Student Services (Stuvo)

You can find all information about student housing on the student accommodation page.

No, our rent is all-in. There will be no final settlement at the end of the contract year.

For new students, the first rental contract has a duration of 11.5 months, from 15/09/21 to 31/08/22. The next contract runs for 12 months, from 01/09/22 to 31/08/23.

• In Bruges, student home The Lodge is situated right next to the Howest Campus Brugge Station - BST5. The student home is just a 10-minute bike ride away from Howest Campus Brugge Centrum.
• In Kortrijk, student home The Wing is also a mere 10-minute bike ride away from Howest Campus Kortrijk Weide.

No, but our accommodations do have great communal kitchens. You can prepare your own meals, some students choose to cook together or whip up something tasty for each other in turn. On campus, students can buy a warm meal at very democratic rates. 

No, there are no time restrictions. Students are free to return to their accommodation whenever they want to. After 22h00 though, it is expected your respect other people’s peace and quiet.

There definitely is! 

The Stuvo Howest team members are here to support you with any questions or issues you might encounter throughout your student life, in all discretion. We know it isn’t easy to open up and reach out for support. 

But do talk about your feelings. Voice what is going on in your head. When you actually verbalise your worries, it will be easier to work through things. You’ll see clearer what’s cause and effect and what your options are. Stuvo Social Services will help you. 

In case more intense follow-up is needed, our team can refer you to our external network of professional therapists. 

• TRAIN
  Certificates for a train subscription are given at the time of final enrolment. This allows you to purchase a school subscription or campus card and travel at student rates.
• BUS PASS 
  Students studying in Kortrijk can purchase a De Lijn student pass for bus transport in Groot-Kortrijk (the greater region of Kortrijk). For this, you pay an administrative fee of € 10. More information

Of course you can, just go to our website for more information on how to get to and from campus.

Howest has set up collaborations with bike rental firms in Bruges and Kortrijk, so as a student you can rent a bike at very attractive rates.

A solid and well-considered choice of what course you take will increase your chances of success. Are you still in doubt or is the course you are currently taking not what you expected? Maybe a conversation with study coach dascha.debruyne [at] howest.be (Dascha Debruyne) (Bruges) or Frank Dejonghe (Kortrijk) will help you get to the bottom of what you want and find a course that does match your talents and personality. You can book a meeting by sending a chat message to Dascha Debruyne or Frank Dejonghe. Please also include your email address and telephone number and clearly indicate you are requesting an orientation meeting or OGS. The study coach will contact you to book a meeting. 

Do you think the course of your choice might be too hard for you? In that case, we do advise you to gain as much information as possible. Your education so far does show where your knowledge and aptitudes lie, but this isn’t sufficient to make a final decision. These are some other things you can do:  

• Check the ECTS leaflets of the course you are interested in, which will provide you with more information on the goal and content of the course modules and additional learning activities (learning methods) as well as evaluation modalities (e.g. exams, permanent evaluation etc.). Please click here for all Howest ECTS leaflets.  
• Have a chat with students who already successfully completed their first year and talk to them about what plays on your mind. 
• Have a look at some course material and see how students went about internalising that knowledge.
• Talk to teachers about the details of the course and what exactly they expect from their students.

You can always contact the study coaches during the academic year for study coaching. 

For all future students Howest organises several preliminary courses. Please go here to check what is available for the course you will be taking. Stuvo and the study coaches also offer an interactive course in which we tell you all about Howest and your future life as a student here. The switch to higher education is a huge step and in fact means you are facing an interesting challenge that might need some context before you jump in. No problem, we are more than happy to help. Have a look at our preliminary course ‘Student toolkit: ready for kick-off’ via your course and enrol today! 

Of course you can. As a less-abled student you have the right, once you have received a dedicated status, to request certain adjustments (support measures) to help you overcome any specific issues you might have. Howest strives to open its doors to as many people as possible, to ensure every student is given maximum opportunity to grow. We will determine what you might need based on your personal, specific situation, always in collaboration with the campus and course team. For an overview of the kind of adjustments we can offer, please go to FAQ 2. There also is additional support and assistance available.

Following less-abled conditions are eligible for a special status:

• Impaired hearing
• Chronic disease
• Multiple disabilities
• Motor limitations
• Developmental disorder: attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder AD(H)D
• Developmental disorder: autism spectre disorder (ASD)
• Developmental disorder: combination
• Developmental disorder: developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
• Developmental disorder: learning difficulty (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysorthography)
• Developmental disorder: developmental dysphasia
• Developmental disorder: developmental stuttering (DS)
• Developmental disorder: tics
• Psychiatric conditions
• Students with long term/chronic pain, long term/chronic loss of speech/voice, long term/chronic loss of genitourinary system/reproductive system function
• Visual impairments

If you have any questions regarding available adjustments and/or other support, please go to the question that addresses your specific situation.

