Introduction

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is the largest and highest-ranked university in Belgium and one of the oldest and most respected universities in Europe. It is a Catholic university located in the Flemish region of Belgium.

Overview

Number of students: In 2020, KU Leuven had 58,653 students, 16% of whom were international students.

Number of faculty and staff: In 2013, the school had 11,544 faculty and staff, including 1,561 professors.

History and establishment time

Founded in 1425 by Pope Martin V, the University of Leuven is the oldest surviving Catholic university in the world and the oldest university in the "Low Countries" of Western Europe.

School running strength

Faculty: The school has more than 5,000 professors and scholars who conduct top-level research in accordance with the highest international standards and have positive interactions, cooperation and exchanges with each other.

Scientific research achievements: KU Leuven has achieved remarkable scientific research achievements in many fields, especially in semiconductors, microelectronics and nanotechnology, electrical and electronic engineering, bioinformatics and biostatistics, stem cell research, genetics and other research fields. .

International cooperation: As one of the founders, the University of Leuven, together with Oxford, Cambridge and other European universities, established the LERU-THE League of European Research Universities, known as the "European Ivy", and also cooperated with China Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and many other universities have established cooperative relationships.

Nature of institution

Public universities.

educational philosophy

KU Leuven focuses on cultivating students' critical thinking, innovative abilities and social responsibility, and encourages students to actively participate in scientific research and social practice to achieve the inheritance and innovation of knowledge and contribute to the development of society.

Key laboratories and disciplines

Key disciplines: KU Leuven’s research in engineering, life sciences, philosophy, theology and other disciplines is at the top of the world. Its schools of divinity, philosophy, law, economics, social sciences, liberal arts, sciences, engineering 17 colleges including the College of Science and an association assume the main teaching and research functions of the school.

Key laboratories: The school has multiple advanced research centers and laboratories, such as the imec Microelectronics Research Center, etc., which provide good conditions for scientific research and teaching in related disciplines and promote the school's research and development in cutting-edge scientific and technological fields.

Faculty

The school has 17 colleges, including the School of Theology, the Institute of Advanced Philosophy, the School of Canon Law, the School of Law, the School of Economics, the School of Social Sciences, the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Psychology and Education, the School of Science, the School of Engineering Science, the School of Engineering Technology, and Bioengineering College, School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Kinesiology, etc.

Ranking

2024: Ranked 63rd in the QS World University Rankings; 42nd in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

2025: Ranked 75th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

cost

Tuition fees at KU Leuven vary by major and degree type. Taking 2022 as an example, tuition fees for undergraduate and master's programs range from approximately €890 to €1,100 per academic year.

campus

Campus distribution: The various colleges of the University of Leuven are distributed in the city of Leuven. There is no unified teaching area or student dormitory area. The school property has a United Nations World Historical and Cultural Heritage, called Groot Begijnhof, which includes a Gothic church. and the surrounding well-preserved European medieval residential areas.

Campus life: Since it is a Catholic university, the campus has a unique cultural atmosphere, such as crosses hanging in every classroom and monks in black robes walking through the campus. In addition, the city of Leuven, where the University of Leuven is located, is a typical university town with many bookstores, restaurants, and taverns. The students’ extracurricular life is rich and colorful.