Thomas More University of Applied Sciences
speciality: International Business

I studied International Tourism and Leisure at Thomas More in Mechelen in the Spring program from 2021 until 2024.

Not everything was easy as an international student, my biggest advice to non-eu students would be to go to parties, join a club, keep up with your documents (make copies), don’t take no for an answer when it comes to your documents and student visa, do your research on Belgium and its culture, do your research on the country you want to do your abroad semester/internship in (double check what you need for visas in that country!). Never give up on yourself.

Studying is a privilege but that doesn’t make it easy, you need to put in the work. You’re going to have to study sometimes overnight, please ask questions! You will also make friendships, meet people in the business and hear their stories, and of course travel!

Studying at Thomas More in the ITL program gave me many opportunities and I am grateful to have been able to get my diploma from there. Many teachers there were very helpful and understanding, as long as you communicate effectively and in advance as you can.

There are also very nice mental health advisors that you can talk to for free if you need it.

Another piece of advice is to look for student housing as soon as possible and be very wary of scammers.

For non-eu and international students, to help you when you first get to the country, you can sign up for the Buddy Program! You will essentially be assigned a person who helps you in your first semester and they show you around Belgium and how Thomas More works. I had a buddy my first semester and she was very sweet! I later became a Buddy for others who were doing their abroad semester in Belgium at Thomas More and I’m still very good friends with them :).

Overall my experience in the ITL program in English at Thomas More was pretty positive.

Good luck with your studies!

What I Like:
– Welcoming Environment: The university fosters a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.
– Supportive Faculty: Professors are approachable and dedicated to student success.
– Modern Facilities: The campus features well-equipped classrooms and recreational areas.
– Diverse Programs: A wide range of programs and extracurricular activities caters to various interests.

What I Dislike:
– Limited Campus Size: The smaller campus may restrict the variety of on-campus activities.
Recommendation:
I would recommend Thomas More University for its supportive community and positive learning environment. Despite some limitations, the advantages make it a worthwhile choice for students seeking a well-rounded education.

Thomas More is pretty hands-on and practical in their teaching style. The teachers are experienced in their field and in addition to the exam, there are different assignments, group works, essays, etc to apply our learned material in. The international section is still quite new and the school is working out some kinks, there is a small language barrier with the staff or some teachers sometimes, but they are open for feedback and try to improve. Otherwise, from the international courses, International Business is by far the most adequate here, seems like it is in focus for the school also and quite popular with students all over the world. The student population is really diverse, with over 50 different cultures in my course alone. Overall, not a perfect score for the school, because it is still going through some growing pains, but I’ve enjoyed it so far.

I love how I get an international experience. In my program, I learn how to deal with and work with different cultures. On top of that, I have 1 study exchange and 1 internship within my program. I am happy to give you more detail about it.

The program is a no-brainer for people that would like to aim for an international career, for people that aren’t scared to go out of their comfort zone and to move to other countries.
Professors from around the world are sharing their experiences in an educative way.

Really good school to study international business management. I can recommend it. It’s an English program and it is open for international students all over the world. If you’re interested in getting to know business and new cultures, this course is perfect for you.

I am in my first year of IBT at Thomas More. So far, I like my courses and program we have as we get to go to an exchange and internship. I like the teachers and how they teach. Also, I am happy in my school. Everyone is very nice and helpful.

I love the international students that come from all over the world, creating a mix of cultures in our little corner of the world. The chance to study abroad is an opportunity I think more courses should consider.

I am currently studying International business and trade and the course is very unique in its own way. Firstly the teaching is very different and practical based which helps develop real-life skills in the business environment.

The overall atmosphere of the campus is very fun and engaging. There are people from all over the world studying courses which help us understand different cultures and backgrounds.

The course is unique because we have a compulsory going abroad policy. The first year we have to go abroad for an international project which lasts a week and then the 2nd year we have to do a compulsory study exchange program inside or outside Europe, followed by an international internship in the final.

I believe, these things really stand out and made me choose this course and university.