Flatshare in Ghent

The cost of living in this city is not very cheap but it is not excessively expensive either, it all depends on your lifestyle. For your consideration, renting a shared flat in Ghent is usually the most chosen option by international students, because it allows you to divide the cost of rent and utility bills among all the roommates who live there.

Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Ghent

These are some of the pros and cons of living in a shared flat in the Belgian city:

Advantages of sharing a flat in Ghent

• As it costs less than a full flat, you will have more options to choose from. You can choose a shared flat in some of the preferred neighbourhoods by students, such as downtown Ghent, Veldstraat, Ledeberg and the Arts Quarter.

• You can choose between spare rooms that are part of private shared flats, kots or residence halls, which in turn can be private or public. Remember that each of the residences has different amenities that you have to compare.

Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Ghent

• Some of the student residences are located in areas far from the city centre, so you have to consider how you can reach the entertainment areas to determine if it is convenient for you or not.

• When living with students of different nationalities, normally, there are some clashes between cultures and lifestyles. For this reason, they must establish basic norms and rules so that they are complied with and avoid problems of coexistence.

Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Ghent

There are different Erasmus+ Apps that you can download to make your exchange process simpler. With them, you will have access to a lot of useful information about life in the city. One of the data you can find is that using a bike is the preferred means of transport by students, however, buses on weekends are free to use and trains are very affordable means to travel to other nearby cities.

How to meet people in Ghent

Try to befriend your roommates, who will surely be some of your closest friends during your exchange. You can also consider the following ways to meet people in this Belgian city:

Student associations in Ghent

The preferred association for international students is ESN Gent. Thanks to it you will be able to join a large number of fun plans and meet people at the same time. Some of the activities you can join include volleyball tournaments, affordable trips to nearby cities, and theme parties.

Facebook groups for Erasmus in Ghent

Most of the Facebook groups that you will find were created by ESN Gent. There are some general groups and others are divided according to the academic year in which you are going to be in Ghent.

Whatsapp groups for Erasmus in Ghent

Surely you will find groups in messaging services to join, for example, some Facebook groups have WhatsApp groups and ESN Gent has a Telegram group with which you connect with other young people. 

Tips for living in a shared apartment in Ghent

Here are some tips for living in shared flats in the Belgian city:

• The central street of Overpoort is the most popular area for students for nightlife. Keep this in mind to see if you want to find accommodation nearby or if you prefer to be in a more remote and quiet area.

• If any of your roommates is Belgian, don’t miss the opportunity to learn the local language and delve deeper into their culture! They are usually very friendly and easy-going people. But if you don't know Dutch don't worry, most locals and international students can speak English pretty well.

• The weather in this city is very changeable, being able to go from sun to rain and cloudy weather quickly on the same day.

Frequently asked questions about sharing a flat in Ghent