Location
Leuven, Belgium
Website
feb.kuleuven.be
Availability
Available for UniSA Business students only
Established in 1425, KU Leuven will celebrate its 600th anniversary in 2025, making it one of Europe’s oldest universities. The institution has the double honour of being the oldest university in the Low Countries and the oldest extant Catholic university in the world. Today, KU Leuven is embedded in an economically strong region, where lots of multinationals, national and international institutions, and NGO’s have their headquarters.
There are three campuses across Belgium. The main campus in Leuven is 20 minutes from Brussels, a place characterized by its beautiful architecture and one of Belgium’s most attractive cities. The Antwerp and Ghent campuses are both less than an hour away. Each campus and city have its own vibe, but with large student and expat communities in all four cities, you will quickly become part of our international KU Leuven family.
KU Leuven is EQUIS accredited and has been identified as Europe’s most innovative university for four years in a row by Reuters. By developing the most important drug against HIV, a new type of solar panel that converts oxygen into hydrogen and uncovering the secrets of Sagalassos, KU Leuven researchers have a profound impact on our everyday lives in nearly all fields of research. That innovative character is deeply embedded in the way we teach our students, by integrating relevant guest lectures, taking an Interdisciplinary approach and opening the most advanced research and education facilities.
Leuven, which is located just 30 minutes east of Brussels by train, is the eighth largest city in Belgium. It is a popular student city and home to the largest university (KU Leuven) in Belgium. During term, city life in Leuven comes alive with students from all over the world. The city is very pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, with several streets off-limits to vehicles. You will find remarkable architecture, such as the Standhuis (Town Hall), which began building in 1439 and took 30 years to complete. The city is home to the famous beer Stella Artois, and when it comes to food, Muntstraat, a street of wall-to-wall restaurants caters to every budget. Leuven is well known for the Marktrock, a rock music festival held in its historic city centre the Oude Markt.
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a sovereign state in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the North Sea. Belgium is known for being home to many different languages and communities.
Belgium has a population of more than 11.4 million people, of whom the Dutch-speaking Flemish community makes up 59%. An estimated 25% of the population come from foreign backgrounds, so this is a land used to different cultures and languages.
Belgium is renowned for some impressive contributions to art and intricate architecture throughout the centuries. In particular, the picturesque towns of Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp with their quaint atmosphere, canals and coffee culture make for charming landscapes to explore. Belgium food will also make you feel at home with incredible waffles and fries available everywhere, as well as a variety of beers for a range of tastes.
There are excellent train connections everywhere in the country as well as to the rest of Europe, with Paris and Amsterdam just a short ride away. Major cities in Belgium are bike friendly and with rich student cultures, you’ll find that everything is easily accessible. This international country ranks as one of the safest or most peaceful countries in the world.
Did you know…..?
Belgium is known as the vegetarian capital of the world. The town of Ghent is exceptionally veggie-friendly and promotes "Veggie Thursdays". Belgium is home to the famous comic character Tin-Tin! Look out for murals throughout the capital city of Brussels.
August 1st to go on exchange in SP2
January 11th to go on exchange in SP5
Semester 1 (SP5)
September to February
Semester 2 (SP2)
February to June
All students must meet standard exchange selection criteria and any host institution restrictions.
Students are not allowed to mix courses from different campuses.
Credits are measured by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the following applies:
It can sometimes be difficult to make up exactly 22.5 units (not all courses will be worth exactly 7.5 ECTS), but you should be able to get very close. Make sure you check with your Program Director if you don’t have exactly 22.5 ECTS.
Proficiency in English is required for all courses. Be aware that your level of English must be advanced (level B2 for Bachelor courses and C1 for Master courses).
August 1st to go on exchange in SP2
January 11th to go on exchange in SP5
Weather
Autumn/Winter: -3°c to 12°c
Spring/Summer: 12°c to 25°c
Currency
€ Euro
Local language/s
Dutch | French | German
KU Leuven operates a welcome desk at Brussels Airport. On arrival, look out for the KU Leuven banner and desk in the arrivals hall on your right hand side, after you have gone through the baggage reclaim hall. Students in KU Leuven t-shirts will help you get orientated and guide you to where you need to be to travel on to your campus.
More information on how to get to the campus can be found here.
Leuven Campus
KU Leuven has reserved part of the rooms in KU Leuven student residence halls for international students. These rooms are randomly located amongst rooms for Flemish students and they are spread across the city centre. You can find more information concerning these rooms on here.
