Kortrijk and Bruges rather than around one residential campus. Howest’s Student Services, known as STUVO, provides study coaching, psychological-wellbeing support, financial and socio-legal guidance, mobility advice, accommodation assistance, and support for students requesting a special status or reasonable adjustments. International arrivals can also take part in welcome activities and connect with Howest student buddies who help newcomers become familiar with the institution and city. Recognized student organizations operate in both cities and organize social, cultural, and sporting activities. Howest states that it supports these organizations with advice and allowances and applies the Flemish rules governing initiation and student activities. Recreational activities and discounted sports opportunities are promoted through the StudentApp. Housing is not automatically guaranteed. STUVO manages or advertises several residences in Kortrijk and Bruges and also directs students to Kotwest, a shared database of officially licensed private student rooms. Applicants should compare the relevant campus with the housing location and apply early. The official accommodation page provides 2026–2027 prices, lease lengths, deposits, and current availability or waiting-list information for each property.

Location & Surroundings

Howest’s registered base is at Marksesteenweg 58 in Kortrijk, but students may study in either Kortrijk or Bruges depending on their programme. Kortrijk locations include facilities in the Kortrijk Weide area, such as The Penta and The Level, while Bruges programmes include teaching at Campus Bruges Station. Applicants should use the individual programme page to identify the actual study site before choosing accommodation or planning a commute. Both cities have coordinated student initiatives beyond Howest itself. In Bruges, the city’s student network works with STUVO on events, collective study locations, accommodation information, transport advice, and leisure activities. Kortrijk also has student-focused events and services, and international students living there can begin part of the municipal registration process on campus. Howest provides mobility guidance covering bicycles, public transport, carpooling, and combined travel options. The multicampus structure offers different city settings, but it also makes programme-specific travel and housing research essential.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, tuition for most English-taught bachelor’s programmes is calculated from a fixed charge plus a per-ECTS 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 the listed exemption categories. The Advanced Bachelor of Bioinformatics@home and postgraduate certificates have separate rates, while programme-specific materials, software, activities, or other study costs may be additional. Students should use the relevant programme page for a complete estimate. Howest estimates ordinary living costs at approximately €1,000–€1,100 per month, including accommodation, utilities, transport, insurance, books, and groceries. For a 2026–2027 Belgian student-visa application, the institution states that €13,200 must be demonstrated for 12 months of living expenses. Published Howest housing examples range from €408 per month for a room at The House in Kortrijk to €750 for the largest listed Kaaikot rooms; property terms, deposits, availability, and waiting lists vary. Private licensed rooms can be searched through Kotwest. Howest states that it does not offer merit-based or need-based scholarships. Its career portal connects students and alumni with regional, international, graduate, and student-job vacancies. Kortrijk also organizes an annual Jobhappening with Howest and other local higher-education institutions, giving students a direct setting in which to meet participating employers.