Students can, within reason, request customised adjustments (adjustments or support measures) to ensure equal chances when it comes to taking classes and exams. That way, everyone is able to fully participate in courses and pass exams. You could compare adjustments to the Sticordi measures in secondary education. Assessing the need for such adjustments will be done based on these criteria: 

• Necessity: without these adjustments, the student is not able to fully take courses and exams.
• Feasibility: the adjustments cannot cause an imbalanced impact on the organisation
• Acceptance level: the adjustments are acceptable to all stakeholders: acceptable to the lecturer, feasible for the student and justifiable towards other students and the organisation  
• Competence integrity: the adjustments cannot impact the envisaged final competences. Solely the process to be followed in order to achieve these competences, is adjusted.

Given the diversity in our student population, adjustments are always decided on on a case-by-case basis. Every person and every situation is different. The study coach will be your first point of call, who will in turn confer with all stakeholders to find a solution everyone feels happy about, in compliance with the adjustments procedure.

Not sure whether you are eligible for adjustments? Do not hesitate to contact your course’s study coach; you can find the contact details. Howest also offers 4 inclusive adjustments, which are available to all students, regardless whether they have a special status or not.

Before or at the actual start of the academic year, you can book a meeting with your course study coach. Together, you will map your needs, to ensure you optimise your study effort and comfort level, via either offering you customised adjustments and/or (individual) assistance. These adjustments are comparable to the Sticordi measures in secondary school, such as:

• Informing relevant lecturers regarding the possible issues you might face and how they can take preliminary action
• Using specialised support software during an exam, e.g. ZoomText
• Taking your exam on a laptop
• Using an elevator
• Study coaching, such as with planning and organising your schedule, prioritising, etc
• Customised adjustments

The abovementioned list of adjustments is non-exhaustive; based on your intake with the study coach and in collaboration with the course team, we will define which adjustments will be made available to you.
Adjustments and/or other kinds of support can be adjusted over the course of the academic year, should your requirements change.
Howest also offers 4 inclusive adjustments, which are available to all students, regardless whether they have a special status or not.

Before or at the actual start of the academic year, you can book a meeting with your course study coach. Together, you will map your needs, to ensure you optimise your study effort and comfort level, via either offering you customised adjustments and/or (individual) assistance. These adjustments are comparable to the Sticordi measures in secondary school, such as:

• The possibility to change/postpone deadlines
• Face-to-face exam review (after a written exam)
• Agreements regarding projects and group assignments  
• Changing exam dates
• Taking exams on a laptop
• Additional preparation time (written preparation) for a face-to-face examination (up to 50% additional time)
• Changing exam type
• Options to be absent from course activities and/or permanent evaluations or solutions to compensate absence
• Informing relevant lecturers regarding the possible issues you might face and how they can take preliminary action
• Study coaching, such as with planning and organising your schedule, prioritising, etc.
• Customised adjustments

The abovementioned list of adjustments is non-exhaustive; based on your intake with the study coach and in collaboration with the course team, we will define which adjustments will be made available to you. Adjustments and/or other kinds of support can be adjusted over the course of the academic year, should your requirements change.

Howest also offers 4 inclusive adjustments, which are available to all students, regardless whether they have a special status or not.

Before or at the actual start of the academic year, you can book a meeting with your course study coach. Together, you will map your needs, to ensure you optimise your study effort and comfort level, via either offering you customised adjustments and/or (individual) assistance. These adjustments are comparable to the Sticordi measures in secondary school, such as:

• Free use of specialised support software
• Access to digital learning material via book-a-book.
• Face-to-face exam review (after a written exam)
• Informing relevant lecturers regarding the possible issues you might face and how they can take preliminary action
• Study coaching, such as with planning and organising your schedule, prioritising, etc.
• Customised adjustments

The abovementioned list of adjustments is non-exhaustive; based on your intake with the study coach and in collaboration with the course team, we will define which adjustments will be made available to you. 

Adjustments and/or other kinds of support can be adjusted over the course of the academic year, should your requirements change.

Howest also offers 4 inclusive adjustments, which are available to all students, regardless whether they have a special status or not.

