INFORMATION GUIDE for international students 1 Welcome to the PXL University College! We want to wish you a warm welcome to Belgium, Flanders and PXL University College. We will do our utmost to create optimal conditions for you to have a nice and successful study period at PXL University College. We have compiled this welcome brochure in hopes that it will serve you as a quick reference guide to various facets of life at PXL, Hasselt and Diepenbeek. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance while you are with us. We will do all we can to meet your high expectations of our school. Sincerely, International Relations Office PXL Student Services Stuvox www.pxl.be 2 Inhoud 1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION PXL ............................................................................................................ 4 2. PXL INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE ........................................................................................ 6 3. DIRECTIONS TO PXL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ..................................................................................... 7 4. FORMAL ARRANGEMENTS .............................................................................................................. 7 5. HOUSING ......................................................................................................................................... 9 6. LANGUAGE COURSES ...................................................................................................................... 9 7. STUDENT FACILITIES ...................................................................................................................... 10 8. TRANSPORTATION ......................................................................................................................... 14 9. GENERAL PRACTICAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................ 15 3 1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION PXL PXL University College is a merger between PHL University College and XIOS University College Limburg. The new University College in Limburg is a young dynamic and vibrant organisation, located in the heart of Europe, the Euregion Meuse-Rhine. PXL University College is a centre of expertise for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship with a long and strong international tradition. PXL University College provides programmes of non-university higher education. Non-academic higher education covers a period of 3 years. PXL University College has about 7000 students, 9 departments and three locations: Hasselt, Diepenbeek and Genk (MAD-Faculty). Central Administration Elfde-Liniestraat 24 (Building A), BE-3500 Hasselt President: B. Lambrechts Location https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=207838094735076983954.0004f324a07fc42b 5c942&msa=0&ll=50.938743,5.349848&spn=0.003962,0.009645 4 Departments and locations PXL-Business PXL-Education PXL-Healthcare Elfde-Liniestraat 25 (Building B), Vildersstraat 5, Guffenslaan 39, BE-3500 Hasselt BE-3500 Hasselt BE-3500 Hasselt Head of department: Head of department: Head of department: JP Segers M. Hermans R. Nelissen PXL-IT PXL-Media & Tourism PXL-Music Elfde-Liniestraat 25 (Building B), Vildersstraat 5, Bootstraat 11, BE-3500 Hasselt BE-3500 Hasselt BE-3500 Hasselt Head of department: Head of department: Head of department: F. Vos R. D’Exelle G. Stinckens MAD-Faculty PXL-Social Work PXL-Tech Elfde-Liniestraat 25 (Building C), Vildersstraat 5, Agoralaan (Building H) BE-3500 Hasselt BE-3500 Hasselt BE-3590 Diepenbeek Director: Head of department: Head of department: An Moons F. Giraldo M. Schepers 5 2. PXL INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE International Relations Office Head & Institutional Erasmus Coordinator Assistant Coordinator Mrs. Kristien Bauwens Mrs. Birgitte Wynants Elfde-Liniestraat 24, Elfde-Liniestraat 24 (Building A), (Building A), BE-3500 Hasselt BE-3500 Hasselt [email protected] [email protected] Departmental Coordinators International Relations PXL-Healthcare PXL-Tech PXL-Business Mrs. Mimi Market Mrs. Pina Cimino Mrs. Véronique Huybrechts [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] PXL-IT MAD-Faculty PXL-Education Mrs. Marijke Sporen Mr. Dirk Kenis Mr. Jochen Didden [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] PXL-Music PXL-Media & Tourism PXL-Social Work Gert Stinckens Mrs. Brigitte Luyten Mrs. Ivette Leten [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 6 3. DIRECTIONS TO PXL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE From “Brussels National Airport” to Hasselt Take the train from “Brussels National Airport” to Leuven or Brussels, and then a connecting train to Hasselt. The timetables for the trains can be found on the website of the Belgian railways