KU Leuven

A big school is in the city of Leuven.

It is a very old school. It started a long time ago in 1425.

Many years later, the school had to close. Then, a new school began in 1834. This school is now very large.

Many students go there to learn. Most students speak Dutch. Some students come from far away.

Women could join the school in 1920. Now, people of all faiths can study there. It is a great place to learn.

KU Leuven is a large research school in Leuven, Belgium.

It is the oldest university in Belgium. The first school in this city began in 1425. Duke John IV of Brabant helped start it. Many famous scholars studied there for hundreds of years.

Later, the school faced hard times. After the French Revolution, a new law closed the school in 1797. A state school opened in 1817, but it closed in 1835. Then, the Catholic University of Leuven was founded in 1834.

It moved to Leuven in 1835.

Today, the school is very big. It is the largest Dutch-language university in the world. More than 65,000 students go there. Many students come from other countries.

In 1920, women could join the school for the first time. Now, students can join even if they have different faiths. Most classes are taught in Dutch, but some are in English.

KU Leuven is a famous research university located in Leuven, Belgium.

It holds a very special place in history as the oldest university in Belgium. It is also the oldest university in the Low Countries region. Today, it is the largest university in Belgium and the Low Countries. It even holds the title of the largest Dutch-language university in the whole world. Many students go there to learn and discover new things every day.

The university has a long and changing history that began many centuries ago. The very first university in Leuven was founded in 1425. This was done by Duke John IV of Brabant and the leaders of the city. For hundreds of years, many famous scholars and professors worked there. Some of these people included Desiderius Erasmus and Andreas Vesalius. However, the school faced many hard times during the French Revolution. A law passed in 1797 caused the old university to be abolished.

After the old school closed, new schools tried to take its place. In 1817, King William I of the Netherlands started a state university in Leuven. That school lasted until 1835 when it was also closed. Around that same time, the Catholic University of Leuven was founded in 1834. It started in a place called Mechelen. By December 1, 1835, the university moved its headquarters to Leuven. Even though courts once said it was not the same as the old school, the university celebrates its long history. It plans to celebrate its 600th anniversary in 2025.

Today, the university is a very large and busy place for learning. In the 2021–22 school year, more than 65,000 students were enrolled. About 21% of these students come from different countries around the world.

While most classes are taught in Dutch, many graduate programs use English. In 1920, the university reached a big milestone when it admitted female students. In the past, only baptized Catholics could attend the school. Now, students from many different faiths or life-stances are welcome to join.

KU Leuven is much more than just a single campus in one city. It has many satellite campuses in places like Antwerp, Ghent, and Brussels.

The university also works closely with businesses through a group called Leuven Research & Development. It uses special digital tools like TOLEDO to help students learn online. The university is also a member of important groups like the Coimbra Group. This helps it stay connected to other leading universities across Europe. It remains a major center for research and discovery in the modern world.

KU Leuven is a major Catholic research university located in Leuven, Belgium.

It holds a significant place in European history as the oldest university in Belgium. It also stands as the oldest university in the Low Countries. Today, it is the largest university in Belgium and the Low Countries. It is also the largest Dutch-language university in the entire world. The institution serves as a massive center for academic study and scientific research.

The university's origins trace back to the Old University of Leuven. This original institution was founded in 1425. Duke John IV of Brabant helped establish it alongside the civil authorities of Brabant. The municipal administration of Leuven also played a role in its founding. Some historical accounts suggest the city's leaders were the primary drivers. They wanted to rebuild the city after it suffered from sedition and economic loss.

During its long history, the university hosted famous scholars. These included Desiderius Erasmus and the anatomist Andreas Vesalius. Other notable figures were Johannes Molanus, Juan Luís Vives, and Gerardus Mercator.

Political changes eventually disrupted the original university. Following the French Revolution, the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I ceded the Austrian Netherlands to France. This happened through the Treaty of Campo Formio, signed on October 17, 1797. Under French rule, a law from 1793 required the closure of all universities. Consequently, the University of Leuven was abolished by a decree from the Département of the Dijle on October 25, 1797. Later, in 1817, King William I of the Netherlands founded a secular State University of Leuven. This state-run institution lasted until 1835.

The modern Catholic University of Leuven emerged shortly after the state university closed. It was founded in 1834 in Mechelen by the bishops of Belgium. This foundation followed an official Papal Brief from Pope Gregory XVI. The university moved its headquarters to Leuven on December 1, 1835. There is a legal debate regarding its connection to the 1425 institution. The Belgian Court of Cassation ruled in 1846 that the two were not legally the same. The court argued the old university was a state body, while the new one was a private establishment. However, the university officially identifies as a continuation of the original school. It plans to celebrate its 600th anniversary in 2025.

The university has grown into a massive global institution. In the 2021–22 academic year, enrollment exceeded 65,000 students. International students made up 21% of this total population.

While Dutch is the primary language of instruction, many graduate programs are taught in English. The university has also expanded its physical reach significantly. It operates a main campus in Leuven and several satellite campuses. These include locations in Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels, Bruges, and Kortrijk. Other sites include Ostend, Geel, Diepenbeek, Genk, Aalst, and Sint-Katelijne-Waver.

Social changes have also shaped the university's identity. In 1920, the university began admitting female students. This occurred 40 years after universities in Brussels, Liège, and Ghent had done so. Additionally, the student body has become more diverse. While the university was once only for baptized Catholics, it is now open to all faiths. In 1968, linguistic tensions led to a major structural split. The bilingual university divided into two separate institutions. The Dutch-speaking university became an independent institution in 1970. Its first rector was Pieter De Somer. Its French-speaking sister is known as UCLouvain.

Today, KU Leuven is a leader in research and digital learning. In 1972, it created Leuven Research & Development, or LRD. This entity helps turn university research into commercial products. It manages tens of millions of euros in venture capital and investments.

The university also uses a digital learning environment called TOLEDO. This acronym stands for "TOetsen en LEren Doeltreffend Ondersteunen." It helps students manage testing and learning through software like Blackboard. KU Leuven is also a member of the Coimbra Group and the LERU Group. These networks connect it to other leading research universities across Europe.