Based on an intake interview with the study coach and when all required proof is provided, you can be eligible for adjustments. Together, we will map your needs, to ensure you optimise your study effort and comfort level, via either offering you customised adjustments or (individual) assistance. These adjustments are comparable to the Sticordi measures in secondary school, such as:

• Additional preparation time (written preparation) for a face-to-face examination (up to 50% additional time)
• Face-to-face review of your answers after a written exam
• Options to be absent from course activities and /or permanent evaluations or solutions to compensate absence
• Use of a vocabulary dictionary
• Informing relevant lecturers regarding the possible issues you might face and how they can take preliminary action
• Study coaching, such as with planning and organising your schedule, prioritising, etc.
• Extra language support with a language remediation package (mix of face-to-face and distance teaching)
• Customised adjustments

The abovementioned list of adjustments is non-exhaustive; based on your intake with the study coach and in collaboration with the course team, we will define which adjustments will be made available to you. 

When you work minimum 50% of a full-time job or 80 hours per month and can provide all required proof, based on an intake with your study coach you might be eligible for adjustments. You will need the following documents:

• Certificate of employment
• Copy of your employment contract indicating the duration of the contract and the employment type (full-time or part-time) or pay slip.

Together we will map your needs, to ensure you optimise your study effort and comfort level, via either offering you customised adjustments and/or (individual) assistance, such as:

• Options to be absent from course activities and /or permanent evaluations or solutions to compensate absence
• Possibility to change/postpone deadlines
• Customised adjustments

The abovementioned list of adjustments is non-exhaustive; based on your intake with the study coach and in collaboration with the course team, we will define which adjustments will be made available to you. 

Based on an intake interview with the business coach and provided all required certificates are present, you might be eligible for the student/entrepreneur status and/or other adjustments. The business coach will check your eligibility and notify the study coach. Together we will map your needs, to ensure you optimise your study effort and comfort level, via either offering you customised adjustments and/or (individual) assistance.

Howest definitely supports students with an entrepreneurial drive. Both in Bruges and Kortrijk, dedicated ‘ateliers’ have been set up to literally offer student/entrepreneurs space to work. The business coach is more than happy to help you with growing your business.

Please click here to find out more on what kind of support you can expect.

When you comply with the conditions, you will be approved for the professional athlete status (Topsportstatuut AUGent). Please visit this page for more information.

The Stuvo Sports and Culture staff member (saar.olivier [at] howest.be (Saar Olivier)) will advise the study coach whether or not to allocate and establish the professional athlete status. Please click here to get in touch with Saar.

Based on an intake interview with the study coach we will map your needs, to ensure you optimise your study effort and comfort level and to make sure you are in a position to combine your studies and sports career, via either offering you customised adjustments and/or (individual) assistance. Some examples:

• Options to be absent from course activities and /or permanent evaluations or solutions to compensate absence
• Possibility to change/postpone deadlines
• Study coaching, such as with planning and organising your schedule
• Customised adjustments

The abovementioned list of adjustments is non-exhaustive; your intake with the study coach and in collaboration with the course team, we will define which adjustments will be made available to you. 

Should you not comply with the requirements for the professional athlete status, you can still request adjustments with the ‘student in specific social or individual circumstances’ status – if you meet those requirements. This status can only be granted based on a personal file that contains proof of your application backed by your sports federation or club. Our Stuvo Sports and Culture staff member (Saar Olivier) will play an advisory role in the decision. Please click here to get in touch with Saar.

Based on an intake interview with the study coach and an individual case file, we will map your needs, to ensure you optimise your study effort and comfort level and to make sure you are in a position to combine your studies and music career, via either offering you customised adjustments or (individual) assistance.

• Options to be absent from course activities and /or permanent evaluations or solutions to compensate absence
• Possibility to change/postpone deadlines
• Customised adjustments

The abovementioned list of adjustments is non-exhaustive; your intake with the study coach and in collaboration with the course team, we will define which adjustments will be made available to you. 

Yes, it is.

Since the 2016-17 academic year, Howest has implemented inclusive adjustments. These adjustments are available to all students, whether they have a special status or not. This decision was taken by the Education Management Committee with the aim to make all regular exam adjustments universally available, hence to every student. This correlates with the Howest vision on diversity and inclusive Higher Education. Extra time to take a written exam (20-30% more time) is just one facility in this context, whether it be a paper or digital exam, unless the time factor is also part of the evaluation criteria. All extra time is always included in the exam timings. All occasions that are an exception to this rule, are included in the adjustments guideline of your course. 

Please do not hesitate to contact the study coach of your course for more information.

Yes, it is.

