Accommodation for (Exchange) PhD students

Source: https://www.ugent.be/en/facilities/housing/phd Parent: https://www.ugent.be/en/facilities/housing

New applications - AY 2025-2026\ For more information on our available options, you can contact us through this template.\ - Applications are possible for any rental period until 13.09.2026. For an extension, please see below.

Re-applications - AY 2026-2027

At the beginning of May, we will contact all PhD-students with an agreement till 13.09.2026 with all information necessary to reapply.

Extending your stay depends on your location:

Residence Loop 5 & Family flat in Merelbeke: reapplications for the same housing unit are possible

Kantienberg Homes: check-out on 13.09.2026 at the latest, reapplication means moving to a different location. More information will follow at the beginning of May.

New applications - AY 2026-2027 (preview)\ - (Re)applications for a full academic year will be possible (up to the full duration of your PhD trajectory)\ - New applications from the new academic year onwards are possible from 15.05.2026 onwards\ - More locations and types will become available; duration limit will be waived\ - More information (rental fees, specific House Regulations) will be added ASAP

Application criteria

Every PhD student with an affiliation with Ghent University can apply for accommodation.

The Housing Office will be able to process your housing application once your enrolment application has been completed. We will not be able to meet requests from PhD. candidates without an approved application.\ Please note that there is a high demand for accommodation in the first semester. In the second semester it is easier to find a living unit on the private rental market .

As of September 2026: priority will be given to applications for a full academic year (re-applications possible till the end of PhD-trajectory)

Location and prices of the living units

Single comfort room (studio-type): site Kantienberg (for stays until 13.09.2026)
Studio's & flats (single, or up to four individuals):site Loop 5
Large studio (no separate bedroom) with twin beds (Residence Loop 5; type 1)
One bedroom apartment with twin beds (Residence Loop 5;type 2)
Two bedroom apartment with two twin beds (Residence Loop 5;type 3)
Two bedroom apartment with twin beds and two single beds (Residence Loop 5;type 4)
Flat for families (type 6): Campus Merelbeke

New options as of September 2026:

Single person units
Single Room: Home Henri Pirenne
Single Room plus: Home Henri Pirenne
Single Comfort room (studio-type): Home Henri Pirenne
One bedroom flat (type 5): Home Heymans

Terms and conditions

When you apply for a living unit in the University Halls of Residence, you agree to these terms:

Rental payment

Check out the rental fee for the correct academic year
The rent is due from the start of the reserved period. The tenant is obliged to keep the living unit that was allocated for the duration of the tenancy agreement.
The costs for the consumption of water, electricity, and heating, provision of bed linen, cleaning of the communal areas, repair service, and use of the internet are included in the monthly rent.
A monthly invoice will be sent to you by email. Please note that there is no need to pay anything pre-arrival or upon your arrival.
As of September 2025, there is no deposit required at Ghent University for accommodation.

Rental period

The minimum rental period is 2 weeks (14 days), and the maximum rental period is 6 months (during academic year 2025-2026). As of September 2026, there is no maximum period anymore.
It is only possible to rent according to our fixed contract dates!
Find more information regarding the contract data.
Check-in is possible from 2 p.m onwards on the starting date of the agreement, or any later working day during opening hours of our reception desk. Check-in is not possible during weekends, with the exception of the months of February and September. Early check-ins are unfortunately not possible.
Check-out needs to be completed by 10 a.m. on the end date of the agreement, or any moment before that. Exceptions and late check-outs are unfortunately not possible.

Modifications and cancellations

In case you made a mistake or would like to change your application, please reply as soon as possible on the application letter you received.\ If NO living unit was assigned to you, you can still cancel or change the application free of charge.
Find more information on our policy regarding cancellations and modifications on this page.
All modifications and cancellations must be done in writing, stating the reason and including the necessary supporting documents.

Apply for a living unit

Please read the terms and conditions *before you apply for housing.*

Please note that applications for next academic year (2026-2027) can only be done from May 15 onwards

For Exchange Ph.D. students in the framework of Ph.D. studies at your home university, please apply via the exchange application form
For Ph.D. students: in order to apply for housing, you need to have a UGent (OASIS)-account.\ In case you have an active UGent email address, you can immediately proceed with the application.\ \ If you do not have an active UGent-account, your chairman, supervisor, promotor or lecturer-in-charge needs to initialize the application, after which you can complete the information needed for your enrolment and to apply for housing. \ After completion of your enrolment, don't forget to submit the application to the faculty for confirmation.

More information?

For more information about housing, please contact accommodatie@UGent.be