Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)
Université catholique de Louvain
A French-speaking university with roots in 1425, centred on Louvain-la-Neuve, a pedestrian town it built in the 1970s.
- Students
- 38,500
- International
- 20%
- of students
- Tuition
- €5,369
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1425
About UCLouvain
UCLouvain traces its origins to 1425, making it one of Europe's oldest universities; Erasmus, Mercator and Vesalius are among the figures it counts in its history. The French-speaking university became separate from its Dutch-speaking counterpart in 1970 and built a new town, Louvain-la-Neuve, as its main site; it celebrated 600 years in 2025. Today it has about 38,500 students across seven campuses in Wallonia and Brussels, including Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels Woluwe, Brussels Saint-Louis, Mons, Tournai, Brussels Saint-Gilles and Charleroi.
It describes itself as Belgium's leading French-speaking university and has 20 faculties, 75 bachelor's and 142 master's programmes. Applicants must have a good command of French. Tuition is low: about 1,194 euros a year for EU students in 2026-27, and 5,369 euros for most non-EU students once the additional contribution is added.
Georges Lemaître formulated the Big Bang theory at Louvain, and Christian de Duve won the 1974 Nobel Prize in Medicine there. Entry to Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science requires passing the Wallonia-Brussels Federation's competitive entrance exam, and civil engineering has its own admission exam. UCLouvain suits French-speaking students who want a broad, research-led university and a lively student town.
Sedes Sapientiae
“Seat of Wisdom” — university motto
Why students choose UCLouvain
Tuition is low by international standards: about 1,194 euros a year for EU students, and 5,369 euros for most non-EU students (2026-27).
Louvain-la-Neuve is a pedestrian town created by the university, and UCLouvain offers around 6,000 student housing units.
A strong research record: a Nobel Prize in Medicine (Christian de Duve, 1974), 21 Francqui Prizes and 63 ERC grants.
Around one student in five is international, and campuses span Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels, Mons, Tournai and Charleroi.
Admissions
2027-28 entry
Selectivity
Most bachelor's programmes are open to applicants who meet the legal admission requirements and have a good command of French. Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science require success in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation's competitive entrance exam, civil engineering requires the Louvain School of Engineering's entrance exam, and some courses (such as physiotherapy, speech therapy and veterinary science) have limited places for non-residents. Applicants with a secondary diploma from outside the EU need an overall average of at least 13/20.
Typical entry requirements
| Belgian (French Community) secondary diploma (CESS) | Gives access to bachelor's programmes; entrance exams still apply for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science and civil engineering |
|---|---|
| EU secondary diplomas (including IB and European Baccalaureate) | Diploma or final transcript plus a definitive equivalence from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (IB and European Baccalaureate holders from the EU have a later deadline) |
| Non-EU secondary diplomas | Overall average of at least 13/20 and a definitive equivalence from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation; applications without it are rejected |
Deadlines
- Non-EU applicants living outside Belgium and needing a visa Non-binding31 March (31 March 2026 for 2026-27 entry)
Earliest deadline; a definitive diploma equivalence from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation must be included.
- FWB entrance exam for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science Non-bindingExam held once a year between 16 and 31 August
For 2026, registration ran from 18 May to 5 July and the exam was on 27 August in Brussels; the 2027 date had not been set when we checked.
- EU (and EEA/Swiss) applicants with an eligible foreign diploma Non-binding13 September (13 September 2026 for 2026-27 entry)
Also applies to non-EU applicants already resident in Belgium who do not need a visa.
- EU applicants with a Belgian diploma, IB or European Baccalaureate Non-binding30 September (30 September 2026 for 2026-27 entry)
Late enrolment possible in some cases via a special procedure.
UCLouvain's deadlines page currently shows the dates for 2026-27 entry. The 2027-28 dates had not been published when we checked; the table above shows the pattern, so confirm the exact dates before applying.
How to apply
Apply online to UCLouvain's Enrolment Office with the required documents, including, for foreign diplomas, the definitive equivalence issued by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Medicine and Dentistry applicants must first pass the FWB entrance exam and then apply to the programme. Non-EU applicants not already resident in Belgium apply earliest because of the visa process.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary diploma recognised as equivalent by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, meeting the legal admission requirements for the programme.
- A good command of French, since UCLouvain requires it for its programmes.
- For non-EU diplomas, an overall average of at least 13/20.
- For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science, a high enough rank in the FWB competitive entrance exam.
Tips for applying to UCLouvain
- 1 Start your diploma equivalence request with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation early: UCLouvain automatically rejects applications without a definitive equivalence.
- 2 If you are a non-EU applicant needing a visa, plan for a deadline around 31 March, months earlier than EU applicants.
- 3 For Medicine or Dentistry, prepare for the late-August competitive exam: it is a single written paper scored out of 160, and candidates are ranked separately for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science.
