Academic calendar
Semester 1 runs Sep 14, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Welcome Week 2026
- Semester 1Relevant now
- Academic Year 2026-2027
- First Semester 2026-2027
- Semester 2
- Second Semester 2026-2027
- Summer Holiday 2027
- Second Session Exam Period 2026-2027
- Second Session Exam Period 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 16 of 16 terms
B
- BSG
- Brussels StudentenGenootschap, the umbrella organization representing all Dutch-speaking student circles at VUB.
C
- Cantus
- A traditional student event involving singing, drinking beer according to specific rules, and social bonding.
- Convivium
- The faculty club and restaurant, often used for more formal lunches or by staff.
D
- Doop
- The 'baptism' or initiation ritual that new students (schachten) undergo to join a student circle.
K
- Kot
- The standard Belgian term for a student room or dorm, used universally by students to refer to their housing.
- Kring
- A general term for a faculty-based student association or 'circle' that organizes social and academic events.
L
- LWK
- Letteren en Wijsbegeerte Kring, the student association for Arts and Philosophy students.
P
- Pilar
- The cultural house on campus that also serves as a popular bar and meeting spot for food and drinks.
R
- Resto
- The main student restaurant on campus where students eat subsidized meals.
S
- Schacht
- A freshman or new member of a student circle who is undergoing the initiation process.
- Schoofs
- Shorthand for the student housing located on Schoofslaan, just off the main Etterbeek campus.
T
- TD
- Stands for 'Thé Dansant'; it refers to a student party, typically held in the campus tent or local venues.
- Tent
- The large white structure on campus often used for student events, but also where temporary food stalls are sometimes located.
U
- U-Residence
- A high-end student and guest housing facility located at the edge of the Etterbeek campus.
W
- WK
- Wetenschappelijke Kring, the student association for Science and Bio-engineering students.
X
- XY
- Refers to the modern student housing complex consisting of Buildings X and Y on the Etterbeek campus.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Braemgebouw
- The iconic, modernist rectorate building designed by architect Renaat Braem, housing central administration.
- Canvas
- The digital learning management system where students find course materials, assignments, and announcements.
- Esplanade
- The central open-air walkway and gathering space that connects the various buildings on the Etterbeek campus.
- Gebouw D
- Building D, a central hub on the Etterbeek campus housing classrooms, the student information hub, and offices.
- Gebouw M
- Building M, primarily associated with the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy.
- Jette
- Refers to the VUB Health Campus located in the Jette district, home to the medical faculty and university hospital.
- MIVB/STIB
- The Brussels public transport operator; students often use these terms interchangeably for the metro, tram, and bus system.
- opinio
- Opinio
- t_complex
- 't Complex
- vub_restaurant_etterbeek
- VUB Restaurant Etterbeek
- vub_restaurant_jette
- VUB Restaurant Jette
- VUB-kaart
- The multi-functional student ID card used for library access, printing, and paying for meals at the Resto.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Semester 1 runs Sep 14, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027.
- How much campus context is included?
- 16 approved campus terms and 12 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.