Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Location
Leuven, Belgium

Availability
Available for UniSA Business students only


  • University overview minus-thick plus-thick

    Established in 1425, KU Leuven will celebrate its 600th anniversary in 2025, making it one of Europe’s oldest universities. The institution has the double honour of being the oldest university in the Low Countries and the oldest extant Catholic university in the world. Today, KU Leuven is embedded in an economically strong region, where lots of multinationals, national and international institutions, and NGO’s have their headquarters. 
     
    There are three campuses across Belgium. The main campus in Leuven is 20 minutes from Brussels, a place characterized by its beautiful architecture and one of Belgium’s most attractive cities. The Antwerp and Ghent campuses are both less than an hour away. Each campus and city have its own vibe, but with large student and expat communities in all four cities, you will quickly become part of our international KU Leuven family.  
     
    KU Leuven is EQUIS accredited and has been identified as Europe’s most innovative university for four years in a row by Reuters. By developing the most important drug against HIV, a new type of solar panel that converts oxygen into hydrogen and uncovering the secrets of Sagalassos, KU Leuven researchers have a profound impact on our everyday lives in nearly all fields of research. That innovative character is deeply embedded in the way we teach our students, by integrating relevant guest lectures, taking an Interdisciplinary approach and opening the most advanced research and education facilities. 

  • City overview minus-thick plus-thick

    Leuven, which is located just 30 minutes east of Brussels by train, is the eighth largest city in Belgium. It is a popular student city and home to the largest university (KU Leuven) in Belgium. During term, city life in Leuven comes alive with students from all over the world. The city is very pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, with several streets off-limits to vehicles. You will find remarkable architecture, such as the Standhuis (Town Hall), which began building in 1439 and took 30 years to complete. The city is home to the famous beer Stella Artois, and when it comes to food, Muntstraat, a street of wall-to-wall restaurants caters to every budget. Leuven is well known for the Marktrock, a rock music festival held in its historic city centre the Oude Markt.

  • Key attractions minus-thick plus-thick
    • Grand Place, Brussels 
    • The Canals and Belfry of Bruges 
    • The Battlefields of Flanders 
    • Ghent's Gravensteen and Old Town 
    • Horta Museum and Town Houses 
    • Cathedral of Saint Bavo, Ghent 
    • Basilica of the Holy Blood, Bruges 
    • Grand Place (Grote Markt), Antwerp 
    • Meuse Valley 
    • Mons Old Town 
  • Country overview minus-thick plus-thick

    Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a sovereign state in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the North Sea. Belgium is known for being home to many different languages and communities.

    Belgium has a population of more than 11.4 million people, of whom the Dutch-speaking Flemish community makes up 59%. An estimated 25% of the population come from foreign backgrounds, so this is a land used to different cultures and languages.

    Belgium is renowned for some impressive contributions to art and intricate architecture throughout the centuries. In particular, the picturesque towns of Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp with their quaint atmosphere, canals and coffee culture make for charming landscapes to explore. Belgium food will also make you feel at home with incredible waffles and fries available everywhere, as well as a variety of beers for a range of tastes.

    There are excellent train connections everywhere in the country as well as to the rest of Europe, with Paris and Amsterdam just a short ride away. Major cities in Belgium are bike friendly and with rich student cultures, you’ll find that everything is easily accessible. This international country ranks as one of the safest or most peaceful countries in the world.

    Did you know…..?

    Belgium is known as the vegetarian capital of the world. The town of Ghent is exceptionally veggie-friendly and promotes "Veggie Thursdays". Belgium is home to the famous comic character Tin-Tin! Look out for murals throughout the capital city of Brussels.

  • Further resources minus-thick plus-thick

KU Leuven Factsheet

Download factsheet

KU Leuven webinar

Watch recording now

UniSA exchange deadline

August 1st to go on exchange in SP2

January 11th to go on exchange in SP5

Enquire

How to apply

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Semester 1 (SP5)
September to February

Semester 2 (SP2)
February to June


KU Leuven Factsheet

Download factsheet

UniSA exchange deadline

August 1st to go on exchange in SP2

January 11th to go on exchange in SP5

Enquire

How to apply

Go back to search

Weather
Autumn/Winter: -3°c to 12°c   
Spring/Summer: 12°c to 25°c   

Currency
€ Euro  

Local language/s
Dutch | French | German  


  • Getting there minus-thick plus-thick

    KU Leuven operates a welcome desk at Brussels Airport. On arrival, look out for the KU Leuven banner and desk in the arrivals hall on your right hand side, after you have gone through the baggage reclaim hall. Students in KU Leuven t-shirts will help you get orientated and guide you to where you need to be to travel on to your campus. 

    More information on how to get to the campus can be found here. 

  • Accommodation minus-thick plus-thick

    Leuven Campus 

    KU Leuven has reserved part of the rooms in KU Leuven student residence halls for international students. These rooms are randomly located amongst rooms for Flemish students and they are spread across the city centre. You can find more information concerning these rooms on here. 

    For off-campus alternative, you may want to look at houses listed on the local private housing market. Depending on the period of your stay and the time of your arrival the offer can be limited. Information regarding private accommodation in Leuven for exchange students can be found here. 

    Brussels Campus 

    KU Leuven, Brussels campus does not offer on-campus housing. However, the Social Services of Stuvo+ can help you in your search for a student room. 

    KU Leuven refers students to BRIK, an organisation which manages and coordinates student housing for all Dutch colleges and universities in Brussels. BRIK has an online database which students can use to look for suitable accommodation in the centre of Brussels or in the surrounding area. More detailed information or a list of websites with student accommodation in Brussels can be requested by emailing housingbrussel@stuvoplus.be. 

