.jpg?w=222&h=96&fit=max&bg=fff&pad=8&auto=format&q=40){kind=logo}
History
Since 1425, scientists here have been relentlessly searching for answers to the questions both large and small that have captivated humankind. Yet every answer reveals a new question, one discovery following upon another. It is what drives us: pushing the boundaries of science milestone after milestone, inspiring students and applying this acquired knowledge to the world around us.
Education
Get in touch: join KU Leuven’s Webinar Days on 27-28 November 2024
Discover all that KU Leuven has to offer during KU Leuven’s Webinar Days. Register for the Webinar of your preferred study programme, or for a general Webinar about student life, financials and housing, and applications at KU Leuven. You’ll find students happy to discuss their experiences living and learning at KU Leuven and staff ready to answer all your questions.
KU Leuven offers various types of programs, including bachelor’s and (advanced) master’s programs, continuing education courses, and bridging programs.
Education is organized by 15 faculties, divided into three groups.
Research
KU Leuven provides a stimulating home for all types of research, from fundamental to applied, and from individual research projects to large-scale, international research consortia.
Career
KU Leuven Career Zone is the online job platform for KU Leuven students and recent graduates. Students can search for entry-level jobs and student jobs, internships and volunteer work, and career events. Student associations and faculties often offer specific internships and entry-level jobs. They also provide lots of information on opportunities after graduation, career paths and the alumni network.
University Ranking
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2025
43 2
2024
45 -3
2023
42
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2025
63 -2
2024
61 15
2023
76
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2024
78 8
2023
86 9
2022
95
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2025
-
2024
48 2
2023
50
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
Student services
Student services includes a number of different counselling services whose objective is to promote the social, physical, mental and financial well-being of all students.
Whether as a student or researcher, you’ll discover in Belgium a country full of surprising contrasts. A country rich in art, history, and architecture. You’ll be treated to its local specialties in a friendly atmosphere. Belgian cities have so much to offer to students: a cosmopolitan lifestyle, great sports facilities, libraries, bookshops, restaurants, cafés, and a dynamic cultural scene
Housing services
Housing options for students at KU Leuven depend on the city where you will be studying and when you begin your search. In Leuven, the primary choice is between private housing and University residences. Most students choose to rent a student room (a ‘kot’ in Dutch) in a privately-owned house with shared common spaces and facilities.
The University owns and manages a number of student residences in Leuven, with a limited number of rooms reserved for international students.
Students in Brussel, Ghent and Antwerp need to find housing on the private market. Stuvo housing advisors can help students get a sense of the available housing stock in each of these cities.
Library services
The twenty-three KU Leuven libraries preserve top collections, manage inspiring learning centres, and offer an extensive list of services to researchers, teachers, students, and external visitors.
Medical services
The general practitioners at the Student Health Center are there to provide answers to all your health-related questions and problems. They are especially trained in common student problems.
Campus life
Since its foundation, KU Leuven has been located in the city of Leuven in the region of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Leuven is a modern, bustling, and safe student city with a long and rich history. The city’s beautiful, charming centre, which dates from the Middle Ages, is punctuated with stately colleges and historic buildings constructed over centuries by and for the university. Cultural and recreational opportunities abound.
Most of our English-language programmes are taught in Leuven, but you can also follow English-language programmes in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Geel and De Nayer.
Sports facilities
Sportcampus Arenberg is the ultimate sports location for everyone living in Leuven and far beyond. Every year we welcome several tens of thousands of people, all of whom show themselves from their most athletic side. The majority of them are students, although staff members, recreational sports enthusiasts, elite athletes, pensioners, para athletes and families also feel right at home at the sports campus. There is a fintess center, a swimming pool, ...
Student clubs
There is a wide network of student associations at KU Leuven. LOKO, the student body council, acts as a representative of all students and student unions of the KU Leuven in all organs deciding on policies ranging from social issues to education. In this extend, LOKO is able to contribute to all the policies in order to make sure that the interests of the students are protected and that important issues are resolved quickly. Within LOKO, three departments are dealing with Sport, Culture and International matters. Next to LOKO, a whole range of student faculty unions exist representing students towards the different faculties.
The Faculty of Economics and Business achieved the EQUIS accreditation after an extensive accreditation process.
