Welcome to the
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Orientation Days 20 & 21 Sep 2013
Weather forecast
Pag.2
Orientation Day 20 Sep 2013
Program
14h00-14h15
Welcome word by Prof. Dr. Jan Cornelis,
Vice- Rector International Policy VUB
14h15-17h00
Info session on studying & living in Brussels
17h00-18h00
Campus Tour
18h00
Welcome Drink @ KK
Pag.3
Orientation Days 20 & 21 Sep 2013
PowerPoint presentation:
MY.VUB (E-tools, Education, Student facilities)
https://my.vub.ac.be/en/
Under ‘Arrival in Brussels’
Pag.4
Welcome!
Info session on studying & living in Brussels
1. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
2. International Relations and Mobility Office
3. Settling in Brussels
4. Campus Facilities
5. Life in Brussels
Pag.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
•
° 1970 (offshoot of French-speaking Université Libre de Bruxelles, ° 1834)
•
Rector Prof. Dr. Paul De Knop
•
2 campuses:
Main Campus Etterbeek
Medical Campus & University Hospital Jette
•
8 faculties
•
academic year 2012-2013: more than 12.000 students
•
More than 20% international students
Pag.6
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Higher Education Structure
•
•
•
•
Bachelors
Masters
Advanced Masters
Doctoral
Bachelor Paper, Master Thesis
•
Study Credit System
Credit Points / ECTS
1 academic year: 60 credit points
Pag.7
IRMO
International Relations and Mobility Office –IRMOWhat
•international student services at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
•study abroad opportunities for Belgian students
•international initiatives by students in Brussels
•development cooperation
•international programmes such as Erasmus Mundus, Lifelong Learning Programme or LLP, Tempus Tacis,
Jean Monnet, Asia Link, etc.
•…
Pleinlaan 5, 1050 Brussels, Ground Floor
Where
Contact
1. Front desk office hours
2. Appointment with specific officer
3. E-mail: international.relations@vub.ac.be ; Tel.: +32 (0) 2 614 81 01
Pag.8
IRMO

Opening hours
MORNING
AFTERNOON
MONDAY
9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.
TUESDAY
9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
CLOSED
THURSDAY
9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
CLOSED
FRIDAY
9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.
Pag.9
IRMO

Info files:
-
Banking
Commune registration
Emergency numbers
Housing
Insurance
Language learning
Leisure
Shopping
Taxes
Transport
Website: https://my.vub.ac.be/en/studying-brussels
Pag.10
Settling in Brussels
Housing
•
No rooms on VUB-campuses
•
Housing in the private sector
→ Website:
-
Br(ik -Brussel & ik-: www.brik.be
=> Search engine
→ Questions:
-
Br(ik
IRMO
Pag.11
Settling in Brussels
Housing
 Rents in Brussels are relatively high
 Short stay – semester – year
 Room : +/- 400 Euro
 Small apartment: +/- 550 Euro
 Fire insurance (IRMO)
 Third-party liability (ING bank)
Pag.12
Settling in Brussels
Housing
! Contract: make clear arrangements with your landlord !
→ How to end the contract?
→ Subletting?
→ Electricity, gas, internet,.. : included?
→ Deposit?
→ Registration residence permit?
Pag.13
Settling in Brussels
Registering
 Short type residence (max. 3 months)
-
EU : no registration required
-
Non-EU: report to commune ‘Declaration of Arrival’ –Model 24 –within 8 days
after arrival
 Long type residence
-
EU: registration at commune within 3 months after arrival, option ID-card
-
Non-EU: registration after singing a rental contract, ID-card valid for duration
of academic program/funding (in general 1 academic year)
Pag.14
Settling in Brussels
Registering
Required documents for ID-card application:
-
Rental contract
National ID / Passport with type D visa
Registration Certificate from VUB
European Insurance Card
Proof of solvability (scholarship, savings, loan, job)
- Sometimes: Birth Certificate, Certificates of Civil Status or Good Conduct
Procedure
-
Contact Foreigners Department at town hall + request an appointment
Local Police Check
Belgian ID-card: delivered 2 – 6 months
Different procedures per commune!
Pag.15
Campus facilities
Student Information Hub
Building D, entrance hall
Pleinlaan 2 - 1050 Brussels
Mon-Fri 9:00am-6:00pm
[T] + 32 (0)2 629 20 10
[E] info@vub.ac.be
Pag.16
Campus facilities
Student Card
Issued after online registration
Any errors on your card: contact the Student Administration Center, building Y
When to use your student card?





