STUDENT HOUSING IN BRUSSELS
september – november 2024
WHY ARE WE WRITING THIS REPORT?
Every year, Brik conducts a survey to learn more about the experiences of Brussels students in their search for a student room in the city. The results of this survey are compiled into a report that offers an overview of student housing life in Brussels. We take a closer look at various aspects, including the cost of housing, what students value most in their accommodation and where exactly they reside in Brussels. We also include commuter students (students who do not live in student housing). They tell us why they’ve chosen not to move into a student room and what they consider important when it comes to student housing. Together, these insights paint a picture of Brussels students and what they are really looking for.
THE RESPONDENTS
Out of 1,226 respondents who started the survey, 1,063 completed it in full. 16 respondents were excluded because they were not students, did not study, or did not live in Brussels. This leaves a total of 1,047 students included in the analysis.
At which Dutch-speaking college or university in Brussels are you studying?
Almost half of the students study at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In addition, 25,9% attend a Brussels campus of KU Leuven, 11,1% study at Odisee, 7,1% at Erasmushogeschool Brussel, and 4,5% at LUCA School of Arts.
Around 2% study at a French-speaking college/university or pursue their education in Flanders.
Are you a Belgian or an international student?
In this report, Belgian students are defined as students who completed their secondary education in Belgium. Based on this definition, 71,3% of the students are considered to be Belgian, and 28,7% are international students.
Are you living in a student room?
Half of the total survey population resides in student housing in Brussels. A further 5,4% live in student housing outside Brussels. Additionally, 27,4% commute from their home address to the Brussels campus, and16,6% live with their family in Brussels.
Striking, though not surprising: 70,4% of international students live in student housing in Brussels, compared with 41,8% of Belgian students.
I am living in a student room outside Brussels
I live in Brussels with my family/guardian
I am living in a student room
Where is your student housing outside Brussels located?
5,4% of students live in student housing outside Brussels. Most of them have a student room in Leuven, followed by students who are staying in Ghent or Antwerp. A few students live in other cities, such as Bruges, Kortrijk, or Ostend. Several others live in the Flemish periphery around Brussels, such as in Dilbeek or Wemmel.
I commute from my home address to Brussels
THE COMMUTER STUDENTS
Why do you not live in student housing in Brussels?
The main reasons why students don’t live in student housing are the high cost and the fact that they live close to their campus.
A notable finding is that about a quarter of the students indicate that they could no longer find a student room in Brussels.
Under the ‘other’ response option, students also mention a variaty of personal reasons, such as:
• Wanting to spend time with family and pets
• The combination of expensive student room prices and a campus located in an unsafe neighbourhood
• Parents who want them to become a bit more mature first
• Too little greenery and too many stimuli in the city
• Worrying that they might not get along with housemates
I
I
I
My
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Where do you commute from?
27,4% of students commute from their home address outside of Brussels to their Brussels campus.
Most commuters come from Flemish Brabant, followed by East Flanders and Antwerp.
Would you like to live in student housing in Brussels?
Just over half of the students who are currently not living in student housing in Brussels say they would like to.
On average, they are willing to spend 500 euros per month on a student room. Breaking this down, it turns out that foreign students are willing to pay an average of 552 euros, while Belgian students are prepared to spend an average of 484 euros.
THE STUDENTS LIVING IN STUDENT HOUSING
In which municipality of the BrusselsCapital Region is your student room located?
Most students live in Brussels City (31,9%), followed by Elsene (20,2%), Etterbeek (12,4%), Jette (11,8%), Schaarbeek (4,7%) and Oudergem (4,1%).
