Studying as a (candidate) refugee

All registrations are done online, using the OSIS platform: https://registration.osis.uclouvain.be/?source=admission

As a refugee, asylum seeker, stateless person or beneficiary of subsidiary / temporary protection in Belgium, you must register as a student of non-European Union nationality and check assimilation status no.2 in the “Additional information” tab. Thanks to this status, you will be assimilated to a Belgian student.

If you do not have international protection status issued in Belgium, you will be considered an international student.

• If you are an asylum seeker or stateless person: a scanned copy (front and back) of your Annex 25 or 26 and your orange card (recent or recently renewed!).
• If you have refugee status: a scanned copy (front and back) of your A card and the refugee certificate issued by the General Commissioner for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRA).
• If you are a beneficiary of subsidiary or temporary protection: other documents will be requested during your registration. Full details can be found here.

YES, if you are applying for a bachelor’s degree. 
NO, if you are applying for a master’s degree.

All information concerning diploma equivalences is available on the website of the Equivalences Service of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

Pay attention to the schedule! We advise you to begin the procedure as soon as possible.

Need help to submit your equivalence request?

• For people living in Brussels: “Work, equivalences and training” (TFE) team of the non-profit organisation CIRÉ.
• For people living in Louvain-la-Neuve: “Tremplin pour la vie” project from the “Collectif des femmes” association (Women’s collective).

In principle, it is impossible. You must at least have your diploma to qualify for regular registration.

BUT, there are nevertheless two possible alternatives:

• To access to a master’s degree: if you no longer have your bachelor’s degree, the only possibility remains the VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience). You must provide proof of at least 5 years of professional and/or personal experience by documents justifying to your occupation during these years (certificate, contract, transcript, etc.).

+ option offered by CIRÉ.

• To access a bachelor’s degree: take the university entrance exam (free for refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and beneficiaries of subsidiary / temporary protection). Obtain the CESS test through adult education (please note: there is often an age limit).

Have you submitted an asylum application in Belgium? Do you have refugee status, temporary protection or subsidiary protection in Belgium? You can register at UCLouvain under the same conditions as a Belgian student.

YES, but you must:

1.    Prepare a detailed written description of the course already completed (content, syllabus, course outline, etc.), the grade obtained, and the number of ECTS credits. 
2.    Submit a request to the programme jury, addressed to the designated person according to your faculty’s procedure.

Please note: 

• The programme jury is not obligated to accept your request. 
• Requests for exemptions, even for second-semester courses, must be submitted in compliance with your faculty’s academic calendar. 

You can make an appointment with the CIO (Information and Guidance Centre) for any questions regarding your choice of study.

Explore all our programmes in the UCLouvain programme catalogue: https://catalogue-formations.uclouvain.be/fr/search 

• If your programme is taught in French: a minimum of B2 (European Framework of Reference for Languages) is recommended to understand courses and exams.
• For bachelor’s degree: no proof of French proficiency needed at the time of registration.
• For master’s degree: you must provide proof of French proficiency. The level required depends on the chosen degree. Please check the specific conditions related to your chosen programme.

To improve your French:

You can follow French as a foreign language course at the ILV or apply for the Access2University preparatory year.

Only if your programme is taught in English. The required level and method of proof depend on your programme.

YES, you can request a reduced workload from your faculty to take fewer than 60 ECTS credits in an academic year.

This exception must be justified for a valid reason, such as a social motive, in compliance with Article 151 of the “Décret Paysage”. As a refugee, asylum seeker, or beneficiary of temporary / subsidiary protection, you can invoke social reasons to reduce your credits and, for instance, follow language courses at the ILV in parallel.

Please note:

1. Your registration remains valid regardless of the number of credits. 
2. You can also create a programme with fewer than 60 ECTS credits without going through the reduced workload process. For more information, contact your faculty.

YES, by submitting an online form via the university’s housing service page (LOGE), paying attention to the indicated deadlines. Housing priority is based on the date of your application.

As with registration, you are considered equivalent to a Belgian citizen, so you must select the “Belgian” profile.

Please note: “Independent students” (non-degree students) are excluded from university housing access.

YES, you can apply for a rent reduction through the student assistance service page after submitting your housing application online.

In Louvain-la-Neuve: 

• Various real estate agencies on and around the university campus
• Private landlords
• ASBL 1 Toit 2 Âges (intergenerational housing)
• Foyer Saint-Paul 
• Kot Carrefour Vincent Lebbe 
• Collège Albert Le Grand 
• Communauté Saint Jean Bosco 

In Brussels: 

• Various real estate agencies on and around the university campus
• Private landlords
• ASBL 1 Toit 2 Âges (intergenerational housing)
• Maison Africaine
• Escale (for women or families only)
• SINGA ASBL (co-living for Belgians and newcomers)
   

Other options: 

• If you are supported by the CPAS (Public Social Welfare Centre), you can also apply for social housing.
• If you need help to find housing in Louvain-la-Neuve, contact Tremplin pour la vie from the Collectif des femmes (Women’s collective): tremplinpourlavie@collectifdesfemmes.be.
• If you need help to arrange a rental guarantee in Brussels, contact the housing service of CIRÉ.

As someone equivalent to Belgian students, you benefit from the exemption of increased tuition fees. Your tuition fee is the same as for a Belgian student (€835/year).

We recommend scheduling an appointment with a social assistant from the AIDE service to discuss potential financial support based on your situation:

• University social Aid: 
• Student grands from the Federation Wallonia-Brussels (only if you have been a refugee for over a year or are a beneficiary of temporary protection). More information: 
• In addition to this grant, you may apply for the Brabant Wallon provincial grant is you live in the Brabant Wallon province: 
   
• You can also work as a student (unless you applied for asylum less than 4 months ago). For more information: https://uclouvain.be/fr/etudier/aide/service-jobs.html 

You will find all information on the UCLouvain Health Service website: how to make an appointment with a university doctor, a list of GPs in the university’s municipalities, etc.

To access social healthcare protection, all students must be covered by a health insurance provider: a mutual insurance company or the Auxiliary Fund for Sickness and Disability Insurance (CAAMI). The various registration steps for mutual insurance are detailed on the UCLouvain Health Service website.

Non-European Union citizens must first register with the home municipal administration to obtain a national number. If you have already applied for asylum or protection, this number is listed on your documents.