Europe·Research university

KU Leuven

Leuven, Belgium

A bright modern study hall with long pale-wood tables, paper-cord chairs and a clear acrylic divider on the front table, lit by tall windows. — Illustration · not this institution — read about our photographs and illustrations

Belgium's top research university and one of the oldest in Europe. Located in a charming Flemish college town. Strong in engineering (imec), biomedical sciences, and humanities. Wide selection of English-taught master's programs.

Last updated September 2026

Full admissions guideHow to Get Admission in KU Leuven8 min read · verified 13 June 2026

Location

Leuven

Established

1425

Degree levels

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Instruction

English-taught

Rankings

#61

QS World University Rankings

Rankings are published annually by their respective organisations and change every year. Confirm the current-year position on the official ranking website before relying on it.

How to apply

Direct via KU Leuven

Region

Europe →

Admission tests

IELTSInternational English Language Testing System

Listed for this university: IELTS / TOEFL

British Council / IDP IELTS / Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Year-round (test dates and session times vary by test centre)

Requirements change from one intake to the next — confirm the current ones on KU Leuven’s official site (opens in a new tab) before you apply.

Applying to universities in Europe

Application platform: Uni-Assist (DE) / Campus France / Studielink (NL) / direct
Intakes: Winter (Sep/Oct) · Summer (Mar/Apr) — varies
Student visa: National Student Visa (Schengen long-stay)
Working while studying: Typically 20 hrs/week or up to 140 full (280 half) days per year — varies by country; verify on the official source. Post-study work visas: Germany 18 months, Netherlands 1 year, France 1-2 years.

Official sources: EU Immigration Portal — European Commission · European Education Area — European Commission. Visa and work rules change — verify on the official source before relying on them.

Popular fields of study

EngineeringBiomedical SciencesComputer SciencePhilosophy

Visit official website

Source: KU Leuven official website. Details here are for guidance only — tuition, deadlines, rankings and eligibility change every academic year, so confirm on the official university site before applying.