Metadata
Title
For exchange students
Category
undergraduate
UUID
3f45bdda68e94f958f7c034ff4053497
Source URL
https://www.ugent.be/ea/en/for-exchange-students
Parent URL
https://www.ugent.be/ea/en/for-degree-students/admission-degree-students-fea.htm
Crawl Time
2026-03-18T06:34:58+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

For exchange students

Source: https://www.ugent.be/ea/en/for-exchange-students Parent: https://www.ugent.be/ea/en/for-degree-students/admission-degree-students-fea.htm

Why choose FEA?

The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FEA) is one of the largest faculties of Ghent University. It combines state-of-the-art research with top-notch education in all significant engineering and architecture fields.

The faculty strongly focuses on international relations. It offers a wide array of master's programmes taught in English and is active in all major exchange programmes.

Through research collaboration and educational links with top European institutions, the faculty strives to further enhance its international perspective. Each year, we host more than a hundred incoming exchange students from partner universities through the Erasmus+ programme and other global collaborations.

About Ghent University

Ghent University is an internationally renowned, open, pluralistic and socially engaged university in Belgium. Our credo is 'Dare to Think'.

Why choose UGent?

UGent is an enterprising university with an international appeal. In line with our motto "Dare to think" we encourage students and staff members to adopt a critical approach. During its 200 years of history, UGent has built a firm scientific reputation. The university can present an extensive record of international recognized research work.

For whom?

Exchange students for studies (courses and/or Master's Dissertation)

Exchange students are students that receive their diploma at their home university, and only stay at UGent for a limited time (1 semester or 1 academic year). Most come on Erasmus programme, but other exchange programs (like eg. Basileus, ASEM-duo, Science without borders, etc.) are also possible.

If you plan on studying an entire bachelor of master programme at our faculty, with the aim of obtaining a UGent diploma, you are a degree student.

Exchange students for traineeship/research/PhD

Students in this category come to Ghent University for a traineeship or research stay, often as part of their Master’s thesis or PhD project. They remain enrolled at their home university, where they will ultimately obtain their degree. The focus of their stay is on practical training or conducting research, rather than attending regular courses and obtaining credits. This type of academic mobility is frequently supported by programmes such as the Erasmus+ Traineeship or similar international initiatives. 

Admission requirements

Agreement

You can only become an exchange student if there is an agreement between your university and our Faculty in your study field. There are different possibilities:

Your local International Office can tell you if such an agreement exists. They can also inform you about the conditions.

Bachelor or Master?

Exchanges are only possible at Master level.

Exception: if your university offers 4 year Bachelor programmes, you could be accepted as exchange student after completion of three years Bachelor (equivalent to 180 ECTS) at your home university.

Study programme at our faculty

You need a minimum number of credits on your exchange learning agreement to be admitted.

Language requirements

All students (including Erasmus Belgica students) require a good knowledge of English (B2 level). You need to proof this with a relevant proof of proficiency.

Agreement

If a student receives Erasmus+ Traineeship funding (provided by their home university) or is self-funded (through personal means or other scholarships), no formal exchange agreement is required—as long as a UGent supervisor is willing to host the student.

Bachelor or Master?

Exchanges are possible at Bachelor, Master level and PhD level.

Language requirements

All students (including Erasmus Belgica students) require a good knowledge of English (B2 level). You need to proof this with a relevant proof of proficiency.

Application procedure

Deadlines

There are more than 100 applications each year and any missing document will result in delays. Even in the best of circumstances expect between 4 to 6 weeks between your application and the receipt of your Letter of Invitation.

Procedure

  1. Make sure you comply with the admission requirements.
  2. Follow the two-step application procedure.\
  3. Information about composing your study programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture

  4. If your Learning Agreement includes thesis work, you need to fill out the Thesis Information Sheet. Please take into account that there are two ways to add the thesis to your Learning Agreement depending on the contents:

    1) You apply for (Erasmus+ for) studies and you add the Master’s Dissertation with the corresponding course code (e.g. E091103)  to your Learning Agreement.  By doing so, you accept the course specifications as stipulated in the study guide. To earn ECTS credits, both the local and the UGent promotor should be involved in the written report as well as the public defence. The master’s dissertation is evaluated on the basis of the written report as well as on the public defence and presentation of the dissertation. The number of ECTS credits that should be awarded to the thesis by UGent have to be mentioned on the Thesis Information Sheet. This is the number of ECTS credits that need to appear on your UGent Transcript of Records; this number should be the same as the number of ECTS that your home university will award the thesis upon return. The place of the thesis defence also has to be mentioned.

