BELGIUM - ISEP Artevelde University College

To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Good academic and judicial standing during time of application AND time of participation in program
• Undergraduates must have completed at least two semesters of study at Lake Forest College AND have junior status or higher before participation. 
• At least 18 years of age by the program’s departure date. 
• Be able to stay at the host program for the duration of the semester, including through the exam and travel periods
• Minimum GPA of 2.75.  

Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up. Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information).

All campuses are located in Ghent. Ghent is situated in Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, 50 kilometers from the seaside and vibrant cities worth a visit such as Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp. Cozy winter days or never-ending summer days with people gathering in the many parks or near the river, Ghent has something to offer in every season. With its numerous cultural attractions such as the International Film Fest, the “Gentse feesten” city festival, museums, and the many cafes, there is always something new to discover. Because of its central location in Europe, Belgium is the perfect departure point to explore the continent.

Learn more about Artevelde University College here! Read the ISEP Country Handbook to learn more about visa requirements, educational system, and culture.

Located in Ghent, the largest student city in Belgium, studying at Artevelde University College Ghent means learning in a city full of history, museums of international repute, impressive gastronomic options, outdoor activities, and a vivid music and festival scene.

Artevelde University College offers a range of programs taught in English in the fields of education, business management, and communication management. Each program excels because of its specific focus and its mixture of both international and Flemish students, providing an interesting intercultural atmosphere.

Please understand that the academic system is quite different. Classes are usually lecture-based, instead of discussion or group work. Classes are often much larger than those found at Lake Forest College. Grades are based heavily, at times almost entirely, on one end-of-term exam, though some courses will also offer a midterm.  Professors are often more formal than those in the United States.

Many institutions use a formula to convert ECTS credits to local credits, but ISEP recommends that the home institution also take into account the total number of hours in the classroom. It is ultimately the home institution policy that determines how the credit will transfer. 

To Earn 4 Lake Forest credits, students must take 168 total contact hours. Alternately, a student may take 27 ECTS credits.

To Earn 3 Lake Forest credits, students must take 126 total contact hours. Alternately, a student may take 21 ECTS credits.

The number of credits listed here is estimated, and GEO will work with you, your advisor, and the registrar to ensure you are earning enough credits to keep you on track for graduation.

PROGRAMS

The following departments and programs are open to ISEP Exchange students for semester enrollment:

Artevelde Business School (organized by the Department of Business Management) 
Because Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is the heart of the European Union, the courses at Artevelde Business School have a clear link with the European Union or business procedures of the European member states.  

Bridges in Education (organized by the Education departments) - SPRING SEMESTER ONLY
Education allows students (mixed groups of students studying secondary, primary, or pre-school education) to create a customized program combining theory and teaching practice. The program is taught by national and international experts and is characterized by its strong focus on inclusive education, a hands-on approach, and a focus on interaction.

Module in Communication Management (organized by the Department of Communication Management)
The Module in Communication Management (MOCOMA) comprises two modules. The MOCOMA-Communication module is aimed at highly motivated communication, marketing, PR, or business students. The aim is to gain insight in communication management and to develop practical communication skills. The second module is MOCOMA for Journalism and Media students. The students study current affairs and learn how to use this knowledge in a creative, journalistic way. According to the profile of the student, journalism /media or communication (marketing, PR, advertising,…), the MOCOMA program allows the student to compose a tailor-made study program. 

Please review the ISEP country handbook for more information on the education system, grades, class hours, and classroom etiquette.

 ORIENTATION
Every department organizes an orientation program and a social and cultural welcome week for its international students (ISEP students included) with a number of activities to help them accommodate on campus and in Ghent. At the beginning of each semester, students are shown around by the international coordinator. The orientation program is part of the program. Some departments work with a buddy system, appointing a Belgian fellow student to guide the international students on campus and in Ghent.

ARRIVAL DETAILS
Artevelede University College will provide arrival details with your acceptance packet.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES
The ESN student organization helps international students to make their time in Ghent a great experience. They organize parties, trips, cultural activities, and much more throughout the academic year. The Artevelde student service offers a sports card to ISEP students at a student’s price to participate in a wide range of sports activities such as badminton, Zumba, African dance, street dance, basketball, and swimming. Every year around the end of September, the “Student Kick Off” is organized in the center of Ghent, a great event to start the academic year.

Students are housed in single furnished residence hall rooms with shared bathroom and cooking facilities. All rooms have internet access. Residence halls are located near campus. The campus is easily accessible by bike, on foot, or with public transportation. Married student housing is not available. 

Students will receive a stipend for meals.

For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for a semester with the ISEP Exchange program includes orientation, on-site director, college fees, housing and a stipend to cover the equivalent of 19/meals per week.

Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2019/Spring 2020 programs:

Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as of February 2019. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change.

You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution.

Deposits to other programs, if required, are paid by the student to the host program, and will appear as a credit on your study abroad term bill from the College.

Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices.  

Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here.