For off-campus alternative, you may want to look at houses listed on the local private housing market. Depending on the period of your stay and the time of your arrival the offer can be limited. Information regarding private accommodation in Leuven for exchange students can be found here.
Brussels Campus
KU Leuven, Brussels campus does not offer on-campus housing. However, the Social Services of Stuvo+ can help you in your search for a student room.
KU Leuven refers students to BRIK, an organisation which manages and coordinates student housing for all Dutch colleges and universities in Brussels. BRIK has an online database which students can use to look for suitable accommodation in the centre of Brussels or in the surrounding area. More detailed information or a list of websites with student accommodation in Brussels can be requested by emailing housingbrussel@stuvoplus.be.
Alternatively, more information on the private housing market is available in the welcoming package for those that apply for courses at the Brussels campus. See here for more information and should you have further questions please email housingbrussel@stuvoplus.be.
Antwerp Campus
Student rooms in Antwerp rent on monthly basis. A deposit of up to three months is usually paid on upon arrival. Student rooms tend to be single rooms (linen not included) with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. All institutions located within the city of Antwerp have developed a database for student accommodation, called Kotweb, offering a wide selection of studios and apartments.
As an exchange partner with the University of South Australia, you do not have to pay tuition fees to KU Leuven, instead you will pay tuition as you would normally at UniSA. Travel and living expenses are at your own cost. The table below gives an indication of costs you will incur:
Items | Approximate Cost (AUD) |
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Return flights from Adelaide | $1900 |
Accommodation | $550 per month |
Meals/Groceries | $500 per month |
Transportation | $80 per month |
Meals/Groceries | $320 per month |
Entertainment and incidentals including phone, laundry etc. | $500 per month |
More information can be found here.
You may be eligible to receive additional grants or scholarships to fund your experience. For more information please see the funding and scholarships website.
UniSA offers travel insurance as part of your exchange for up to 270 days (can be extended up to 365 days). For more information please see travel insurance website.
Please click here to read the travel insurance policy.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found here.
If you have any further questions about travel insurance, please contact the UniSA Insurance Office on 08 8302 1678.
August 1st to go on exchange in SP2
January 11th to go on exchange in SP5
It is your responsibility to apply for your visa for your overseas study experience. You can refer to the relevant consulate regarding a specific countries visa requirement. UniSA is legally unable to provide visa advise. Please see below links for more information.
Australian Government DFAT brief on Belgium is available here.
Belgium embassy website can be found here.
KU Leuven student visa FAQ is available here.
To participate in an exchange experience, you must register your travel with International SOS (iSOS). We will provide instructions on how to do this throughout the process.
UniSA has partnered with iSOS to offer our students medical, safety and security advice, referrals, emotional support and routine and emergency assistance when travelling or living abroad.
For more information please visit the Travel Health and Safety Webpage.
Before your departure, we strongly encourage you to visit the Smartraveller website.
The website contains important information you need to know about travel documents, up to date travel advisories on destinations you may be travelling to on behalf of the University, travel tips and more.
August 1st to go on exchange in SP2
January 11th to go on exchange in SP5
With its exciting range of options and its setting in one of Europe’s greatest cities, KU Leuven’s EU summer course truly stands out from the crowd.
Winter University on Sustainability
Europe Inside Out
Europe Inside Out | |
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Location: Belgium |
UniSA Application Deadline: 16th March 2025 |
Program Dates:
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Credit: 6 or 8 ECTS (see credit note below) |
Program Fee: |
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Mode of delivery: In-country |
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Language of Instruction: English |
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Program Website: Program Brochures: |
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Credit Notes: |
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Program Fee Information: |
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Eligibility: All students must meet standard short-term exchange selection criteria and any host institution requirements. The course targets graduate students in e.g. Arts, Economics & Business, Law or Social Sciences. Undergraduate students in their final year are also welcome to apply. Students with Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees from other disciplines should have had some exposure to at least one of the fields under study. |
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Funding Available: |
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Other Information: |
Winter University on Sustainability | |
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Location: Virtual and In-Country (Belgium) |
UniSA Application Deadline: *Deadline has passed |
Program Dates:
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Credit: 4-8 ECTS (see credit note below) |
Program Fee: |
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Mode of delivery: Hybrid |
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Language of Instruction: English |
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Program Website: KU Leuven website |
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Credit Notes: |
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Program Fee Information: |
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Eligibility: All students must meet standard short-term exchange selection criteria and any host institution requirements. Host requirements: In order to participate you need to be an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) student in your final year or a graduate (Master’s) student. |
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Funding Available: |
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Other Information: |
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Want to know more about studying overseas? Check out our returned student reports.