Upon Arrival

Upon arrival it is important you complete a few steps so you can start your studies and stay in Hasselt without any worries. Follow the steps below to ensure a smooth start of your stay. We also provide more information and help during our orientation days.

Upon arrival in Belgium, it is important that you make an appointment for your final registration.

This registration is required in order to get your student/staff/visitor card. This card allows you to make use of the Hasselt University facilities and infrastructure such as the library, bike rent and university restaurants.

Please note that  your registration can only be finalized once your tuition fee payment has been completed (not applicable for exchange students).

As a PhD student, you enroll in a certain doctoral discipline, which means that you are automatically enrolled in a certain doctoral school. In your first and last year, you need to pay a tuition fee.

Once your registration is finished, you can download your proof of enrollment and your final standard form in the student portal. These documents are necessary to register at the town hall and to open a Belgian bank account.  

Do you have questions related to your application? Please contact the Student administration office:

• For master students: stua@uhasselt.be
• For exchange students: exchange@uhasselt.be
• For PhD students: phdstudentadministration@uhasselt.be

Registration at town hall

Upon arrival in Belgium all foreigners staying longer than one month must register at their local town hall within eight working days. Please make an appointment at town hall of the city you reside in. Please mention that you’re an international student of UHasselt. 

You are staying in Hasselt

• go to the website of the city of Hasselt
• Make sure the lines "Aankomst uit buitenland - lang verblijf (>3mnd) is selected (If you are staying longer than 3 months)
• If you don't have a Belgian telephone number to add, you can use +32 11 26 81 11, the general UHasselt telephone number. Please ask to receive a BIS-number (cf. national insurance number).
• Address: Limburgplein1, 3500 Hasselt

You are staying in Diepenbeek

• contact burgerzaken@diepenbeek.be.
• Address: Dorpsstraat 14, 3590 Diepenbeek

You are staying in Genk

• contact vreemdelingen@genk.be.
• Please attach a scan/photo of your passport to your e-mail.
• Address: Stadsplein 1, 3600 Genk

Take following documents to your appointment

• Your passport
• Your rental contract, including your e-mail address
• Your enrollment certificate AND your standard form, which clearly mentions your study/internship. You can find this in your student file - if you have trouble finding it, or it doesn't mention your study or internship yet, please contact stua@uhasselt.be
• If applicable, proof of your scholarship
• 19 euros for Stad Hasselt, 22 euros for Stad Genk, 15 euros for Gemeente Diepenbeek
• 2 passport pictures for Stad Hasselt, 2 for Stad Genk, 3 for Gemeente Diepenbeek
• In the town hall of Hasselt, you can take passport photographs

After your initial appointment, a local police officer will formally determine your address. Afterward, the town hall will contact you about a second appointment for receiving your A-card residence permit.

If you choose to open a bank account in Belgium you will need the following documents:

• a valid passport or identity card, proof of enrollment at Hasselt University
• a copy of your rental contract
• registration at the town hall

You can also look into online banks such as revolut: www.revolut.com.

A current account provides you with a cash card for 24-hour cash dispensers.

CASH

To withdraw cash you have to go to cashpoints. www.bancontact.cash/en/how-use-cash-point

ADDRESSES:

• BNP Paribas Fortis, Ridder Portmansstraat 1, Hasselt
• KBC, Gouverneur Verwilghensingel 102, Hasselt (especially for non-EU (PhD)students)
• Belfius, Havermarkt 36, Hasselt • Crelan, Stadsomvaart 1, Hasselt
• ING, Welvaartstraat 1, Hasselt
• ING, Marktplein 11, 3590 Diepenbeek
• BNP Paribas Fortis, Marktplein 18, Diepenbeek
• KBC, Kapelstraat 36, Diepenbeek
• Belfius, Dorpsstraat 24, Diepenbeek
• Crelan, Varkensmarkt 10 B11, Diepenbeek

Individual health insurance is compulsory in Belgium.

EEA-students

If you are from an EEA country, you are covered by your national health service through the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card covers medical expenses incurred while abroad and is valid for a maximum of one year.

When you visit a doctor or specialist, you will receive a ‘certificate of services provided’. In some cases, the pharmacist will give you a document for reimbursement purposes (certificate model 704). Bring these certificates, along with your EHIC, to the health insurance fund office.

We also strongly recommend taking out travel insurance.

Non-EEA students

If you are staying in Belgium for more than 6 months, you must register with a Belgian health insurance fund (mutuality). Together with the AON International Student Insurance you arranged before travelling to Belgium, this ensures that you are properly insured during your stay at UHasselt.

AON and your Belgian mutuality have different roles:

• AON Student Insurance provides comprehensive insurance coverage, including medical expenses, accidents, repatriation, and civil liability (for example, if you accidentally injure someone or damage someone else's property).
• Your Belgian mutuality gives you access to the Belgian healthcare reimbursement system and covers part of your medical expenses.

You do not need to arrange your mutuality before travelling to Belgium. After your arrival, UHasselt will help you with the registration process during the Orientation Days, or you can register directly with a mutuality of your choice.

What is a mutuality?

A mutuality is a Belgian health insurance fund that reimburses part of your healthcare costs. If you are registered with a mutuality, you can request reimbursement for medical expenses such as visits to doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.

In Belgium you are free to choose your own doctor or healthcare provider. Doctors can work in private practices or be connected to hospitals. Most doctors in Belgium speak English fairly well. You usually pay the doctor’s fee immediately after the consultation and request reimbursement afterwards. Health insurance generally reimburses around 75% of medical costs. Some critical medical expenses may be fully reimbursed.

How to register with a mutuality

After arriving in Belgium:

• Choose a Belgian health insurance fund (mutuality).
• Complete the registration process with your chosen mutuality.
• Keep your membership information and follow the instructions provided by your mutuality for requesting reimbursements.

After registration, your mutuality will provide you with the information needed to request reimbursements. For example, with some mutualities you may receive identification stickers that must be attached to reimbursement documents you submit.

Which mutuality can I choose?

You can choose the mutuality that best fits your needs.

CM (Christelijke Mutualiteit)

CM is one of the largest Belgian health insurance funds and offers support for international students.

CM
Kerklaan 6/1
3590 Diepenbeek

Prins-Bisschopssingel 75
3500 Hasselt 

Email: internationalstudents@cm.be

Registration can be done online or with assistance during the UHasselt Orientation Days.

Helan

Helan is another Belgian health insurance fund that offers health insurance services and support for international students.

Helan
Martelarenlaan 3/2
3500 Hasselt

• Helan registration
• Checklist registration (pdf, 95 KB)
• Infosheet (pdf, 140 KB)

Choose one mutuality and complete your registration after arriving in Belgium. This will allow you to access the Belgian healthcare reimbursement system during your studies at UHasselt.

At the start of each semester, Hasselt University's International Office welcomes international students (master students and exchange students) during the 'Orientation days'.

We show our students around Hasselt University and provide them with the necessary information about administrative procedures, the electronic learning environment, insurance, Belgian culture, student societies, bicycle renting, ... .

More information:

• Your presence at the orientation days is mandatory and free of charge: Register here
• Programme September 14- September 18 (pdf, 131 KB)
• All sessions are organised at UHasselt, Campus Diepenbeek
• UHasselt contact: Stefanie Commeene & Niels Lambrichts

PhD-student

If you are a PhD-student, twice a year, a 'PhD Welcome' session is organised.

Lost on campus, find your way here.