KU Leuven
KU Leuven (or Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is a Catholic research university in the city of Leuven, Belgium.
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven | |
| Latin: Universitas catholica Lovaniensis | |
Other name | Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven |
|---|---|
| Motto | Sedes Sapientiae (Latin) |
Motto in English | Seat of Wisdom |
| Type | Publicly-funded Catholic university |
| Established | 1425 as Studium Generale Lovaniense (predecessor institution) 1834 as Catholic University of Belgium 1970 (split) |
Academic affiliation | CESAER CLUSTER Coimbra Group EASN Association EUA Europaeum EQUIS LERU VIU TPC Una Europa Universitas 21 |
| Budget | €1,1 billion in annual income |
| Chairman | Marianne Thyssen |
| Chancellor | Jozef De Kesel |
| Rector | Luc Sels |
Administrative staff | 11,534 |
| Students | 65,189 (2021–22) |
| 7,172 (2021–22) | |
| Location | , Belgium 50.878°N 4.700°E |
| Campus | Main (urban/university town) campus in Leuven and satellite campuses in Aalst, Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Diepenbeek, Geel, Ghent, Kortrijk, Ostend and Sint-Katelijne-Waver |
| Colors | Blue and white |
| Mascot | Fons Sapientiae |
| Website | kuleuven.be |
In addition to its main campus in Leuven, it has satellite campuses in Kortrijk, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Ostend, Geel, Diepenbeek, Aalst, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, and in Belgium's capital Brussels. KU Leuven is the largest university in Belgium and the Low Countries. In 2021–22, more than 65,000 students were enrolled, with 21% being international students. Its primary language of instruction is Dutch, although several programs are taught in English, particularly graduate and postgraduate degrees.
Although Catholic in theology and heritage, KU Leuven operates independently from the Church. KU Leuven previously only accepted baptized Catholics, but is now open to students from different faiths or life-stances.
While nowadays only the acronymic name KU Leuven is used, the university's legal name is Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, officially Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven, which translates in English as Catholic University of Leuven. However, the acronymic name is not translated in official communications, like its similarly named French-language sister university Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain).