The document provides an overview of topics covered by the Centre for Student Counselling and Guidance including: 1) a brief overview of the work fields of STUVO HUB related to financial support, student jobs, housing, student coaching, activities and restaurants. 2) what the costs of higher education in Belgium are including direct and indirect costs. 3) the various forms of study financing support available including taxes, child allowance, study financing from the Flemish government and social services, and student jobs. 4) integration activities for international students such as a welcome day and buddy program.

1. Centre for Student
Counselling and Guidance

2. Overview of Topics
1. Brief Overview of STUVO HUB Work Fields
2. What is the cost of Higher Education in Belgium?
3. Study Financing Support
4. Integration Activities for International Students

3. 1. Brief Overview of STUVO HUB Work Fields
• Financial Support
- Help and guidance with grants of the Flemish Government
- Financial Support STUVO HUB
- Information and advice on the student statute
• JOS (student jobs)
- Information and advice on legislation of student jobs
- Consultation of the JOS database
• Housing
- Student rooms through the private market or through the
student housing organisation vzw Quartier Latin
- Information and advice on housing in Brussels
- Tips and tricks for finding the perfect accommodation
These services are guaranteed by the Social Service.

4. • Student coaching
- All subjects can be discussed
- Tips for the future
- Trainings: study motivation, fear of failure, study
methods, planning of the exams, active studying,…
• Student activities
- Sports at HUB facilities and in Brussels at a low cost
- STUVO cultural events and support of creative initiatives
- Information and campaigns on healthy food, drugs, AIDS,…
• Student restaurant
- Student friendly prices
- High Quality and daily fresh products
• Transportation
- Information on the public transport in and around Brussels
- Cheap season tickets (metro, tram and bus) of the MIVB

5. 2. What is the Cost of Higher Education in
Belgium? (1)
Direct costs of higher education:
- Tuition fee
- Books, courses, study material, …
- Study related costs: field
trips, traineeship costs,…
- Computer, internet, library, …
- Transport

6. 2. What is the Cost of Higher Education in
Belgium? (2)
Indirect costs of higher education:
- Accommodation
- Food
- Free time (sports, movies, music,…)
- Clothes
- Medical Costs

7. 2. What is the Cost of Higher Education in
Belgium? (3)

8. 3. Study Financing Support (1)
• Taxes (benefits per child fiscally dependent)
• Child allowance
• Study financing of the Flemish Gov.
• Study financing by the social service
• Student jobs

9. 3. Study Financing Support (2)
• Tax deduction for parents
Parents receive a tax deduction for the
children that are fiscally dependent.
• Child allowance
A monthly allowance given to the parents
for the costs of education and support of
the children.

10. 3. Study Financing Support (3)
• Study Financing from the
Flemish Government
= study grant
Student has to fulfill 3 conditions:
1. Nationality condition
2. Educational condition
3. Financial conditions

11. 3. Study Financing Support (4)
• Study financing by the social service
- Advance on the study grant of the Flemish
Government
- Reduction of the tuition fee
- Payment in installments of the tuition fee
- Social allowance of the Social Service

12. 3. Study financing support (5)
• Student jobs
Arrangement: 2 x 23 days of work
REMARK: as of 1/01/2012: 1 x 50 days
- 23 days during the summer (July-September)
No limits in worked hours
Important: solidarity contribution 2,5%
- 23 days during the academic year
No more than 240h/quarter
Important: solidarity contribution 4,5%

13. 3. Study financing support (6)
• Student jobs
A student is allowed to work more than 2 x 23 days (or 50
days in 2012), however, this can affect the taxes of the
student’s parents or the student’s taxes.
Fiscally dependent?
Net income from student jobs: < € 2.890,00
(single parent: € 4.170)
Student pays taxes?
Net income from student jobs: < € 6.570,00

14. 4. Integration Activities for International
Students
• Welcome Day for International/Exchange students
• Buddy Programme for Exchange students
• Help with the Global Village (information fair for
HUB students by exchange students)
• Activities organised by STUVO HUB: Trip to
Christmas Market in Cologne, Indoor football
competition, …