Brussels-City (incl. Laken, Neder-OverHeembeek, Haren) (1000, 1020, 1120, 1130) 31,9%
Elsene (1050) 20,2%
Etterbeek (1040) 12,4%
Jette (1090) 11,8%
Schaarbeek (1030) 4,7%
Oudergem (1160) 4,1%
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (1080) 3,5%
Anderlecht (1070) 3,3%
Sint-Joost-ten-Node (1210) 1,6%
Ganshoren (1083) 1%
Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe (1200) 1%
Koekelberg (1081) 0,8%
Evere (1140) 0,6%
Sint-Gillis (1060) 0,6%
Sint-Agatha-Berchem (1082) 0,4%
Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (1150) 0,4%
Vorst (1190) 0,4%
Ukkel (1180) 0,2%
Watermaal-Bosvoorde (1170) 0%
VUB – VUB Main Campus
Ehb – Campus Bloemenhof
EhB – Campus Kanal
Odisee – Campus Brussels
KU Leuven – Brussels Campus
6. EhB – Campus Kaai
7. VUB – VUB Health Campus 8. EhB – Campus Jette 9. LUCA – Campus Sint-Lukas
Odisee – Campus Brussels – Terranova
11. EhB – RITCS – Campus Dansaert
12. LUCA – Campus Narafi
13. KU Leuven – Sint-Lucas Brussels Campus
14. EhB – Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel
15. Odisee – Campus Dilbeek
16. Odisee – Campus Schaarbeek
17. EhB – RITCS – Campus Bottelarij
18. EhB – Campus COOVI
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
10.
What type of student housing do you live in?
Most respondents live in college- or university-owned student housing (30,6%). This is followed by large private student housing (22,3%). A notable 20,6% of students live in a house or apartment, either on their own or shared with others. Another 14,8% live in small or medium-sized private student housing
University - or college-owned student room - e.g. student room of VUB
Large private student housing (with 30 or more rooms or studios) - e.g. Upkot
House or apartment where I live alone or share with others (partner, friends, acquaintances, etc.)
Small or medium private student housing (less than 30 rooms or studios)
Student room provided by Brik
Homestay (a house where the owner rents out a room but also lives there himself)
student room
Why did you choose this type of student housing?
There are different types of student rooms in Brussels: a student room with shared facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom, and/or living room (KOT), a student room with its own bathroom and a shared kitchen (KOT+), or a student room with its own bathroom and kitchen (STUDIO). Some students live in an apartment or a house.
STUDIO
Almost 70% indicate that they choose this type of student room for the price, 40% for the social contact, and 36% for the comfort. KOT+
50% indicate that they choose this type of student room for the price, just under half for the privacy it offers, 35% for the social contact, and slightly more than half for the comfort.
40% indicate that they choose a studio for the price, 56% for the privacy, and 55% choose a studio for the comfort it offers.
In addition, 7% of students – regardless of the type of student room – indicate under the ‘other’ response option that they chose their room because of its location close to the campus. Other reasons that are mentioned include: “the fastest option I could find”, “only option”, “necessity” and “availability”.
Who pays for your student room?
but I receive
from my family/guardian
Me, but I receive support from the government/school (e.g. rent allowance)
Another party (e.g. OCMW - Public Centre for Social Welfare)
Among Belgian students, the family or guardian often covers the cost of student housing (71,1%). 12,3% pay for it themselves but receive support from family, while 12% cover the full cost on their own.
Among international students, most pay for their student room themselves (45,6%). 17,7% of students pay for it themselves but receive support from family, while in 31,6% of cases, the family or guardian covers the cost.
do you think of the cost of your student room?
THE STUDENT HOUSING PRICE
The average student housing price (including extra charges)
Kot - Room with shared facilities (kitchen, bathroom, relaxation area)
+
1 Based on internal data from Brik (academic year 2024–2025). Survey results were not included due to a limited sample size.
2 Small group (between 10 and 5 respondents). The result is provided for indicative purposes only
- For this group the number of respondents was too small to calculate a reliable average rental price
The average rental price for the type ‘house or apartment where I live alone or share with others’ – including extra charges
21% of students live in a house or apartment, either on their own or shared with friends or acquaintances. This type of housing is not considered a traditional student room, as it falls under the residential housing offer. Therefore, rental prices for this category were not included in the calculation of the average student housing prices but are shown here separately.
A room in a shared apartment/house with others (under a single tenancy agreement) (e.g. with friends, acquaintances, partner, etc.)
A full apartment/house where I live alone
A cohousing organised by a private company - e.g. Cohabs, Coliving, etc.
- For this group, the number of respondents was too small to calculate a reliable average rental price
561
961
Comparison Belgian and international students
Excluding house or apartment where I live alone or share with others – including extra charges
Comparison subsidised – private market
Excluding house or apartment where I live alone or share with others –including extra charges
Price comparison per municipality
Excluding house or apartment where I live alone or share with others – including extra charges
THE SEARCH FOR A STUDENT ROOM
How difficult was it to find your student room?