    Alternatively, more information on the private housing market is available in the welcoming package for those that apply for courses at the Brussels campusSee here for more information and should you have further questions please email housingbrussel@stuvoplus.be. 

    Antwerp Campus 

    Student rooms in Antwerp rent on monthly basis. A deposit of up to three months is usually paid on upon arrival. Student rooms tend to be single rooms (linen not included) with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. All institutions located within the city of Antwerp have developed a database for student accommodation, called Kotweb, offering a wide selection of studios and apartments.  

  • Living costs minus-thick plus-thick

    As an exchange partner with the University of South Australia, you do not have to pay tuition fees to KU Leuven, instead you will pay tuition as you would normally at UniSA. Travel and living expenses are at your own cost. The table below gives an indication of costs you will incur: 

    Items Approximate Cost (AUD)
    Return flights from Adelaide $1900 
    Accommodation $550 per month
    Meals/Groceries $500 per month
    Transportation $80 per month
    Meals/Groceries $320 per month
    Entertainment and incidentals including phone, laundry etc. $500 per month

    More information can be found here.

  • Funding minus-thick plus-thick

    You may be eligible to receive additional grants or scholarships to fund your experience. For more information please see the funding and scholarships website.

  • Insurance minus-thick plus-thick

    UniSA offers travel insurance as part of your exchange for up to 270 days (can be extended up to 365 days). For more information please see travel insurance website 

    Please click hereto read the travel insurance policy. 

    A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found here. 

    If you have any further questions about travel insurance, please contact the UniSA Insurance Office on 08 8302 1678. 

KU Leuven Factsheet

Download factsheet

UniSA exchange deadline

August 1st to go on exchange in SP2

January 11th to go on exchange in SP5

Enquire

How to apply

Go back to search

Visa information

It is your responsibility to apply for your visa for your overseas study experience. You can refer to the relevant consulate regarding a specific countries visa requirement. UniSA is legally unable to provide visa advise. Please see below links for more information. 

Australian Government DFAT brief on Belgium is available here.

Belgium embassy website can be found here.

KU Leuven student visa FAQ is available here.

Register your travel

To participate in an exchange experience, you must register your travel with International SOS (iSOS). We will provide instructions on how to do this throughout the process. 
 
UniSA has partnered with iSOS to offer our students medical, safety and security advice, referrals, emotional support and routine and emergency assistance when travelling or living abroad. 
 
For more information please visit the Travel Health and Safety Webpage
 
Before your departure, we strongly encourage you to visit the Smartraveller website
 
The website contains important information you need to know about travel documents, up to date travel advisories on destinations you may be travelling to on behalf of the University, travel tips and more. 

KU Leuven Factsheet

Download factsheet

UniSA exchange deadline

August 1st to go on exchange in SP2

January 11th to go on exchange in SP5

Enquire

How to apply

Go back to search

KU Leuven Summer School

With its exciting range of options and its setting in one of Europe’s greatest cities, KU Leuven’s EU summer course truly stands out from the crowd. 

Winter University on Sustainability
Europe Inside Out

Winter University on Sustainability
Location:
Virtual and In-Country (Belgium)
UniSA Application Deadline:

30th September 2024 

Program Dates:
13th to 31st January 2025
3 weeks

 

Credit: 
4-8 ECTS (see credit note below)

Program Fee:
No program fee

Mode of delivery: 
Hybrid 
Language of Instruction: 
English

Program Website: KU Leuven website
Program Brochure:
KU Leuven - Winter University on Sustainability - Brochure 1
KU Leuven - Winter University on Sustainability - Brochure 2

Credit Notes:
7.5 ECTS is equal to 4.5 UniSA units
Students who take the on-campus program will earn 8 ECTS, students of the online programme will earn 4 ECTS.
*Please note – for online option: as 4 ECTS is not equivalent to 4.5 UniSA credits, students will also need to submit an additional piece of assessment, a reflective journal, to UniSA*

Program Fee Information:
Part of student exchange agreement. Students stay enrolled at, and pay normal tuition fees, to UniSA.
Students must organise and pay for their own accommodation separately. See housing information on program website.

Eligibility:
All students must meet standard short-term exchange selection criteria and any host institution requirements. 
Host requirements: In order to participate you need to be an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) student in your final year or a graduate (Master’s) student.

Funding Available:
OS-HELP loans are available for eligible students.

Other Information:
Final credit pre-approval to be determined by your Program Director.
Virtual International Experiences may be run outside of normal study hours - please check on the program provider website to ensure the contact times suit your schedule.

Apply Now

 

Europe Inside Out
Location:
Belgium
UniSA Application Deadline:

Program has now passed. Listed here for reference purposes only.

Program Dates:
17th – 28th June 2024
2 weeks

 

Credit: 
6 ECTS (see credit note below)

Program Fee:
No program fee (see below for more information)

Mode of delivery: 
In-country
Language of Instruction: 
English
Program Website: KU Leuven website

Credit Notes:
7.5 ECTS is equal to 4.5 UniSA units
*Please note: as 6 ECTS is not equivalent to 4.5 UniSA credits, students will also need to submit an additional piece of assessment, a reflective journal, to UniSA*

Program Fee Information:
Students will still need to pay for accommodation and living costs.

Eligibility:
All students must meet standard short-term exchange selection criteria and any host institution requirements. 
The course targets graduate students in e.g. Arts, Economics & Business, Law or Social Sciences. Undergraduate students in their final year are also welcome to apply. Students with Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees from other disciplines should have had some exposure to at least one of the fields under study.

Funding Available:
OS-HELP loans are available for eligible students.

Other Information:
Part of student exchange agreement. Students stay enrolled at, and pay normal tuition fees, to UniSA.
Final credit pre-approval to be determined by your Program Director.

 

 

KU Leuven Summer School website

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Want to know more about studying overseas? Check out our returned student reports.

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