KU Leuven

KU Leuven is a public research university located in Leuven, Belgium. Founded in 1425, it is the oldest Catholic university in the world and has a reputation for academic excellence and ethical integrity. Today, it is Belgium’s highest-ranked university and is known as one of the world’s great universities.

KU Leuven offers a wide selection of academic programs in English, all of which are within the top 100 of the world rankings for their respective fields. The university's approach to education is research-based and interdisciplinary, with a focus on developing critical thinking skills and a research-oriented attitude in students.

The university has a vibrant international community, with nearly 20% of its approximately 60,000 students coming from abroad. KU Leuven has partnerships with top-level institutions worldwide, facilitating international mobility and intensive research cooperation.

As a comprehensive university, KU Leuven pursues both pure research and targeted, demand-driven research in an interdisciplinary environment. The university has a strong record of securing funding from competitive research funds and is recognized as Europe’s most innovative university in numerous rankings.

KU Leuven is a leading institution when it comes to the valorization of research and innovation. Its technology transfer office has a long tradition of patenting, licensing, collaborating with industry, and creating spin-off companies, contributing to cutting-edge innovation and R&D.

KU Leuven, or Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, was founded in 1425 in the city of Leuven, Belgium. It is the oldest Catholic university in the world and one of the oldest universities still in operation today.

The university was established by Pope Martin V, who granted a bull of foundation to the Prince-Bishop of Liege. The university originally had four faculties: Arts, Law, Medicine, and Theology. It was modelled after the University of Paris, which was the preeminent university of the time.

In the 16th century, the university became a center for humanism and the study of classical languages. It also became a center for the study of theology and was known for its role in the Counter-Reformation. During this time, many prominent scholars and theologians were associated with the university, including Desiderius Erasmus and St. Thomas More.

In the 18th century, KU Leuven became a center for the study of science, with a particular focus on physics and chemistry. The university continued to grow and evolve in the 19th and 20th centuries, with the establishment of new faculties and the addition of new disciplines such as economics, engineering, and social sciences.

During World War I, the university suffered significant damage and loss of life, with many students and faculty members serving in the military. In the aftermath of the war, the university began to rebuild, and by the 1920s, it had regained its position as one of the leading universities in Europe.

During World War II, KU Leuven again suffered significant damage, with many of its buildings destroyed or damaged. Following the war, the university once again began the process of rebuilding and expansion, with the addition of new faculties and the development of new research programs.

Today, KU Leuven is a leading research university with a strong reputation for academic excellence and ethical integrity. It is consistently ranked among the top universities in Europe and the world and is known for its research in a wide range of fields, including biomedical science, nanotechnology, and economics.

KU Leuven offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across its faculties in various fields, including:

- Arts and Humanities: Programs offered in this faculty include History, Philosophy, Archaeology, Literature, Linguistics, Art Studies, and Musicology.

- Engineering Science: Programs offered in this faculty include Architecture, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Engineering.

- Science: Programs offered in this faculty include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, and Geography.

- Social Sciences: Programs offered in this faculty include Law, Economics, Business, Communication, Psychology, and Political Science.

- Biomedical Sciences: Programs offered in this faculty include Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Sciences, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

- Theology and Religious Studies: Programs offered in this faculty include Theology, Religious Studies, and Interreligious Studies.

- Economics and Business: Programs offered in this faculty include Economics, Business, and Management.

KU Leuven also offers a wide range of interdisciplinary programs, including European Studies, Global Studies, and Sustainable Development. Additionally, the university offers a number of programs in English, catering to the needs of international students.

KU Leuven is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the world. It is ranked 45th in the world according to the QS World University Rankings 2022 and 48th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. It is also ranked as the most innovative university in Europe by Reuters in their 2021 rankings.

KU Leuven is highly regarded for its research output and is ranked as the 6th best university in Europe in securing projects under the EU Horizon 2020 Programme. The university is also a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), an association of research-intensive universities in Europe.

In addition to its overall rankings, KU Leuven is highly regarded for its individual faculties and programs. Many of its programs are ranked in the top 50 in the world, including its programs in Economics, Business, and Law.

KU Leuven has a strong track record of producing highly employable graduates. According to the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022, KU Leuven is ranked 50th in the world for graduate employability, indicating that its graduates are highly sought after by employers around the world.

The university offers a wide range of programs in various fields such as engineering, business, law, medicine, and social sciences, all of which prepare students for a successful career. KU Leuven's strong focus on research and innovation also means that its graduates are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills that are highly valued by employers.

In addition to its academic programs, KU Leuven also offers career guidance services to its students, providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed in the job market. The university has partnerships with numerous employers and organizations, providing students with opportunities to gain work experience and develop their skills through internships, co-op programs, and other work-integrated learning opportunities.

KU Leuven

https://www.kuleuven.be/ 

Main (urban/university town) campus in Leuven 

Oude Markt 13, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Satellite campuses in Aalst, Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Diepenbeek, Geel, Ghent, Kortrijk, Ostend and Sint-Katelijne-Waver