Please be on time every day. Respect the work hours and respect your tutor. If you are not going to the research institution, you need to warn the tutor in advance (at least two days) and ask for permission. If you do not respect these rules, your internship can be cancelled as this will greatly affect our relationship with the departments.
A security deposit might be required (usually 80€, deducted from the pocket money). It will be returned in full at the end of your exchange, if you left the accommodation undamaged. If damages are reported, the fee will be only partially (after deduction of the reparation costs) or not at all returned.
COVID-19 specific
For the general COVID measures in Belgium, please check the following website: LINK. As an incoming, we expect you to follow the same measures set by the Belgian authorities.
When traveling to Belgium, you need to fill in a sworn statement, explaining why your travel to Belgium is essential. The exchange team is ready to help you if you have questions about this.
For each specific country, you can find the travel recommendations from the Belgian government here. This page is only available in French and Dutch, in case you need translation of parts do not hesitate to contact us. These exchange conditions will be a brief summary of the key points.
https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/travels/
If you are traveling from a red zone, you will receive a message at the airport to be tested on day 1 and day 7 and during this period, you will have to be quarantined. You can find which zones are considered high-risk (red) on this page. The negative test upon arrival counts as a test for day 1. In case someone tests positive on day 7, the person needs to go in self-isolation for 10 days and this will also be the responsibility of the student itself. However, your contact person will help search a hotel or Airbnb for quarantine or self-isolation. In case you are traveling from a red zone, you need to be here 7 days before the start of your exchange. In order to obtain a certificate, 80% of the working days need to be completed and being in quarantine or self-isolation will not count in these working days.
This information can be found in a handy flowchart over here.
During this period of quarantine, accommodation is the responsibility of the incoming student and so are all the other costs involved, such as testing.
The following costs will not be covered by BeMSA:
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COVID-19 PCR fee
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COVID-19 vaccination fee
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Boarding & lodging fees before the start of the exchange
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Quarantine costs (if any)
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COVID-19 treatment in case of infection
We understand that these changes might raise the barrier for your exchange, but as the exchange team in BeMSA we will do our best to provide you an amazing experience. In case the measures change after you receive your CA, we will communicate this on the NEO server.
Hope to meet you soon and share some Belgian waffles, beers and chocolates with you.