Construction AUTUMN

Exchange courses in Construction

A programme for international exchange students who have obtained at least 120 ECTS in the study field of construction or other technical fields of study, on bachelor level.

Courses are taught in Dutch with tutoring and course material in English.

AUTUMN 2024

* Students can only register for this course in one semester, Autumn or Spring. Approval and allocation is based on a CV with relevant experience and a transcript of records.

Language courses 

Course content 

For official course catalogue information check the course catalogue: Course Catalogue 2024-2025 (available from june 2024).

Below you can find a description of the course contents.

Bachelor Project

Approval and allocation is based on a CV with relevant experience and a transcript of records.

The bachelor project is a research project assigned by a company, institution, etc. in which the student analyses a practical construction-related problem and suggests an optimal solution.  

The project is described in a written report and defended during a jury presentation.

Entrepreneural Project (light)

Students create the blueprint of a (fictitious) technical company, developing a well considered business plan for a specific product of service. Doing so, they learn the basics of business management, market research, technical development and financial management.

Entrepreneural Project (full)

In this course students learn all aspects of entrepreneurship, by running an own company for a full academic year. They work in groups of 4 to 5 students, gather a starting capital, carry out market research, develop a business plan and start production and sales, commercializing a specific product or service. Thanks to this powerful learning experience, students develop skills and attitudes that make them better intra- and entrepreneurs.

Summer School English

An intensive English language course (held before the start of the other courses) for incoming and outgoing PXL students (45 hours divided over 7 days, not on Saturday and Sunday).

In order to determine your level you'll have to complete a written intake and an oral intake interview before the start of the Summer School on 4/9 on campus in Hasselt. The written intake can also be done online in advance.

Using authentic material, this course gives you the best possible chance of making the most of your educational opportunities and it provides help in developing essential skills for your career. You'll also make a field trip to get to know Hasselt and your fellow students.

With the focus on general English you will be given the opportunity to practice on:

• Writing reports, essays …
• Giving presentations, seminar discussions …
• Taking notes on the main points of a lectures …
• Understanding main ideas in paragraphs and longer texts …
• Brief recapitulation of the main grammar items…

Survival Dutch

You will learn the basics of the Dutch language so you will be able to take the bus/train, find your way in Hasselt or order a pint in a pub.There is a strong focus on communication, listening to conversations by native speakers and understanding the (basic) contents. 

Subjects:

• Meeting and greeting, on the road
• In town: shopping - eating – drinking – washing clothes
• The alphabet, pronunciation
• Numbers, time, dates
• Going out, making an appointment
• Health, going to the doctor and pharmacy.

The lectures will take place during 9 weeks (sept-dec), this with a frequency of 3 hours (evening) a week. 

English for eXchange

In this course, students learn how to communicate in an international (professional) context. Students work on their general language skills as well as improve their language competences so that they can function in an international working environment.

This course is designed to practice the four communicative skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking by e.g.:

• reading newspaper articles and short stories and understanding the (basic) contents;
• deriving the meaning of selected vocabulary items from a text;
• writing formal/neutral (professional) and informal emails or letters;
• listening to conversations by native speakers and understanding the (basic) contents;
• watching short movie fragments and understanding the (basic) contents;
• expressing one's opinion about topics of general or professional interest;
• having everyday (professional) conversations/performing role plays.

The exact contents of the course is subject to change and is open to suggestions by students. Students extend their vocabulary by reading real life texts, listening to conversations by native speakers and by having conversations and playing role plays.

They study grammar items by doing exercises and will have to put these grammatical items into practice in conversations and in writing.

The lectures will take place during 9 weeks (sept-dec), this with a frequency of 3 hours (evening) a week.