    \ 2) You apply for (Erasmus+ for) studies and you add the UGent course ‘Research for incoming students’ with the corresponding course code E999999 to the Learning Agreement. By doing so, you indicate that only laboratory work/research will be executed under the supervision of the UGent promotor during your stay. The course will be assessed by PASS/FAIL on the Transcript Of Records. In case the home university wants the laboratory/research work to be graded, a letter/evaluation form can be provided by the promotor.\ The number of ECTS that the laboratory/research work is worth has to be filled in. It is generally assumed that each week that the student conducts research abroad equals 1 ECTS credit.

    Make sure you have both local and Ghent promoters identified before you add thesis work to your program.\ Upload the Thesis Information Sheet under "Documents". 3. Make sure your application is completely finished by the application deadline. Late applications will not be accepted! 4. The IRO and faculty will check your application for completeness and validity. Please respond swiftly to any inquiries you receive about your application.\ When your application has been accepted, you will receive a formal Letter of Invitation and acceptance e-mail.Do not come to Ghent without the Letter of Invitation, you will be sent back home! 5. You have to apply yourself for housing in Ghent. Do this early, as housing is scarce in Ghent. Do not wait until you receive your Letter of Invitation. 6. Plan your trip to Ghent so you arrive at least 2 weeks before start of classes. Participation in both the UGent Welcome Day and the Faculty Welcome Day is obligatory! The start of the semesters can be found in the academic calender.

  5. Exchange student for research/traineeship/PhD

Application deadline

Please note that the application should be submitted preferably at least 6 weeks before the start of your stay.

Types of Mobility

a. Research or Traineeship (BSc, MSc, PhD levels)

b. PhD Exchange

PhD students may choose between:

The only difference between both options is the type of Learning Agreement.\ In both cases, no credits are awarded, the administrative procedure is identical, and a UGent professor must agree to host the student.

Finding a UGent Supervisor

To identify a suitable supervisor, students may consult:

Learning Agreement (LA)

Students must complete the appropriate Learning Agreement together with their UGent supervisor:

All templates can be found here:\ https://www.ugent.be/prospect/en/administration/application/application-exchange/overview.htm/la.htm

Once the Learning Agreement is signed by:

it must be uploaded in Oasis.

Application Procedure

After Approval

Housing

If desired, you may request UGent accommodation via a separate tab in Oasis.\ Please note that room availability is limited and cannot be guaranteed.

Additional Information

More details about the procedure can be found here:

https://www.ugent.be/prospect/en/administration/application/application-exchange

Study programme

ECTS credits

The number of ECTS in your UGent study programme depends on the length of your stay:

At least 15 ECTS of courses per semester must be from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (course codes starting with an E). Courses at another faculty are on request (will be checked by the International Relations Officer).

Exceptions can only be made for students who need less credits to achieve their degree in their home university (for example only their master thesis).

In this case:

Selecting courses

In order to compose a learning agreement you can consult the study guide. The following filters have already been applied for you: Academic year 2026-2027, Master’s Programme and Exchange programme, English, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. As a result you will find 31 programmes. In the course specifications you can check the required initial competences. So you can select courses besides the exchange programmes.

Please take into account that you also can take courses from other faculties. On the Study programme page you can find more information about the conditions. 

Courses and Time tables

(Get ready for) your stay

Before arrival

Upon arrival

Welcome Days

Ghent University organizes welcome days for all new international students. Please attend both the UGent and the FEA welcome days to get all information and documents for a smooth start of your studies in Ghent.

During your stay

Your studies in Ghent

Master's dissertation

Manual

Student administration

Location

Life in Ghent

Departure

Facebook

International Relations Office

The International Relations Office is the starting point for every international student and every local students that has interest in a mobility period abroad. Here you can get an answer to all your questions regarding your study, schedule, lecturers, administration etc.

Contact

Room 0.30 (ground floor, left wing)\ Jozef Plateaustraat 22\ 9000 Gent\ international.ea@ugent.be

Incoming exchange students

Incoming degree students

Bert Coryn\

Outgoing exchange students

Ann Vanoutryve

Contact

Bert Coryn

Nele De Wolf: maternity leave

Fien Porrez

Ann Vanoutryve

Book an appointment

You can book an appointment to talk to us online.

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