Erasmus Leuven 2017 / 2018 (English)

Erasmusu Staff Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Welcome to the forum for Erasmus Leuven 2017 / 2018!

This is the place where Erasmus students, or any exchange students, that are headed for Leuven in 2017 / 2018 can introduce themselves and get to know one another before they arrive. Introduce yourself to the forum and ask any questions you may have about the city, the University, where to stay, where to eat, the prices and cost of living in Leuven, places for Erasmus parties or any other question you may habe. Here you can also find:

• The accommodation in Leuven
• Other students that are looking for accommodation
• Students jobs in Leuven
• The general forum for Leuven
• The blog Erasmus Leuven
• What to see in Leuven, Erasmus party, where to eat
• Erasmus experiences in Leuven
• People who have been, are and will be in Leuven
• A photo gallery of Leuven
• The map and weather in Leuven
• The universities in Leuven

Warning! If you want to advertise an accommodation or your are looking for one... the forum is not the place for doing that. In order to advertise your accommodation in Leuven or in order to find roommates don’t use this forum, go to the accommodation section of Leuven.

Livin' la vida Erasmus!

Aleksandra Żuryńska Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hi! I'm going to Leuven this year in the first semester! I'm from Poland, from Łódź (but my home city is Cracow). Hope that will be more people here;)

Miriam Ramos Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hello Guys! I´m going to Leuven next year ( for the whole year), I´m from Madrid i study English translating and i can´t wait to meet new people and study abroad! I am also looking for a room in the city, if any of you has some information about cheap opportunities please contact me, apart from that i´ll be very happy to get to know you and hopefully see you there! xx

Laia Farrés Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hi!! I'm Laia and i'm from Barcelona. I'm going to Leuven next course for the first semester and i would like to know some more information about the residences, which one is better etc.

It would would be nice to have a group with different students to echange much more information.

Hope to see you there! 

Emily Krasnow Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hello! My name is Emily and I'm from the suburbs of New York City and am finishing up school in Philadephia. I'll be in Leuven next year (September-June) at KUL on a Fulbright and can't wait to meet new people and travel. I'm looking for relatively inexpensive places to live and would love a roommate!

Ana Iriarte Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hi! I'm Ana and I'm from Portugal (i live in Braga near OPorto). I'm going to Leuven next year for the first semester and I can't wait to study abroad! I'm looking for a room in the city, so if anyone knows some not so expensive rooms to rent near the Faculty of Arts (or not so near - I don't mind walking!) please let me know.  Hope to see you there! xx

Aleksandra Mac Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hi there! My name is Aleksandra, I'm from Poland, Gdansk. I'm coming to Leuven for the first semester of the academic year 2017/2018 (september - february) to study at KUL law faculty.

If you have any tips how to find a nice room or if you're looking for a flatmate / flatmates (there's also one more girl from my uni coming, searching for an accomodation) - feel free to contact me :)

See you there!

Cedric Roels Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hi guys,

I'm a third year student at KU Leuven so if you have any questions, you can ask them to me.

Just for the information, according to our yearly inquiry into Erasmus experiences, the most negative things about the KUL are:

- No contact with the locals: Belgian students are very busy and reserved. Sometimes you have to make appointments to meet Belgian students using your agenda. 

- The level is high: the university has high quality education to offer but you have to work hard for getting good grades. So don't expect to be able to party all the time, good planning will be a life-saver. 

- High prices: understand that Belgium has a lot of taxes and few home production. These two economic factors can be translated into high consumption prices. So when you arrive, better ask the locals where to find the cheap products. Places like Aldi/Colruyt - cheap supermarkets, Kotwijs - cheap dorms (sometimes Dutch dorms so search for translators online) and Alma, Thai House, La divina commedia for cheap lunch or dinner. 

Glad for helping you all,

Cedric

Miriam Ramos Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hello! I am Miriam from Spain, I am going to Leuven on Erasmus but I am going to The french University, anyway i will stay in the centre of the city :) , I'd like to meet new people and natives as well. Hope we can keeo the contact. Thank you! 

Cedric Roels Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

The Université Catholique de Louvain is not connected to the KU Leuven. The two universities separated in the sixties. 

I won't recommend to live in Leuven city when you need to be in Louvain-la-neuve as it can be quite a trip you've to make daily to reach the university.

