One Semester-Travelling in the Schengen

If you are staying for less than a full year, you might have gotten the message dispense de carte séjour this just means that you are ineligible for the residence permit.

I want to travel a bit after my semester, can I?

I have a Canadian friend who is living in Belgium for three months after which she is legally required to leave the Schengen zone for at least three months before she can return.

Schengen ≠ EU

While there are political, social and economic reasons for this treaty, the important thing for the traveller to know is that it essentially means free travel between all fifteen countries (with new countries joining) without worrying about border checks and special visa applications, you just need one "Schengen visa." That being said, sometimes they do check for ID. Canada is among the countries that do not require a special Schengen Visa in order to enjoy free travel throughout the zone but...

Here are the few restrictions for Canadians that do exist:

With your passport, you are permitted 90 days travel per every 3 months and 180 days per 12 months. What this means is that you can stay in any one country or travel between all fifteen countries continuously up to 90 days, after which you must leave the region for at least another 90 days (note, the UK and Ireland are not Schengen countries) before you can return. However, from what I've read, the most important portion of the time restriction is the 90 days, and not necessarily the per 180 days. I think this stuff is meant to confuse people.

For example, you arrive in Germany and stay for 10 days and then move on to Belgium for 5 days and then move on to France for another 15 days, thus, 10+5+15 = 30 days total in the Schengen zone. You decide that rather than go to Switzerland as planned, you choose Scotland for a month and a half - not Schengen. When you leave France, you get your passport stamped showing that you've left. After a week, you realise that it's wet and boring and decide to make your way back across the channel to walk your troubles away along the canals of Amsterdam. Enter Schengen again, stamp on your passport and the countdown re-starts.

What happens if I travel throughout Schengen if it's past 3 months?

I'm not sure what exactly happens to you. The official penalty is that you get deported, and barred from coming back for a certain amount of time, but I'm not sure how strictly that's enforced.

In conclusion...

The reps from the consulates and embassies of the countries you want to visit can not be relied upon to give you correct information. They are usually specialists in affairs affecting their own citizens, and not necessarily of foreigners in their countries. From my friend's experience, everyone is a bit wishy washy, and honestly, it's much easier to rely on the advice of friends and the good ol' internet.