Category: Ghent University

Pre-Departure:

Before leaving for Belgium, my main points of administration were (1) selecting modules and finalizing my learning agreement, (2) booking airplane tickets, (3) arranging accommodation, and (4) applying for a Visa.

Because I was a post-graduate engineering student that already completed compulsory course work and submitted my thesis before leaving for Belgium, I was able to select any modules of my choice and I had not minimum credits to fulfill. Ultimately, I shortened my time abroad to three months by selecting two engineering modules that had no written exam and a language course in Dutch that I could complete in three months exactly. I will elaborate more on the modules later. Ghent University approved my learning agreement under these circumstances.

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Pre-departure:

My exchange to Ghent University in Ghent, Belgium was the most exciting experience of my life. However a lot of preparation was necessary in order to get to the point of departure. At the end however it will all be worth it. After the submission of my application to Stellenbosch Universities international exchange office things started to happen. SU International are fully equipped to help you with every aspect of your exchange which makes the process go much smoother.

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Pre-departure :

I would advise anyone making the trip to Belgium to A: get your police clearance forms ready/sent away and B: make an appointment at the Belgian consulate the moment you get accepted to do an exchange. I found the most helpful sources to be two friends who had done an an exchange the previous semester who sent my the right documents.

Some practical advice:

1. Be over-prepared when you go for the Visa application, rather take more copies of everything than less.
2. Do NOT wait for your police clearance for before making the appointment at the consulate, they don’t need the certified one for the appointment, this can always be scanned and sent later.
3. Make sure the visa payment is made correctly to their bank IN BELGIUM. I made the mistake of paying it into their South-African account. This overseas payment is a MISSION and once again semi-archaic (…could someone please spread the good news about PAYPAL??)
4. I found Bidvest to be the cheapest way of handling money in the beginning before opening a Belgian bank account.

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