Find your homeat the Faculty of Economics and Business KU Leuven

KU Leuven. Inspiring the outstanding.

© Basel Zobieda

Welcome to Belgium

EDUCATIONBelgium has an excellent education systemand its universities have a strong position inthe international rankings. A total of sevenuniversities in Belgium are featured in theTimes Higher Education, and QS WorldUniversity Rankings, the highest-rankedBelgian university being KU Leuven.

Belgium has seven schools on the Europe'sMost Innovative Universities List 2018 byReuters, but with a population of only11 million people, it can boast more top100 innovative universities per capitathan any other country in Europe.

LIFESTYLEEnjoy a cosmopolitan lifestyle inpicturesque towns rich in art, history andarchitecture. Belgians have one of thehighest standards of living in the world andlike to share their love of good food, musicand going out.

FOODFood and drink are important to Belgians,who are proud of their delicacies such aslocal beers, chocolates, waffles, fries,etc. Local eateries are reasonably priced,making eating-out a pleasant alternative foreven the most budget-conscious.

47Times HigherEducation UniversityRanking 2017-2018

1Reuter’s MostInnovative EuropeanUniversity 2018

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STUDENT FRIENDLYThe cities offer a lively student scene fullof restaurants, cafés and cultural events ina friendly atmosphere.

HEART OF EUROPEBrussels houses headquarters to manyinternational organisations and companies,and is the beating heart of the EuropeanUnion. This central position also makesBelgium an ideal starting point from whichto explore the rest of Europe. Cities likeLondon, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam areall easily accessible by train and budgetair travel.

LANGUAGE

English is widely spoken, beside the threeofficial languages (French, Dutch andGerman). Locals can assist you if you are inneed of help or directions.

Taking advantage of itscentral location in

the heart of Europe,KU Leuven offers a truly

international experience,high-quality education,

world-class researchsteeped in tradition.

LONDON:350 km 2h00 BERLIN:

750 km 7h00

AMSTERDAM:220 km 2h30

PARIS:330 km 2h00

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About KU LeuvenFaculty of Economics andBusiness (FEB)

TRADITIONKU Leuven was founded in 1425, making itthe oldest university in the Low Countries.It has been a centre of learning for nearly sixcenturies.

EXCELLENCEKU Leuven is not only one of the oldest,but also one of the most renowneduniversities in Europe.

• 47th in the world in Times HigherEducation (2017-18)

• 71st in the world by QS (2017-2018) • Ranked 1st as Reuters’ Most Innovative

European University in 2016, 2017 and2018

• co-founder of the League of EuropeanResearch Universities (LERU)

INTERNATIONALThe university has an international feel:17% of its 57.000 students are international,representing 163 different nationalities.

ACCREDITATIONThe Faculty of Economics and Business(FEB) ranks amongst the top schools ofeconomics and business. FEB acquireda 5-year EQUIS accreditation for all itscampuses in 2017. EQUIS is an accreditationservice for business schools and businessschool programmes. Gaining a 5-yearaccreditation is rare and is testament toFEB’s excellence in education.

3internationalcampuses: Leuven,Brussels & Antwerp

Est. 1425Oldest university inthe Low Countries

LOCATIONFaculty of Economics and Business’s3 campuses in Leuven, Brussels andAntwerp are all located in the city centrewith many transport links on the doorstep.The faculty buildings stand next to iconiclandmarks and often incorporate historicbuildings themselves. All within easy reachof bars, shops, restaurants and studentfacilities.

COURSES &ASSESSMENTStudents can select bachelor/under graduateor master/graduate courses in the fields ofmarketing, entrepreneurship, strategy, eco -nomics, HR, accounting, finance, etc. fromseveral high-quality degree programmes.Courses are taught in English.

A typical workload for students is 30 ECTSper semester, 60 ECTS in an academicyear. Courses tend to have a workload of3, 5 or 6 ECTS.

At KU Leuven a scale from 0 to 20 isused for grading; 10 being the passinggrade and 20 the maximum or best possiblegrade. To allow for easy conversion a gradedistribution scale is published annually.

STAFF & ALUMNIMany staff members are top of their fieldand act as advisers to various Europeanbodies and international companies.Many alumni work at European institutionsor can be found thriving on every level ofsociety.

FUNStudents experience a stimulating environ -ment where they are free to develop theirinnovative and entrepreneurial side. They cancreate and share special memories by joiningsome of the many activities organised bythe student unions and the InternationalOffice.

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“The town is wonderful, the cost ofliving manageable, the educationtop-level, the location for travellingexceptional and the countrybeautiful.”

Sarah from Canada

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Campuses across Belgium

ANTWERP

LEUVENBRUSSELS

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LEUVENStudents thrive in Leuven, a dynamic,vibrant city in the centre of Belgium.The city’s beautiful, charming centre, whichdates from the Middle Ages, is full of statelycolleges and historic buildings constructedover centuries by and for the university.