- 4 Check whether you qualify for exemption from the 4,175 euro non-EU additional contribution, for example by nationality or by holding a French-Community secondary certificate.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Belgian and EU students can apply to the Wallonia-Brussels Federation's Student Grants Department for reduced fees (835 or 374 euros) or a full exemption as grant holders. UCLouvain's social services also take applications for financial aid. Some non-EU students are exempt from the 4,175 euro additional contribution, including nationals of countries listed in the ARES circular annexes and Wallonia-Brussels International scholarship holders.
- 835 euros (2026-27)
- Reduced fee, intermediate category (EU)
- 374 euros (2026-27)
- Reduced fee, low-income category (EU)
Academics
Medicine (Bachelier en médecine)
Entry via the FWB competitive entrance exam; UCLouvain runs two university hospitals, Saint-Luc in Brussels and CHU UCL Namur.
Civil Engineering (Louvain School of Engineering)
Requires a dedicated entrance exam run by the Louvain School of Engineering.
Physics and Science (Faculty of Science)
In the university where Georges Lemaître formulated his Big Bang theory.
Business and Management (Louvain School of Management)
UCLouvain's school of management.
Translation and Interpreting (Saint-Louis Marie Haps)
A specialist faculty for translation and interpreting within UCLouvain's Saint-Louis group.
Research
- Christian de Duve won the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine at UCLouvain, and Georges Lemaître formulated the Big Bang theory there.
- About 285 million euros a year invested in research, 415 projects funded by EU framework programmes and 63 ERC grants.
- Two science parks hosting 228 companies, three incubators and 73 spin-offs.
- Two university hospitals (Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc in Brussels and CHU UCL Namur) with 1,909 approved beds.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Louvain School of Engineering
- Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning
- Faculty of Bioengineering
- Faculty of Law and Criminology
- Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters
- Faculty of Psychology, Speech Therapy, Sexology and Family Sciences
- Louvain School of Management
- Faculty of Economic, Social and Political Sciences and Communication (ESPO)
- Saint-Louis Marie Haps Faculty of Translation and Interpreting
Student life
Most UCLouvain students live and study in Louvain-la-Neuve, a pedestrian town the university created in the 1970s, where about 23,500 students are based. The university runs about 6,000 housing units, two sports centres (Louvain-la-Neuve and Brussels Woluwe), 31 libraries and learning centres, and university restaurants. The town has a lake, the Bois de Lauzelle woods and cultural venues. Brussels Woluwe, with about 7,300 students, is the second-largest campus. Around one student in five comes from abroad.
- Louvain-la-Neuve: a car-free university town founded in the 1970s.
- About 6,000 university housing units.
- Two sports centres and 31 libraries and learning centres.
- 600th anniversary celebrated in 2025.
Housing. UCLouvain offers about 6,000 student housing units, mainly in Louvain-la-Neuve.
Location
Louvain-la-Neuve is a pedestrian town in Walloon Brabant, created by the university in the 1970s after the split from Leuven, and it is UCLouvain's main site. Other campuses are in Brussels (Woluwe, Saint-Louis and Saint-Gilles), Mons, Tournai and Charleroi. About 23,500 of UCLouvain's 38,500 students are based in Louvain-la-Neuve. Its other sites add about 15,000 students in Brussels and Hainaut.
Nearest airport: Brussels Airport (BRU)
Notable alumni
- QM Queen Mathilde of BelgiumQueen of the Belgians; master's degree in psychology from UCLouvain (2002)
- RC Rafael CorreaPresident of Ecuador (2007-2017); MA in economics from UCLouvain
- GP Gustavo PetroPresident of Colombia (2022-2026); graduate studies in economics and human rights at UCLouvain
- VS Vera SongweEconomist and former Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa; PhD from UCLouvain
- JV Jean-Pascal van YperseleClimatologist and former IPCC vice-chair; educated at UCLouvain, where he teaches
- PM Pierre De MuelenaereFounder of I.R.I.S. and CEO of EVS Broadcast Equipment; civil engineering degree and PhD from UCLouvain
Frequently asked questions
Are UCLouvain bachelor's programmes taught in English?
UCLouvain requires applicants to have a good command of French, so plan on studying in French at bachelor's level.
How much does UCLouvain cost for international students?
For 2026-27, EU students pay about 1,194 euros a year. Most non-EU students pay 5,369 euros (1,194 euros plus a 4,175 euro additional contribution), though some nationalities and groups are exempt.
How do I get into Medicine at UCLouvain?
You must pass the Wallonia-Brussels Federation's competitive entrance exam, a single written paper held in late August and scored out of 160, and be ranked within the places available, before enrolling.
What is the application deadline for UCLouvain?
For 2026-27 entry it was 31 March 2026 for non-EU applicants needing a visa, 13 September 2026 for EU applicants with a foreign diploma, and 30 September 2026 for those with a Belgian diploma, IB or European Baccalaureate. 2027-28 dates had not yet been published.
What grades do non-EU students need for UCLouvain?
Applicants with a non-EU secondary diploma need an overall average of at least 13/20 and a definitive equivalence from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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