KU Leuven is a research university in Leuven, Belgium, founded in 1425. It has 66,306 students, of whom 17,738 come from abroad.[1] It ranks 59th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, the best result a Belgian university has achieved in that ranking.[2]
For 2026–27 a standard 60-credit year costs €1,181.40 for EEA students. Non-EEA students pay €3,093.12, €5,613.12 or €9,493.92 a year, depending on the programme.[3] Dutch at level B2 is the minimum for Dutch-taught programmes; applicants to English-taught programmes need an English test unless an exemption applies.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) |
| Location | Leuven, Flanders, Belgium; further campuses in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Geel, De Nayer, Bruges, Kortrijk (Kulak) and Diepenbeek[5] |
| Type | Publicly funded Catholic university[6] |
| Founded | 1425, by a papal bull of Pope Martin V issued on 9 December 1425[7] |
| Students | 66,306, of which 17,738 international (26.8%) from more than 140 countries[1] |
| Staff | 13,685 KU Leuven staff, including 8,110 researchers (University Hospitals Leuven staff are counted separately)[1] |
| Study programmes | 49 bachelor’s, 139 master’s and 40 advanced master’s programmes; 15 faculties[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 59th[2] |
| Main language of teaching | Dutch; English-language programmes in Leuven, Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Geel and De Nayer[5] |
| Tuition 2026–27, EEA students (60 credits) | €1,181.40 in the standard rate[8] |
| Tuition 2026–27, non-EEA students (60 credits) | €3,093.12, €5,613.12 or €9,493.92 depending on the programme[3] |
| Language requirement | Dutch B2 (C1 for certain programmes); English test for applicants without a previous English-taught diploma from an English-speaking country[4] |
| Official website | kuleuven.be |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
About KU Leuven
KU Leuven was founded with the papal bull Sapientie immarcessibilis, issued by Pope Martin V on 9 December 1425. The university describes itself as the oldest university in the Low Countries and the oldest extant Catholic university in the world; it celebrated its 600th anniversary in 2025.[7] Its headquarters have been in the University Hall in Leuven since the beginning.[7]
In the political turmoil of the late 1960s the university of Leuven was split into two independent sister universities: the Dutch-language Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, now KU Leuven, and the French-speaking Université catholique de Louvain (UCL, today UCLouvain), which moved to the new campuses in Louvain-la-Neuve and Woluwe in Brussels.[7] The two cooperate today in education, research and organisation.[7]
Most English-language programmes are taught in Leuven. English-language programmes are also offered in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Geel and at campus De Nayer near Mechelen. Campus Kulak in Kortrijk and Campus Diepenbeek offer Dutch-language programmes only.[5]
How is KU Leuven ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, KU Leuven is 59th in the world with an overall score of 80.5 out of 100. It gained one place and reached the best position a Belgian university has achieved in the QS ranking.[2][9] Ghent University follows at 150th and UCLouvain at 196th.[2]
In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, reported on 1 October 2026, KU Leuven is 45th, up one place and its best position since 2016.[10] The two lists use different methods, so the positions differ. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at KU Leuven?
KU Leuven offers 49 bachelor’s programmes, 139 master’s programmes and 40 advanced master’s programmes. It has 15 faculties, and the university states that each of them is in the top 100 of its field worldwide.[1] All faculties offer programmes in Leuven.[5] In Brussels you can study at the Faculty of Economics and Business, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Architecture; in Antwerp at the Faculty of Economics and Business and the Faculty of Arts; Ghent, Geel and De Nayer host the Faculty of Engineering Technology (Ghent also the Faculty of Architecture).[5]
The language of instruction is set per programme, so check it in the programme description before you apply. For the country overview see universities in Belgium and the Study in Belgium guide.
How much does KU Leuven cost in 2026–27?
| Programme type | EEA students (60 credits) | Non-EEA students (60 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| Most master’s programmes (for example Civil Engineering, Business Economics, Chemistry, Mathematics) | €1,181.40 | €9,493.92 |
| Some master’s programmes (for example Criminology, History, Psychology: Theory and Research, Sociology) | €1,181.40 | €5,613.12 |
| A few master’s programmes (for example Social and Cultural Anthropology, Theology and Religious Studies) | €1,181.40 | €3,093.12 |
| Bachelor’s: Engineering Technology; Philosophy | €1,181.40 | €9,493.92 |
| Bachelor of Arts in European Studies | €2,450.00 | €8,500.00 |
The amounts are from KU Leuven’s tuition fee tool for students starting in 2026–27; the tool states the fee per programme for a standard programme of 60 credits.[3] The tool lists more programmes than this table, so look up yours.