Further, Belgian students are quite reserved and busy with their own things, so contact with locals or natives won't be so easy. The best thing you can do is applying for a buddy who will guide you around. Be there with the orientation days! 

C

Payet Frédéric Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hello.I am Frédéric, a french student. I  write this post to help people who want a room or a studio In Louvain. I found a room thanks to this site but another person had helped me. Now she proposes a large room in her house 400 euros per months+ 50 bills (electricity, internet. There is a shared kitchenand also a  shared bathroom The room is furnished, there is a washing machine.  The house is really near the center of Louvain.

The landlady names Anne Marie and you can contact me and I will give you her coordinates.

Louvain is a great city!

Frédéric

Cedric Roels Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hello Frederick, 

That's quite expensive for a room: 450 euro a month is way overpriced. For normal dorms and rooms, you should look for prices around 300-350 euro a month all-in. If you want more luxury: own bathroom, own kitchen, you'll pay more. For a shared kitchen and shared bathroom the price is lower.

Keep also in mind that currently the housing market in Leuven has a surplus. This means that the supply is higher than the demand, i.e. prices are dropping. So don't be afraid to negotiate prices, as proprietors should take your wishes into account if they want to find a renter. 

So never take offers over 400 euros for a dorm! That's too expensive! 

Greets,

Cedric

Frances Wilson Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hi,

My name is Frances and I'll be studying in Leuven for the academic year. Im from belfast and attend the university of edinburgh.

I just got my accommodation offer for American College, is there anyone else here who will be staying there? Or knows anything about those halls from experience?

Thanks! 

Cedric Roels Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hi Frances,

Normally speaking, these private residential colleges are of great quality. You can't find anything elsewhere of better quality.

This means of course that there are rules for everybody you've to obey. If not there can be sanctions, next to a lot of people who'll be angry with you.

Speaking about other foreigners: the majority of these college residents will be Flemmings, however there will be a minority of foreigners as well. Don't get mistaken as the American college is just a name without significance. We also have a Papal College but don't expect to only find Vatican residents there or people who only study theology. That's not the case.

Regards,

C

Tuks Godse Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hello :) I am coming to Leuven by the end of this month for my Pre-Doctoral program !! Would love to meet new people and socalise..Would be good if we all create a group and stay in touch so that, we can help each other in the long run! Cheers and Hello to all of you!! 

Frances Wilson Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Thanks for the help Cedric!

Petra Marais Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hi everyone! I'm from Stellenbosch University  (South Africa) and will be studying at Leuven for the first semester during 2017/2018. 

I am looking for accommodation, hopefully in a house with other people - or some kind of other housing with other students - and close to the town centre/university (I will be studying at the law faculty). Does anyone know of a room that is available? 

Thanks! 

Tuks Godse Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hey! You may wanna check the kotweb website! There maybe some rooms available at the bama residnece... just google it! Are you in Leuven already?

Miriam Ramos Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Hello Guys, I will go to Leuven in September and I will stay till June. I have already found a room just in the centre of the city, it was only 300/ month so It´s perfect. I found this room with a shared bathroom in the Online page of KU leuven ( I will leave you the link downwards) Moreover, I will go to the french university, but in Louvain la Neuve there are only houses and residences, and I believe that It´s best to go to a place where you can enjoy the views, have everything you need available and practice both languages french and dutch. What I mean with the above, is that if you struggle to stay in the city, I recommend you to consider those facts. 

https://icts.kuleuven.be/apps/kotwijs/search/index.php?lang=en

Hopeto seeyou all there! Can´t wait!

Regards!

Cedric Roels Geschrieben vor 7 Jahren

Petra,

Can I ask: do you speak any Afrikaans? If you do so, then I think it will be even possible to communicate with the landlords in Flemish. Afrikaans and Flemish are extremely close to each other. This will for sure simplify your search for a quality kot,

Ps.: Miriam: "practice both languages french and dutch": Practicing French won't be difficult at the UCL, yet practicing your dutch may prove difficult. In Leuven but in Belgium in general, it's regarded as polite to speak immediately in English to foreigners. That means that from the moment we, Flemmings, hear you speak Dutch with an obvious foreign accent, we'll switch instantly to English. You can try of course to prove me wrong, but that's thing I've heard most of the time when speaking with foreigners trying to improve their Dutch while being in Leuven.

Best regards,

Cedric