Accommodation and crime are the top concerns for students in Brussels, according to a new survey.
The survey shows that 31.5% of respondents no longer live with their parents and are “cooping” (confined in a small space).
Among these, 60% of participants said they had difficulty finding accommodation, with the level of rent being one of the main reasons.
At the same time, 75.4% of respondents are satisfied with their student accommodation.
The survey, “Panorama of student life”, surveyed 3,000 students and was conducted by “perspective.brussels” with the support of the Academic Centre and Brik.
It also found that almost three out of four students say they do not feel safe in the city.
This is an increase compared to the previous survey. Concerns are most acute about insecurity in the evening and at night and to a lesser extent, on public transport.
Students are generally satisfied with the urban experience during their studies, said the survey.
A spokesman said,
The survey allows us to better understand the assets and attractive points of the Brussels Region, but also what should be improved.
Over the last ten years, the number of registrations in higher education in the Brussels Region has increased by 22% to reach more than 137,000 registered during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Identifying the needs of this student population remains a significant challenge for what is the largest student city in the country.
The survey involved students from 49 higher education institutions located in the Brussels Region and follows a first survey carried out in 2014-2015 and a second in 2019-2020.
A varied sample of students responded, which, said the organisers, “provides an idea of the attractiveness of the Region and the experiences of the students themselves.”
Nearly 3,000 students completed an online questionnaire between November 2023 and March 2024. The average age of participants was 22 years and 65% of respondents did not live in Brussels before their studies. International students represented 22% of the sample and included 95 different nationalities.
The survey shows that students are satisfied with the city and the way they live there.
Mobility, life in the neighbourhood, sports infrastructure, and cultural offerings are seen as positive.
But there are also some causes for concern, including the search for accommodation, which is sometimes difficult, the cost of living, and a feeling of insecurity.
The educational training itself, its quality, and the distance between campus and accommodation are cited, in that order, as the main reasons for choosing Brussels as a student city.
Furthermore, the survey shows that students also like living in Brussels: 67.2% of the panel say they are satisfied with their neighbourhood and some 55% of students want to continue living in the region after their studies.
Three out of four students say they are satisfied with mobility in the city.