How the fee is built
The tuition fee is a fixed cost plus an amount per credit. The official breakdown for 2026–27 shows four levels: €1,181.40 (fixed €305.40 plus €14.60 per credit), €3,093.12 (€1,305.12 plus €29.80), €5,613.12 (€1,726.92 plus €64.77) and €9,493.92 (€2,376.72 plus €118.62).[8] That page does not say which level applies to which nationality or programme, so use the fee tool.[8] The rate of your starting year stays valid for the whole programme, apart from yearly indexation.[3]
Who pays the EEA rate?
If a non-EEA student enrols in a Dutch-taught programme that has an English-taught equivalent with an increased fee, the increased fee applies.[3] Waivers and scholarships exist, among them the Master Mind scholarship; see the KU Leuven scholarship overview.[8]
Tuition is only part of the bill. For rent and living costs see our Study in Belgium guide.
How do you apply to KU Leuven?
Students without a Flemish degree apply through KU Leuven’s application website. The university lists these steps: create an account, apply for one or more programmes, upload the requested documents, pay the application fee, submit the application, follow the assessment and then read the outcome.[11] Holders of a Flemish degree use a separate registration route.[11]
Programmes have their own admission requirements and application deadlines, which KU Leuven asks you to check before you start.[11] We give no deadlines here because they change every year. If you need a visa, build in extra time and apply early.
Which language level do you need?
The minimum level of Dutch to study at KU Leuven is B2 on the CEFR scale (the European scale from A1 to C2; B2 is upper-intermediate). Certain programmes require C1, which is stated in the programme’s admission requirements. KU Leuven accepts only the Dutch certificates listed on its own page.[4]
All applicants who have not obtained a previous diploma in a programme taught in English in Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States must submit an accepted English test. For the IELTS Academic test the minimum overall score is 6.5; the other accepted tests and any programme-specific subscores are listed on the KU Leuven pages.[12]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does KU Leuven cost for international students in 2026–27?
EEA students pay €1,181.40 for a standard 60-credit year. Non-EEA students pay €3,093.12, €5,613.12 or €9,493.92 depending on the programme; some programmes have their own rates, for example €8,500 for the Bachelor of Arts in European Studies.[3]
Is KU Leuven the same as UCLouvain?
Can I study at KU Leuven in English?
Is the Kulak campus in Kortrijk part of KU Leuven?
Yes. Campus Kulak in Kortrijk is one of KU Leuven’s campuses outside Leuven and offers Dutch-language programmes only.[5]
More about studying in Belgium
- Belgium: best universities
- Study in Belgium: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Belgium
- Ghent University
- UCLouvain (Université catholique de Louvain)
- University of Antwerp
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Sources
[1] KU Leuven: Facts and figures (page updated 14 Oct 2026)
[2] The Brussels Times: Belgian university rises to “highest position ever achieved” (QS World University Rankings 2027; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[3] KU Leuven: Tuition fee tool (per programme, starting year 2026–2027) (page without a date; data for the 2026–2027 starting year)
[4] KU Leuven: Language requirements (page updated 6 Nov 2026)
[5] KU Leuven: Campuses (page updated 6 Jul 2026)
[6] Wikipedia: KU Leuven (type of institution)
[7] KU Leuven: History (page updated 17 Feb 2026)
[8] KU Leuven: Tuition fee breakdown (page updated 21 Aug 2026)
[9] La Libre (Belga): La KU Leuven se distingue dans le classement mondial QS des universités (article of 18 Jun 2026; names the 2027 edition)
[10] The Brussels Times: Belgian universities slip down higher education ranking (Times Higher Education 2027) (article of 1 Oct 2026)
[11] KU Leuven: Application instructions for degree programmes (page updated 5 Oct 2026)
[12] KU Leuven: English proficiency tests (page updated 4 Feb 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.