to buy meals in the VUB restaurant
to buy a VUB sports card
to access the VUB library
access to VUB Webmail and Pointcarré
to obtain (in some cases) a discount when using public transport (-26 ), cinema,…
Pag.17
Campus facilities
On campus -First Aid- registration
Do you need assistance with your enrolment and/or course registration?
Starting from 16 September you can get on-campus assistance in Etterbeek
Where can you find them?
16/09 - 20/09:
21/09:
building E, room 1.7 (09:00am-4:00pm, except September 18 from 1:00pm)
building E, room 1.7 (12:00am-4:00pm)
23/09 - 27/09:
building E, room 1.5 (09:00am-4:00pm)
30/09 - 03/10:
building E, room 1.5 (09:00am-4:00pm)
Pag.18
Campus facilities
Computing Facilities
Free access to internet and an e-mail account for every student
How to log in?
→ Student card: personal pin code & enrolment number
Activation procedure:
→ You can find the activation procedure on the web page:
www.vub.ac.be/tools/activatie.html
→ Network access activated within 24 hours
You can access your VUB e-mail directly on the server, anywhere in the
world, via webmail (webmail.vub.ac.be)
First name.Surname@vub.ac.be
(e.g. Deborah.Gies@vub.ac.be)
Pag.19
Campus facilities
Computing Rooms
Campus Etterbeek
Faculty
Faculty
Faculty
Faculty
of
of
of
of
Humanities:
Room B002 to B006
Engineering:
3K110, 3K115, 3K116, 3K125
Science and Bio-engineering Sciences: 1E001 to 1E005, 1E007
Physical Education and Physiotherapy: L2.19 (7 PCs)
Campus Jette
Building A: first floor and library
Free print credit: 100 pages/academic year
Pag.20
Campus facilities
Free WIFI Campus Etterbeek - 3 networks

Vubnet: VUB’s wireless network for students and staff

Eduroam: an international project that allows users of other institutions to log into
wireless networks using the username and password they use in their own
institution

Urbizone: Wifi on offer to the general public within the Brussels-Capital Region On
campus Jette wireless internet is available in the library and the Centre for Study
and Guidance
More info: MY.VUB
Pag.21
Campus facilities
E-learning with Pointcarré
-
E-learning platform of VUB
1)
2)
3)
4)
Tools for:
Exchanging course material
Organizing group work
Sending announcements
Using discussion boards
Students can consult their course websites by logging in on
Pointcarré with their VUBnet-account
http://pointcarré.vub.ac.be/
Pag.22
Campus facilities
Library
Campus Etterbeek
Building B & C, 1st floor
Campus Jette
Building A, ground floor and 1st
floor
Opening hours: check libraries
To borrow books from the
library you will need your
student card
Pag.
Campus facilities
Student Restaurants
•
•
•
•
Campus Etterbeek
Student Cafeteria, building R
Other meeting/lunch places: Opinio
‘t Complex
KultuurKaffee
Campus Jette
Student Cafetaria, building R
Other meeting/lunch places: Sportopolis
=> Meals of the World
=> Thursday: Veggie day
Pag.
Campus facilities
The English Table, El Rincón español, Tavola Italiano, Table française,
Nederlands Taaltafel, Deutscher Stammtisch
Want to meet new people, speak English and enjoy lunch in a laidback, friendly
atmosphere?
¿Te gusta conocer a nueva gente, hablar español y comer en buena compañía?
Ti piace conoscere nuove persone, parlare italiano e mangiare in buona compagnia?
Pag.25
Campus facilities
Language Tables
Place and time:
 Starting on Monday 30 September 2013
 During lunchtime from 12h15 until 13h45
 Downstairs in the restaurant, Campus Etterbeek
English Table
Monday
Nederlands Taaltafel
Dinsdag
Tavola Italiano
Martedì
Deutscher Stammtisch
Mittwoch
Table Française
Jeudi (13-14h)
Rincón Español
Jueves
Pag.26
Campus facilities
Language Learning
→ ITO or Inter-departmental Language Centre
Campus Etterbeek
Building E
Access depending on your VUB Bachelor/Master Program
More info: http://ito.vub.ac.be/Engels/Engels.htm
→ Brussels Education Center or CVO
Campus Etterbeek
Building D, room D.1.33
Not free of charge
Day, evening and Saturday classes
More info: http://www.vub.ac.be/khnb/
! Registration fall 2013: until 26 Sep 2013!
Online registration for 2nd semester courses: start november 2013
Pag.27
Campus facilities
Pag.28
Campus facilities
Culture and Leisure on campus
The KultuurKaffee or KK and Galery’ (building Y, Campus Etterbeek)
-
Exhibitions
Concerts
Comedy
Creative workshops
Parties
International Students @ VUB Facebook
Pag.
Campus facilities
Sports & Fitness
•
•
A whole range of sports can be played at both campuses
A comprehensive booklet is available at the sport centers of both
campuses.
1) Club card:
22,5 Euro for participation in sports programme
2) Health City Fitness pass:
250 Euro/year or 90 Euro/month
More info: visit the Sports Center in building L (Campus
Etterbeek)
Pag.
Campus facilities
Medical Care
Both campuses provide medical assistance to students
Medical assistance offered:
- General Medical Care: €23/consultation (cash)
Mo > Fr: 8 am – 8 pm
Make an appointment online.
- Dentist: Tu > Th: 8.30 am – 7 pm
- Nursing Services & Vaccination
- Blood Tests
- Gynaecologist


