StudyBrixFree worksheets, study guides and courses

University guides · Belgium

KU Leuven

KU Leuven for Canadian and US students: Dutch and English bachelor programs, direct applications, entrance exams for medicine and Flemish fee rules.

Updated · Independent guide, not written or reviewed by the university

Location
Leuven, Flanders
Type
Private
Founded
1425
Teaching languages
Dutch, English (some programs)
Official website
kuleuven.be/english

In short

  • KU Leuven was founded in 1425 and is based in Leuven, with campuses in other Flemish cities and Brussels.
  • It is a Catholic university established under private law and funded by the Flemish government, so fees follow Flemish rules.
  • Most bachelor programs are taught in Dutch; a smaller set is offered in English.
  • There is no central application system for international applicants in Flanders. You apply to KU Leuven directly.

About KU Leuven

KU Leuven traces its history to 1425, when the university of Leuven was founded by papal bull. The modern Dutch-speaking KU Leuven took its present form after the university split along language lines in 1968; the French-speaking side became UCLouvain. Leuven itself is a compact student town near Brussels. KU Leuven also teaches on campuses in other Flemish cities and in Brussels; check the campus of your program before looking for housing.

Like other Flemish "free" universities, KU Leuven is a private institution in law but receives public funding. In practice, this means its tuition, entry rules and degree structure follow the Flemish framework rather than the high-fee model of private universities in North America.

Languages of instruction

Most bachelor programs in Flanders are taught in Dutch. Study in Flanders, the official portal of the Flemish higher education sector, says that Dutch-taught bachelor programs usually require Dutch at level B2, and some programs require C1. English-taught programs typically require English at B2. KU Leuven runs a limited number of bachelor programs in English; check the official program list for the current year before assuming your subject is available in English.

Entry requirements and entrance exams

Flemish universities admit international students on the basis of a secondary diploma that gives access to university study in the country where it was issued. Most foreign qualifications do not give automatic admission, so KU Leuven reviews each file individually. Study in Flanders notes that you may also need an access declaration completed by your high school. For a student from Canada or the US, expect the review to look at the diploma, the transcript and whether your courses match the program, especially mathematics for science and engineering.

Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are taught only in Dutch and require the Flemish government entrance exam. Arts programs have their own entrance tests. No exam is needed for most other programs.

How to apply

  1. Pick your program and check the language and admission requirements on its KU Leuven page.
  2. Apply online directly to KU Leuven, since Flanders has no central portal for international applicants.
  3. Upload your diploma or final transcripts, any access declaration, and language test results.
  4. After admission, arrange your student visa through the Belgian embassy or consulate and confirm your health insurance.

Deadlines differ for applicants who need a visa, and they are earlier than for EU students. Use the KU Leuven deadline page for entry in 2027 rather than relying on dates from earlier years.

Tuition

Study in Flanders lists the 2026-2027 tuition for EU and EEA nationals in a full-time program as 1,181.40 euros. For nationals of countries outside the EU and EEA, Flemish institutions set their own fees, which the portal reports as roughly 5,300 to 12,000 euros for full-time programs (8,800 to 25,000 euros at schools of arts), with some programs outside these ranges. KU Leuven publishes its own non-EEA amounts on its tuition page, so check the figure for your program.

Tips from the StudyBrix side

Belgian exams are often oral or open-question, and first-year courses move quickly. Use our study skills deck and the academic English vocabulary deck if you choose an English program. The Belgium guide explains the Flemish and French-speaking systems side by side.

How applications work everywhere in Belgium: Studying at university in Belgium.

Sources

  1. KU Leuven: Admissions and programmes (English)
  2. Study in Flanders: Admission requirements
  3. Study in Flanders: Tuition fees
  4. Study in Flanders: How to apply

Checked on the official pages above (last update October 26, 2026). Admission rules, deadlines and fees change every year: always confirm on the official pages before you apply. This guide is independent and not affiliated with any university or application service. Found a mistake? Tell us.