NMBS. http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx From “Brussels South Charleroi Airport” to Hasselt Take the bus from “Brussels South Charleroi Airport” to the railway station “Charleroi South”. There take the train to Hasselt via Brussels Nord, Brussels South, or via Liege-Guillemins, depending on the time. The timetables for the trains can be found on the website of the Belgian railways NMBS. http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx From Hasselt railway station to PXL - Campus Elfde-Linie At Hasselt railway station, take the bus H2 in the direction of Kiewit and get off at Kapermolen. If necessary, ask the bus driver where to get off. For the timetables of the busses, you can consult the website of the bus company “De Lijn” http://www.delijn.be/en/index.htm From Hasselt railway station to PXL - Campus Diepenbeek Bus 45 leaves every 15 minutes from the railway station in Hasselt (and from the Kolonel Dusartplein) to PXL University College – Campus Diepenbeek. Get off at the 2nd bus stop on the University Campus. For the timetables of the busses, you can consult the website of the bus company “De Lijn” http://www.delijn.be/en/index.htm 4. FORMAL ARRANGEMENTS 1. Health Insurance Although exchange students remain registered at their home university during their study period abroad, you also need to register officially as exchange student at PXL University College. To be registered as a PXL student, you must prove that you have health insurance coverage. A health insurance covering the full period of the stay in Belgium is compulsory for all international students. Students from EU countries and from other countries with which Belgium has a health insurance agreement may maintain their health insurance from the home country in Belgium by taking out a European Health Insurance Card or equivalent document. This must be done before departure. Students from other than the above mentioned countries have to make arrangements for cover during their stay in Belgium with an insurance company in their home country. 2. Registration at PXL University College Upon arrival a digital picture for your student-ID is taken at the Registrar's office. You will be enrolled and you will receive all required documents connected to your student status. Your departmental coordinator will go over your class schedule and will assist you in finalising your learning agreement. 7 Registration takes place at the student administration, which is located in PXL-congress, campus Elfde Linie, Elfde-liniestraat 24, Building D, 3500 Hasselt After registration, you will receive: A student card A PingPing card (= payment system) A PXL account 3. Registration at town hall All international students, whether they are inhabitants of the European Union or not, who are staying longer than 3 months must register. This should be done immediately after registration at PXL University College and preferably within 1 week after arrival. HASSELT DIEPENBEEK Administrative Services Town Council Registration Office for Foreigners Dorpsstraat 14 Groenplein 1 BE-3590 Diepenbeek BE-3500 Hasselt Mo-Fri: 9:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:00 Mo: 8:30-12:00, Tue: 8:30-12:00 and 13:00-19:00, Wed: 8:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30, Thu: 13:00-16:30, Fri: 8:30-12:00 European students You will be asked for: Acceptance letter of PXL Proof of registration at PXL Your ID-card or passport Your insurance documents Non-European students You will be asked for: Acceptance letter of PXL Proof of registration at PXL Your passport/visa Your insurance documents (proof of health insurance) 2 passport photo’s 8 5. HOUSING First of all PXL University College does NOT offer student residences on campus. You need to rent a student room from PRIVATE landlords. Students generally rent a room (or “kot”) in a student house shared with between 5 and 60 fellow students. Rooms are usually furnished and are minimum 12 m² in size. Bed linen and kitchen utensils are not provided. Each room has a private sink. Kitchen and shower is shared or individual. Access to internet is widely available in private student accommodation. The average rent is about €250 per month, including expenses for utilities. You always need to pay a deposit of two months’ rent in advance. Your rent needs to be paid monthly. We have an up-to-date database with available rooms. This database contains a list of all available accommodations, including the names of landlords/landladies and owners who use the official tenancy agreement. https://uhintra3.uhasselt.be/svkamers/default.aspx It is advisable to use this official tenancy agreement, as it guarantees the rights of a tenant. In case of a discord between tenant and landlord/landlady/owner, someone of the social service acts as an intermediary. If you sign the contract of a certain period, you also need to pay the rent for the whole period,