Campus Etterbeek: Building Y (entrance Y2), Tel: 02 629 23 00 or
appointment via website
Campus Jette: Building Agora
Pag.
Campus Facilities
Need to go to a hospital:
University Hospital VUB -Jette
(Campus Jette)
Pag.
In case of
emergency:
112
Pag.
ICE-number
mobile phone
(In Case of Emergency,
contact person)
Pag.
Campus facilities
Other student services

CAW Mozaiek at Campus Etterbeek (Building Y3)
->legal and psychological support & mediation
begeleiding@cawmozaiek.be
Possible to have an appointment at Medical Campus in Jette

Study Guidance Center (SGC)
-> Study skills, study orientation, studying with specifc needs
-> Advice on planning and study methods, questions about exams,…
-> Building F, Campus Etterbeek
-> Workshops:
Study Skills, Tuesday 15/10, 6-8pm
Exam Skills, Wednesday 27/10, 12-2pm
Pag.
Campus facilities
Do you want a job in Belgium?
Questions about working in Belgium, work permits, your rights as a
worker?
→ Job Service: Campus Etterbeek - Building Y
Open from Monday- Friday, 1.30pm - 5pm
-
Non-European students are required to have a category C work
permit
-
Employers in Brussels very often need bilingual French/Dutch
workers
Pag.
Campus facilities
• Guidance in finding internships in Brussels and abroad
• Assist you in finding first career opportunities
• Coach your application skills
Contact:
Building B, Campus Etterbeek
W: www.vub.ac.be/en/careercenter
E: info@vub.careercenter.be
Pag.
Campus facilities
Technology Transfer Interface Brussels
Gateway between the university’s research and expertise and the industry
and society
 Starter seminars:
- the fundamentals of business & (technology) entrepreneurship
- 11 sessions on Tuesday, 6.15 – 9.15pm, English-taught, Campus
Etterbeek (start 1/10/13)
- Students VUB: € 50
www.vubtechtransfer.be
Pag.
Sustainable development
° 2011: policy of strategic planning
→ Action plans
 Energy audits, projects to reduce consumption
 Student restaurants:
Project sustainable mass catering,
Reduction of waste,
Thursday Veggie day
Fair trade products, etc.
 Veggie garden on campus
 Bio vegetable/fruit packages for students & employees
 Sustainable mobility (Fietspunt)
Pag.39
Sustainable development
 Separate collection of waste:
- Garbage bags:
Yellow bags
Blue bags
White bags
-
Glass bottles & jars
Vegetable/Fruit/Garden waste
Batteries
Large pieces of garbage
→ Incorrect collection of waste: high fine!
→ Illegal dumping: forbidden by law, high fine!
Pag.40
Kick-off the Campus
• Tuesday 24/09, 12-15h:
Info Market, Campus Etterbeek + BX Soccer Games
•Wednesday 25/09, 12-14h:
Introduction – Belgian Political Structure
• Wednesday 2/10, 12-14h:
How to survive in Brussels: an intercultural
perspective
• Thursday 3/10, 12-14h:
Belgian lunch@Resto
And many more activities… (karaoke, parties, sports, etc.)
Pag.41
Life in Brussels
Pag.
Life in Brussels
Public Transport in Brussels

MIVB / STIB: Metro, Bus, Tram
Website: www.mivb.be
No public transport during the night on weekdays!
During the weekend: Noctis night busses
Public Transport Passes: 1 ride, 10 rides, a day pass, a monthly pass, a year pass
(Prices: check website)

