Work
Work
Student job
You need cash. Studying and your buzzing student life seem to be costing you just a tad bit more than you expected… Oops! The solution: a student job. As a student with a (part-time) job in Belgium you can work 600 hours without your hard-earned money being taxed, perfect!
Essentially, for international students the same rules apply. It’s important that you are registered at the foreign registration office and that you have registration proof. Contact the International Student Services of your educational establishment for more info.
Work placement
Doing a work placement is the perfect way to get your first relevant working experience. It’s an enrichment of your studies and a boost for your self-confidence. Moreover, it could be the ticket to your first job.
Work placements can be fully part of your education, but next to this, some educational establishments will recognize voluntary work placements if they meet certain criteria. Check with your educational establishment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, you can! The rules are basically the same as for Belgian students, but there are a few more things to look into. If you have acquired a visa for Belgium to study here, you can work as long as studying is your main occupation. Students of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Sweden can work without any hassle.
Students from countries outside the EEA however need to have a residence permit, which also serves as your work permit, and they have to follow a complete study in Belgium. For these students outside the EEA, there’s also a limit on your working hours during the school year, which is maximum 20 hours a week (except during the school holidays). Students of the EEA and Sweden do not have this limit. Students arriving in Belgium during the summer holidays (or just before it starts) with the aim of starting their studies in the new academic year may not work during this summer holiday.
Looking for a cool student job, but no clue where to start? At Student@Work you can also find a list of companies who are continuously or regularly looking for students who want a (part-time) job.
The editorial team has set up a list of tips for that great summer student job.
- The city of Antwerp has got a wide range of student jobs on offer for the summer months. After one month of working you’ve got a good €1,800 in the pocket. The application procedure runs until the end of March.
- Often your university or university college is looking for students with a part-time job for registration and opening days, amongst others. So make sure to keep an eye on your mailbox and/or the digital platform of your educational establishment.
- Countless cafés and brasseries are looking for inexperienced cleaners and terrace troubleshooters for those busy summer months. Print out a few copies of your CV and swing by a few catering spots in your neighbourhood. Most likely you’ll get a phone call quickly, so you can start straight away.
THE TEAM’S TIP!
“Find a student job in a café, restaurant or store. Most people can speak English or at least understand some and for you it’s an excellent opportunity to learn some Dutch!”
