Quick Summary
Public in Leuven, Belgium — KU Leuven, est. 1425. Ranked #63 globally by QS World University Rankings 2026, it enrolls 63767 students including 21% from outside Belgium. Known for strengths in Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies, Philosophy, it maintains an acceptance rate of 73%.
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Institutional Profile
Who they are
Consistently ranked as Europe's most innovative university, KU Leuven offers world-class education at a fraction of the cost of US or UK institutions, located in a vibrant, historic student city.
Subject Strengths
TheologyDivinity & Religious StudiesPhilosophyClassic & Ancient HistoryStatistics & Operational ResearchPharmacy & PharmacologyLawPsychologyArchitecture
Founded1425
TypePublic
Total Students63767
Intl Students21%
Faculty Ratio37.1
CampusMulti-campus
Campus SizeUrban
Affiliated HospitalsUZ Leuven
AccreditationNVAO,EQUIS,AACSB
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Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#63
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
#45
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
#73
Academic Ranking
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Academics & Research
What you can study
Bachelor's,Master's,Advanced Master's,PhD,Exchange Programs
Programs
Available
PhD Programs
Not Available
Online Programs
VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology),IMEC,Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI),KU Leuven Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Leuven.AI)
Research Centers
Very High
Research Output
NVAO,EQUIS,AACSB
Accreditation
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Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance Rate73%
IELTS6.5
TOEFL90
Min GPA3
GRERequired for specific Engineering and Economics programs
GMATRequired for Business programs
SATNot mandatory for most EU students; recommended for international applicants to specific bachelors
ACTNot Available
Key Dates
FALLApplication Deadline · March 1 (Non-EEA), June 1 (EEA)
SPRINGApplication Deadline · November 1 (Select programs)
MAR-APRDecisions Released
Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
Highlight academic background in core subjects related to the chosen field. For graduate programs, focus on the relevance of previous research experience and a strong motivation letter.
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Cost Ledger
Amounts in Euro
UG Tuition
€1,116/yr
per year · EUR
Living Cost
€12,500/yr
per year · EUR
PG Tuition
€4,432/yr
per year · EUR
Application Fee
$100
one time · USD
Total Estimated Annual Cost
€18,142/yr
tuition + living + essentials · EUR
Scholarships AvailableMaster Mind Scholarships,Science@Leuven Scholarships,IRO Doctoral Scholarships,Roger Dillemans Fund
Avg Scholarship$9,000
Financial AidAvailable
Work-StudyAvailable
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Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Bachelor's,Master's,Advanced Master's,PhD,Exchange Programs programs total
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Business Engineering | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Philosophy | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Biomedical Sciences | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Actuarial and Financial Engineering | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| International Business Economics and Management | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
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Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
$52,000
Average Salary After Graduation
92%
Employment Rate
Internship PlacementStrong clinical and industry placements through UZ Leuven and IMEC partnerships
Industry Connections
IMECJohnson & JohnsonSiemensVIB
Notable Alumni
Herman Van Rompuy,Abdul Qadeer Khan,Koen Geens,Marc Van Ranst
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Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
On-campus available
Sports Facilities
University Sports Centre (USC),Swimming Pool,Athletics Track,Indoor Sports Halls
Student Clubs
LOKO,Pangaea,Ekonomika,VTK
Library Resources
Central Library (Ladeuzeplein),Maurits Sabbe Library,24 specialized faculty libraries
Exchange Programs
Erasmus+,LERU,SEMP,Global Exchange Network
Summer Programs
Available