Since the 2016-17 academic year, Howest has implemented inclusive adjustments. These adjustmentsare available to all students, whether they have a special status or not. This decision was taken by the Education Management Committee with the aim to make all regular exam adjustments universally available, hence to every student. This correlates with the Howest vision on diversity and inclusive Higher Education. Additional face-to-face explanation by the lecturer regarding your exam before you take it, is just one facility in this context. We follow the Universal Design for Learning principle (UDL). When possible, all questions are explained before the start of the exam and you are allowed to ask additional questions, unless other regulations have been stipulated for your particular course.

Please do not hesitate to contact the study coach of your course for more information.

Yes, it is.

Since the 2016-17 academic year, Howest has implemented inclusive adjustments. These adjustments are available to all students, whether they have a special status or not. This decision was taken by the Education Management Committee with the aim to make all regular exam adjustments universally available, hence to every student. This correlates with the Howest vision on diversity and inclusive Higher Education. We understand and appreciate spelling and language mistakes can happen. This inclusive facility is valid for every student, apart from students taking language courses and language components that are evaluated within other modules. All instances in which this facility is not available have been stipulated in the facility guideline of your course. Also, this facility does not apply when handing in assignments, tasks, reports and the bachelor’s thesis. 

Some courses however put a bigger focus on writing and language capabilities than others, when these capabilities are part of the learning competences listed in the curriculum. Did you in the past encounter any difficulties with writing? Do not hesitate to get in touch with your study coach or course contact person to talk about what hurdles you might face. This will help you to take a well-considered decision.

You can apply for a special status and related adjustments by contacting the study coach of your course at the start of the academic year. In case your situation changes or occurs for the first time, you can also submit your application over the course of the academic year.

It remains the student’s responsibility, when you wish to make use of these adjustments, to apply. Without an official application, the course team is not able to provide any adjustments to help you with your study abilities or taking exams.

Next steps:

1. Attestation: the study coach will check authenticity, approve or request additional documents (compliant with the VLOR procedure). Your application is being processed.
2. After vetting your requirements and in collaboration with your course team, the adjustments will be or not be approved.
3. The study coach will point out mutual rights and obligations as well as the actual way the adjustments will be made available to you. The study coach will also emphasise the importance of keeping the course team updated at all times.  

Your application for a special status and individual adjustments has to be backed by all required attestations completed by your doctor or relevant expert. In most cases, we will use the VLOR attestation file, which you can request by contacting the study coach of your course.
All personal details will be handled in all confidentiality. The study coach will not pass on any information about you to third parties without your explicit consent.

You can submit your application to receive individual adjustments for the 2020-2021 academic year as from July 1st, 2020. Most students submit their application at the start of the academic year. The adjustments and/or support can be adjusted over the course of the academic year, should your needs change. 

It remains the student’s responsibility, when you wish to make use of adjustments, to apply. Without an official application, the course team is not able to provide any adjustments to help you with your study abilities or taking exams. 

The study coaches are your point of call regarding adjustments, study coaching and re-orientation. Please click here to check who is the study coach for your course. Do you have any questions on this theme? You can contact the study coach today via chat.  Do you want to get in touch after the open day has taken place? In that case, don’t hesitate to send the study coach an email or give them a call. 

After approval of the adjustments by the study coach, you can download your adjustments attestation and print it if you want to. This attestation states the adjustments approved for you personally and that have to be complied with. Lecturers also will be able to consult the list of adjustments you have been approved for. It is your responsibility as a student to get in touch with your lecturer(s) and check how exactly these adjustments will be put into practice. 

For example: you were approved ‘Face-to-face exam review (after a written exam)’. The moment the exam calendar is published, you will need to contact your lecturers and agree on how to organise this. 

You can always refer to your adjustments attestation to check what has been agreed for you. In case you have any questions or issues, of course your study coach is available to help you. 

Our study coaches support students in three domains: 

1. Adjustments
2. (Re)orientation
3. Study coaching 

This support is flexible and customised to fit the student’s needs, but also taking the course context into account. The study coach can act as a liaison between the course team and the student. These are some of the principles our support options are based on: 

• Autonomy and self-steering abilities of the student are pivotal
• The student is the experience expert
• Aiming for continuous growth in line with the students’ abilities throughout their academic career
• Extra attention to milestones in the student’s education, such as the switch from secondary education to higher education, bachelor’s thesis and apprenticeship. 

Via workshops or individual coaching, topics such as study ability, planning, fear of failure, etc. will be addressed. Individual coaching can take place as a one-off event or on a recurring basis, depending on the student’s needs. 

Study coaching is also provided within the course adjustments, for example monitoring, mentoring sessions and program coaching.  Should students have requirements that we cannot help remediate, we can still offer external support. 

We aim to proactively detect the needs students might have but of course also rely on the student taking initiative themselves to contact us in case they experience such issues.