![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/KUL.svg/640px-KUL.svg.png&w=640&q=50)
KU Leuven
Catholic research university in Leuven, Belgium / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)[lower-alpha 1][2] is a Catholic research university in the city of Leuven, Belgium. Founded in 1425, it is the oldest university in Belgium and the oldest university in the Low Countries.
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven[lower-alpha 1] | |
![]() | |
Latin: Universitas catholica Lovaniensis | |
Other name | Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven[lower-alpha 2] |
---|---|
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 | €1,5 billion in annual income[1] |
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 / 50.878; 4.700 |
Campus | Main (urban/university town) campus in Leuven and satellite campuses in Aalst, Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Diepenbeek, Geel, Ghent, Kortrijk and Sint-Katelijne-Waver |
Colors | Blue and white |
Mascot | Fons Sapientiae |
Website | kuleuven.be |
![]() |
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Souvenir_25_eme_anniversaire_de_la_Fondation_Universit%C3%A9_catholique_de_Louvain_novembre_1859.jpg/320px-Souvenir_25_eme_anniversaire_de_la_Fondation_Universit%C3%A9_catholique_de_Louvain_novembre_1859.jpg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Gregory_XVI.jpg/640px-Gregory_XVI.jpg)
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.[3] 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.[4] Its primary language of instruction is Dutch, although several programs are taught in English, particularly graduate and postgraduate degrees.[5][6] It is routinely ranked among the top 50 universities in the world by Times Higher Education.[7]
Although Catholic in theology and heritage, KU Leuven operates independently from the Church.[8] KU Leuven previously only accepted baptized Catholics,[when?] but is now open to students from different faiths or life-stances.[9][10]
While nowadays only the acronymic name KU Leuven is used, the university's legal name is Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, officially Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven,[lower-alpha 2] which translates in English as Catholic University of Leuven.[lower-alpha 1] However, the acronymic name is not translated in official communications, like its similarly named French-language sister university Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain).