Department of Oral Health Sciences

Exchange Student Dentistry

In order to come to the Ghent University Dentistry department as an exchange student there should be a bilateral agreement between your home institution and Ghent University for the field of Dentistry.

Before you start planning your exchange to Ghent University contact your home university to find out if there is an exchange agreement and what the process is for you to get nominated to go on exchange.

Possibilities

Internships/courses

All our theoretical courses are taught in Dutch. Therefore we do not accept foreign students for our theoretical programme. This means that exchange students are registered for clinical rotations at our hospital (3 months).

Period

As the academic year is divided into 2 semesters you can choose to come to Ghent in either the autumn or the spring semester. We don’t accept any exchange students during the summer holidays (July and August).

Requirements

As a minimum, all applicants must speak and write English at B2 level.

Willingness to learn some Dutch

 to be able to communicate with all patients, also children and elderly

We are convinced that it is necessary for a student to be able to communicate properly with patients and his or her mentor. Therefore a student with insufficient fluency in spoken English will not be allowed to start his/her internship.

Practical information

Application deadlines

Autumn semester: 15 May
Spring semester: 15 November

= the application has to be completed by this deadline

After these deadlines, we will confirm or decline the applications.

 

Application procedures
Application procedures and practical information (e.g. accommodation,...) can be found on the international pages of Ghent University. 


The Dentistry department does not offer accommodation, the incoming students are responsible to find accommodation. Beware of fraudulent advertisements!  Fake landlords are renting out non-existent accommodation. Other imposters use stolen identities to rent out existing accommodation. They target international students in particular. Never pay a deposit before signing the contract and being 100% sure the accommodation exists and is for rent. Always ask for the landlord’s personal information (name, surname, phone number and a photocopy of his/her ID). Double check the provided address on Google maps to see if it exists. Ask someone in Ghent to visit the room. If you notice any suspicious advertisements or if you become a victim of a scam, please be sure to report this to the local police.

Please make sure you arrive a few working days prior to the start of your placement/course, and stay a few days longer afterwards, to be able to arrange all the Erasmus paperwork.

 

Not to forget

  • If required, a passport and/or visa
  • Necessary insurance documents
  • Required medical proof of medical health + vaccinations,... (Tetanus, Hepatitis B)
  • A lab coat
  • Your student card
  • An overview of your curriculum, to show your placement mentor what level you have
  • A list of words/phrases that are often used while working with patients, and their translation in English, so you can add the translation in Dutch upon arrival
  • Upon arrival: filled-in, signed and stamped Learning Agreement (“Before the mobility”)
  • At the end of your stay: Learning Agreement (“During the mobility” and “After the mobility”), Transcript of Records and Affidavit (Proof of Stay Abroad)

FAQs

  • When do the semesters start?

The academic year is divided into two semesters. The autumn semester begins in September, the spring semester begins in February. Here you can find the academic calendar.

  • When do I receive my Letter of Invitation?

The processing of your application usually takes two months. Applications are processed after the application deadline, and you may expect your Letter of Invitation after the admission process has been finished. Your application first has to be assessed by the relevant departments at the hospital which takes some time.

  • What do I have to do after my arrival in Ghent?

We strongly recommend you to plan to arrive in Ghent a few days before the start of your first internship. Please come to the International Office of the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences to take care of the administrative formalities. You also need to enrol personally at the Student Registration Desk of Ghent University to obtain a student card (take your Letter of Invitation with you).

  • What do I need to take care of when leaving Ghent?

You are required to bring your evaluations forms (one per internship you have been doing) to the International Office at the faculty at the end of your stay. Your transcript of records cannot be issued if we have not received the evaluation forms.

  • How do I get in contact with other exchange students?

The central International Office organises Welcome days for incoming students which take place at the beginning of each semester, this is the perfect opportunity for you to meet other exchange students.

Contact

Ghent University – Campus UZ Gent
Corneel Heymanslaan 10 - Entrance 22 - Building P8
9000 Gent
Belgium