Rates:
Monthly pass: €47.50; Year pass € 499; Student year pass € 120 ( < 25 years)
Pag.
Life in Brussels
Campus Etterbeek:
Metro Petillon
Campus Jette:
Metro Simonis
+ Bus 13, 14
(after 20h: Bus 15)
Pag.
Life in Brussels
Public Transport in Brussels
 Belgian Railway Company or NMBS
Website: www.nmbs.be (E)
Ticket formulas: weekend ticket (-50%), Go Pass (-26,
€50), Railpass (+26, €74),…

Bicycles
Second-hand bicycles at the Midi Sunday Market
Sports shops (e.g. Decathlon)
Villo! (http://en.villo.be (E))
Pag.
Life in Brussels
Shopping
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm, most shops are closed on Sundays
Main shopping street: Rue Neuve/ Nieuwstraat
Shopping Centers: City 2, Woluwe Shopping, Westland Shopping Centre
Supermarkets
Main supermarket chains: Colruyt, Carrefour, Delhaize, Aldi, Lidl,…
Markets (Fruits and Vegetables)
Gare du Midi (large Sunday Market) (until 1pm)
Place Jourdan
Market Place Jette
Clemenceau Market
…
Pag.
Life in Brussels
Main bookshops
Fnac, City 2 shopping centre
The European Bookshop
Sterling Books
Waterstones
Filigranes
Kitchen utensils and bed linen
Shops: Wibra, Hema, Zeeman, Blokker, Casa,…
Furniture and home decoration
IKEA (www.ikea.com)
(Anderlecht, Metro COOVI, line 5)
Pag.
Life in Brussels
Concerts
Ancienne Belgique: www.ab.be
Botanique: www.botanique.be
Vorst Nationaal: www.vorstnationaal.be
Theatre
→ English performances
Kaaitheater: www.kaaitheater.be
Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg: www.kvs.be
Opera
De Munt: www.demunt.be
Cinema
UGC (De Brouckère & Toison d’Or) : www.ugc.be
Kinepolis (Heysel) : www.kinepolis.be
Vendôme
Pag.
Belgium & Europe
Travelling around in Belgium & Europe
Don’t forget to visit:
Ghent, Antwerp, Liège, Namur,….
Offical holiday periods:
Christmas holidays (2 weeks),
1 week after the exams in January,
Easter holidays (2 weeks),
Summer holidays (July – September)
→ Check the VUB Academic Calendar!
ID card or visa:
Valid multiple entry visa type D
Pag.
Belgium & Europe
Travelling around in Europe

Cheap flight tickets
Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, Connections, Airstop, Neckermann, Jetair, ..

International trains
Thalys, TGV, …
(Railway Station ‘Gare du Midi’)

Bus
Eurolines
(Railway Station ‘Gare du Nord’)

Taxistop
www.taxistop.be
Pag.
International Student Associations
-
AEGEE
AIESEC
BEST
ESN VUB-EhB
IAESTE
UCOS
VUBMUN
ISP
Pag.51
Campus Tour 21 Sep 2013
 Color card
 Esplanade: look for tour guide with your color
 Drink@KK
(1 free drink: soft drink/regular beer)
 VUBMUN, ESN VUB-EhB, AIESEC
Pag.52
Brussels City Tour
 Meeting 14h30, Grand Place, Brussels city center
 Color card
 Look for the VUB tour guides, bright blue t-shirt, on Grand Place with
color sign
 Grand Place: Metro stop ‘Gare Centrale’ or ‘Parc’, line 1 & 5
 AEGEE, ESN VUB-EhB
Pag.53
Welcome the World Party
 Welcome the World Party@ RITS Café
Start: 21h
Rue A. Dansaert 70, 1000 Brussels
Metro ‘Sainte Cathérine’ (line 1 & 5)
Together with our association partner school ‘Erasmushogeschool
Brussel’ (EHB)
Dance the night away…!!!
 VUBMUN, ESN VUB-EhB
Pag.54
Erasmus Mundus Action 2
Erasmus Mundus Action 2
Scholarship Holders
(Medastar, Lotus III, Marco XXI)
Meeting Saturday 21 Sep 2013
13h00, Esplanade
Ms. Ann-Sophie Vanderschueren
Ms. Marie Aurousseau
Pag.55
Exchange
Exchange students
(Erasmus, Science without Borders, ASEM DUO)
Meeting Saturday 21 Sep 2013
13h30, Room D.0.05
Ms. Nikki Van Tendeloo
Ms. Deborah Gies
Pag.56
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Enjoy your stay at our
university and in Brussels!
Pag.57