More than 40% found it difficult to very difficult to find student housing. A quarter felt neutral, and about 30% found it not difficult or not difficult at all to find student housing.
Students living in a college- or university-owned student room clearly found the search easier. In contrast, those looking for housing on the private market (large, medium, or small private student housing or homestay) more often reported that the search was (very) difficult.
How long did it take to find a student room?
About 30% of students found student housing within two weeks. Nearly a quarter needed up to a month, while around 1 in 5 took a bit longer –between one and two months (20,3%) or between two and three months (20,6%). A small group, 3,6%, reported that it took them more than three months to find a student room.
When did you sign the tenancy agreement?
Most students signed their tenancy agreement during the summer months, with 1 in 6 doing so before January.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE IMPORTANT FOR A STUDENT ROOM?
For more than 80% of respondents, price is the most important factor — they rate it as important or very important. Distance to campus, a reliable internet connection, and the cleanliness of the building also score highly, with around 70% of students considering these elements as (very) important.
Additionally, about 60% of students place importance on using a legal tenancy agreement, sufficient natural daylight, the condition of the building, the type of neighbourhood the student room is located in, and a good social atmosphere with housemates.
Half of the students consider a private bathroom to be (very) important. Slightly less important, but still relevant, are room size, the presence of an outdoor area, and having a private kitchen.
How long do you want to spend commuting to your campus?
Most students want to reach their campus within half an hour.
Nearly a quarter (23%) state that they want a maximum travel time of 30 minutes, while 1 in 5 (20,3%) would prefer to travel for no longer than 20 minutes. Approximately 15% prefer to keep their travel time to 15 minutes. Only a small group of students finds a longer commute acceptable: less than 5% are willing to travel for more than 40 minutes, and barely 2% is prepared to commute for one hour or more.
Max. 5 minutes 7,4%
Max. 10 minutes 9,3%
Max. 15 minutes 15,1%
Max. 20 minutes 20,3%
Max. 25 minutes 9,7%
Max. 30 minutes 23%
Max. 35 minutes 5,5%
Max. 40 minutes 4,7%
Max. 45 minutes 2,4%
Max. 50 minutes 0,6%
Max. 55 minutes 0,1%
Max. 60 minutes 1,4%
> 60 minutes 0,5%
CONCLUSION
The results show that many students perceive student housing in Brussels as expensive. For nearly 60% of commuter students, the cost is a major reason for not moving into a student room. Yet just over half of this group state that they would still like to live in student housing. Among students who are currently living in student housing, 42% consider the rental price expensive to very expensive.
Rental prices vary widely depending on the type of student housing and the provider. Private market student housing is generally more expensive than subsidised student rooms, and studios with private facilities cost more than rooms with shared kitchens and/or bathrooms.
Regarding the motivations for choosing the type of student housing, affordability appears to be the main reason for opting for shared-facility student rooms. Students renting a room with a private bathroom but a shared kitchen often do so for price reasons as well, but also for the additional comfort and privacy this type of student housing provides. A large portion of students –
regardless of the type of student room – also cite proximity to campus as a key factor in their choice.
The search for a student room also proves difficult for many students. More than 40% of students found it difficult to very difficult to find student housing. Additionally, about a quarter of commuter students indicate they didn’t move into student housing because they could no longer find a student room in Brussels.
Overall, students consider price, distance to campus, a reliable internet connection, and cleanliness of the building to be important aspects of student housing
Other key factors include having a legal tenancy agreement, sufficient natural daylight, the condition of the building, the location of the neighbourhood, and a good social atmosphere with housemates. Finally, most students want to reach their campus within thirty minutes, emphasising the importance of the student housing location.
COLOPHON
Contributed to this publication:
Content: © Brik – Student in Brussel vzw, 2025 Design and illustrations: Uncompressed Thanks to the students who helped us take this survey.
For more information about this survey or other information about studying in Brussels, please contact us via: brik.be
Brik is the contact point for students in Brussels. We help them with student housing, give out information about living in Brussels and organise tailored events. We do this in conjunction with VUB, EhB, Odisee, LUCA and KU Leuven Brussels campuses.