With only one week to go until lessons start, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel already welcomes some 700 international students during Orientation Week. Orientation Week is organised by the International Relations office (IRMO) to help international students get to grips with the administrative work they need to get sorted for the start of the academic year. During the week's programme, students are presented with a general information session but they can also attend faculty or programme welcome events. However, there is also room for fun stuff such as a Brussels City Tour or an introduction by a stand-up comedian on Belgian life.
Orientation Week participants includes a large number of Erasmus students who have chosen Brussels as a student city. In addition, there are also many degree-seekers who come here to follow an extra master's programme or who registered for one of the two English-language bachelor's programmes offered by the university. It is not yet possible to determine how many new international students have enroled in these programmes, as registrations are still ongoing. However, the university also hopes to see an increase in this number.
During the general information session on 18 September in Auditorium QA, the VUB welcomed students from 87 different countries, including some more exotic loactions such as Mongolia and Mauritius.