Living in student rooms is quite an exciting step. It may take some getting used to it at first, but after a while, your student accommodation will feel like your second home and you will have a great time there! Scroll down and read everything about prices and our tips before you start your search. Assisted living? Living with an impairment? Scroll down and do not hesitate to contact Student Services.
If you're already a student at Thomas More, you can also read more on the student portal.
Read this brochure of the Flemish goverment concerning The Flemish Housing Rental Decree.
Mind you, Student Services, housing department, has accommodation only for students of Thomas More. If you search a place to live for your entire household, you cannot rent a student room. You will have to search houses at the standard housing market.
Find your home away from home
During the recent years, Mechelen has become a popular destination for (international) students and the ‘housing market’ is under pressure, certainly in the first semester. Make sure you check out the different accommodation possibilities.
In our student housing database you will find all available rooms and studio flats in the vicinity of our campuses. It also gives information about extra costs and facilities of the various student rooms. If you want to look for accommodation in Antwerp, visit Kotweb.
The table below gives you the average rental prices at the private rental market. Take into account increased rent, due to rising energy costs and possible extra index adjustments. Allow an average € 30 - € 60 per month for utilities, depending on the type of student home.
The amounts mentioned in this table are the average rental prices of a standard student room with common kitchen and sanitary facilities. If you seek for a room which include kitchen and bathroom for yourself, you will have to pay more each month. The sooner you start your search for a room (we recommend at the end of April), the more options you have in finding what you want. Bear in mind that the cheapest rooms are taken very quickly.
| Average prices | Room | Studio |
| Antwerp | € 445 | € 545 |
| Mechelen | € 393 | € 522 |
| Sint-Katelijne-Waver | € 342 | € 485 |
| Geel | € 316 | € 428 |
Tips
- Make a wish list: what is important to me? Do I want to live close to campus or close to the station instead? A room on the street side or overlooking a garden? What's my budget? Do I want to have my own shower? Or is having my own kitchenette important? ...
- It's best to start your search as soon as your learning agreement or degree application is approved, when there's still plenty of choice.
- In the summer, all student housing will seem ‘quiet’ because most students aren't there. Think carefully about what suits you best: living in a large, lively student house or a quieter place in a house with only a couple of rooms.
- Made up your mind? Make clear agreements and read your tenancy agreement carefully. Click here for more information and tips about your contract, warranty, utility expenses, insurances and regulations.
Other questions or concerns? The Student Services department will be happy to help and advise you: housing@thomasmore.be.
Living in student housing as a student with an impairment?
At our campuses in Mechelen and Antwerp, we offer residences with a range of facilities (wheelchair access, lift ...) and with personal assistance from fellow students. Thomas More residences aim to be an example of ‘assisted living’. In other words: a place where students with and without impairments can live and study together. Find out about this offer in Mechelen (at Campus Kruidtuin and in cooperation with the Diocesan Pastoral Centre) and Antwerp (Campus National).
Are you looking for student housing with disabled facilities in Geel, Lier, Turnhout, Vorselaar or Campus De Nayer? Please contact us and we’ll be happy to help you in finding suitable accommodation in the private rental market!
Student housing with social engagement
At our residences in Mechelen and Antwerp, you can rent ‘housing with social commitment'. This means that you want to make a difference to your fellow residents and the local community during your time in college. This makes your time living in student housing extremely rewarding.
We want our residences to be close-knit communities. So they have been built with socialising in mind, with large communal living rooms or kitchens. There’s no resident landlord, which means we count on you and your fellow students to make the best of your new shared home and take care of it!
Assisted living
The residences of Thomas More aim to be an example of ‘assisted living’. In other words: a place where students with and without impairments can live and study together.
You have an impairment
As a student with an impairment, you face a lot of hurdles. Thomas More wants to remove as many of these obstacles as possible. That is why we feel it is very important to be able to provide adapted residences and support.
Wheelchairs welcome!
Finding suitable student housing when you are in a wheelchair is often not that straightforward. But we have good news for you, because both our residences in Antwerp and Mechelen have rooms available adapted to your needs. In Antwerp we offer four rooms and an adapted kitchen for wheelchair users. In Mechelen, there are two rooms equipped with adapted furniture.
What does assisted living entail?
- The chance to live and study as independently as possible
- An adapted room that meets your needs
- A fun time at college
- Student housing full of great people who are committed to helping you
Social engagement
Are you planning on living in a residence on Campus National or Campus Kruidtuin?
Do you want to make a difference for your fellow students or the local community of your college town? If so, you can do your bit by getting involved in one of our social engagement projects. At our residences, the focus is on study, but also on social commitment. You can get involved:
- by providing assisted living support to your fellow students who need it. For instance, students with a physical impairment.
- by helping people in the local community. Think of visits to lonely elderly people, helping children with their homework ...
If you decide to provide assisted living support or help out in the local community, you will not only enjoy an unbelievable experience but also receive a payment for volunteering. Before you move into our residence, we will discuss which project you have committed yourself to and how to go about doing this practically.
Assisted living support
Living in a residence with social engagement can be an extremely rewarding experience for you as a student. By providing assisted living support, you help fellow students navigate college life more smoothly. It goes without saying that you get quite a lot in return! What’s more, as a student providing assisted living support you are not alone. You are part of an assisted living support team. This is a small group of students who work together to organise rotating support to one particular student.
What does an assisted living support team do?
- arrange a flexible rotation
- spend a few hours a week at the residence
- be available if a student with an impairment needs help with daily activities, such as: personal care
- shopping
- cooking & share meals
- practical organisation of study (e.g. preparing study materials)
Campus Kruidtuin | Mechelen
Right in the centre of Mechelen you'll find the Campus Kruidtuin residence for students with and without impairments. During your time at college, you have the opportunity to make a difference by taking part in one of our social engagement projects! We want to make the Campus Kruidtuin residence a fun and cosy place to live in, a real community!
Thomas More rents out 51 student rooms and 4 studio flats to students. Two rooms have been equipped for wheelchair users.
Room prices:
- Room: €350
- Studio flat for 1 person: €495
Rooms or studio flats are rented for one academic year. This means that the tenancy agreement starts in September and ends in June, inclusive (10 months). There are no additional costs. You can find more information about the rooms in our database: block A and block B.
What’s more, if you decide to support assisted living or become socially involved in the local community, you will receive a payment for volunteering.
If you have an impairment, you have the option of living in assisted living housing.
From Monday 24 April 2023 to Monday 1 May 2023, you can apply for a room for the academic year 2023-2024:
Questions? Please mail to residentie.kruidtuin@thomasmore.be.
Campus National | Antwerpen
Located in the Kronenburgstraat, right by the attractive Antwerp South district, you will find Campus National, the residence for students with and without impairments. During your time at college, you have the opportunity to make a difference by taking part in one of our social engagement projects! We throw in the warm, friendly atmosphere for free. We want to make Campus National a fun and cosy place to live in, a real community! Campus National has a mix of 43 housing units for 50 students. Four rooms have been adapted for wheelchair users.
Room prices:
- room: €445 or €475
- studio flat for 1 person: €500
- studio flat for 2 people: €545
Rooms or studio flats are rented for one academic year. This means that the tenancy agreement starts in September and ends in June, inclusive (10 months). There are no additional costs. You can find more information in our database.
What’s more, if you decide to support assisted living or become socially involved in the local community, you will receive a payment for volunteering.
Between Monday 24 April 2023 (6 p.m.) and Monday 1 May 2023 (6 p.m.) you can apply for a room for the academic year 2023-2024, through this form.
For more information about accommodation, please contact stuvo.antwerpen@thomasmore.be.