More info on Leuven
The University of Leuven
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The University of Leuven was founded almost 600 years ago. The University's academic fame has attracted scholars and scientists as Justus Lipsius, Gerard Mercator and Andreas Vesalius who have all made valuable contribution to the European intellectual life. The university of Leuven holds a place at the top of the international world of science. It is devoted to comprehensive and advanced scientific research and education. KU Leuven’s course offerings consist of 55 Bachelor’s programmes, 132 initial Master’s programmes and 48 advanced Master’s programmes, one of which is IMPALLA. In contrast to most university cities, Leuven does not have a closed campus. The University buildings are spread troughout the city and were originally built for completely different purposes. Leuven has around 90,000 inhabitants. Add to this 32,500 university and 11,000 high-school students and it should come as no surprise that the streets are filled with young faces and that the city lives at a student's rhythm: hectic weeks at the beginning of the academic year and relative calm during vacation and examination periods. |
| Leuven university houses 4,000 international students, all waiting to meet you at Pangaea, the KU Leuven international meeting centre. | |
The city of Leuven
Leuven is a lively city in the very beating hart of Flanders in Belgium. It is known as a city of beer and a university town. When brewing became a nationwide industry in the 19th century, Leuven became world famous for its beers, and today is still proud to be known as the beer capital of Belgium.
Activities
Leuven is full of interesting and truly beautiful places! Abbeys, beguinages, the Great Market Square, churches, cemeteries, museums, the Old Market Square, and public parks. With its cinemas, numerous restaurants and facilities for recreation & sport there is certainly no time to be bored in Leuven. Having difficulties to choose? The Leuven Tourist Office will gladly help you out.
Transport
Leuven is situated only 20 minutes from Brussels. It is a perfect base for trips within Belgium and abroad. Leuven is an important hub in the Belgian railway network. The train station is conveniently situated at the edge of the city centre. Most university buildings in the centre of the city are situated at an acceptable walking distance from the railway station (max. 2 km); all buses in and around Leuven stop at the railway station and pass through the city centre. With your student bus pass you can use the regular bus lines within the Leuven area free of charge. Cycling is the quickest manner to get from one place to another within Leuven. Bikes can be rent at Velo.
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BelgiumBelgium is a Kingdom in northwest Europe bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France. It has a short coastline on the North Sea. It is one of the founding members of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO. Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium's two largest regions are Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, with 58% of the population, and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia, inhabited by 32%. The Brussels-Capital Region is an officially bilingual enclave within the Flemish, and has 10% of the population. A small German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium thus is a trilingual country (Dutch, French, German), and English is widely spoken (or at least understood) as well. The climate is maritime temperate, with significant precipitation in all seasons. Wind is usually gentle, winters and summers are both mild, with a lowest temperature of -8°C in winter and a highest temperature of 35°C in summer. |
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Usefull links
City maps of Leuven: Leuven and Leuven city centre
KU Leuven website on living in leuven
KU Leuven website on intercultural activities
Official City of Leuven website