Every year, this city of about 100.000inhabitants hosts over 50.000 students,including 8.500 international students,thus rightly earning the nickname of beingthe university capital of Belgium.

BRUSSELSBrussels is a modern, multicultural city andit offers many activities to residing students.Thanks to its cinemas, theatres, museumsand art galleries, Brussels is never likely tobe tiresome, on the contrary. In addition,every year FEB's Campus in Brusselswelcomes a great number of internationalstudents, giving the campus a cosmopolitanfeel, in tune with the rest of the city.

Brussels is the economic beating heart ofEurope. As a business hub, it has a central

position in Europe and it hosts the EU andthe NATO, as well as a diverse range ofinternational trade and finance organisations.Many Chamber of Commerce organisationsfrom around the world have offices inBrussels. Hundreds of multinationalcorporations have their head offices inBrussels and many important political andeconomic decisions are made here.

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“Studying in a metropolitan city,as Brussels, is challenging. You donot only meet different cultures,but are offered the possibilityto learn and practice variouslanguages. I chose Brusselsbecause it offers an internationallearning environment in aninternational city!”

Pål from Norway

ANTWERPAntwerp is an energetic and innovativecity. It enjoys a strategic location in Europe,sitting at the crossroads of major traffic andtrade routes. Antwerp’s openness to newideas and concepts also makes it an idealbreeding ground for start-ups and spin-offs.The city attracts head offices of logisticscompanies, shipping companies, (petro-)chemical companies and major maritimeservice providers, such as lawyers, banksand insurers.

The city can look back on a fascinatingand rich history, and the historical centerbears witness to this. At the same time,Antwerp is a very modern city, with innovativearchitecture and cultural events rangingfrom local avant-garde theatre and visualarts to performances from top internationalnames in music, dance and theatre.Antwerp has it all.

“It’s pure bliss!”

Alexander from Australia

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The student exchangeprogramme

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1. Official nomination from Home University2. Confirmation email with instructions & online application3. Submission of required documents to FEB KU Leuven 4. Letter of Admission

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

• Passport• Official Academic Transcript• Language Proficiency Form

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Fall Semester: 1 May• Spring Semester: 1 October

For more practical info which can help you prepare your stay, please visit ourwebsite: www.feb.kuleuven.be/infopack

APPLICATION DEADLINES

FALL SEMESTER:• Classes start late September and

finish before Christmas.• Study & exam period starts after the

two-week Christmas break until startof February to late January

SPRING SEMESTER: • Classes start early February to late

May (including two-week break overEaster)

• Study & exam period starts late Mayuntil end of June

• Resits for both semesters start mid-August until early September

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

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Student support & student life

HOUSINGThere is a wide range of private housingoptions at reasonable prices. Most studentschoose to rent a room in a privately-ownedstudent house with shared common spacesand facilities (a “kot”). Others prefer to havea private bathroom (a “studio”).

Since FEB-buildings are located in the citycentre in all 3 locations (Leuven, Brusselsand Antwerp), there is plenty of housingavailable near the campuses, even withinwalking distance.

If you prefer not to look on the privatehousing market, KU Leuven owns andmanages a number of student residences,students need to apply in advance.

The University Housing Service offersassis tance regarding housing on eachcampus.

COST OF LIVINGExact estimates of the cost of living inBelgium as a student are difficult to make,because of the individual differences in lifestyle and location.

All the amounts are estimates per month.These exclude costs associated withinsurance, the Visa application procedureand possible financial guarantees neededto gain the documents needed to studyin Belgium.

• Housing in Leuven, Brussels orAntwerp (including rent, heating,water, electricity) € 350 - € 380

• Books (depending on the coursesyou take) € 50 - € 125

• Food € 140 - € 200

• Transport (public transport,bicycle rent, etc.) € 10 - € 100

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PRICES OF EVERYDAYARTICLES

• 1 cappuccino 2,80 €• 1 coke (33 cl) 2,20 €• water (33 cl) 1,50 €• 1 beer (Stella) 2,00 € • 1 bread (from bakery) 2,20 €• 1 medium sized packet

of fries 2,70 ۥ Meal at the university restaurant

(soup + main + drink) 5,50 €• Photocopy (A4 size) 0,05 €

A PRIVATE ROOM (“KOT”)

• Average size: 12 to 15 m²• Single occupancy• Furnished• Sink with hot/cold water in the room• Shared shower/bathroom, toilet and

shared kitchen• Internet access

A “STUDIO” (A ONE-ROOM FLAT)

• Average size: 18 to 25 m²• Single occupancy• Mostly furnished• Private bathroom and kitchenette• Internet access

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ORIENTATION &WELCOMETo help you settle in to your home awayfrom home, KU Leuven organises a fullprogramme of welcome and orientationactivities during the first weeks of yourarrival. Participation is free and on location atthe different FEB campuses. The programmeincludes info sessions, info fairs, city tours,trips and various events where you canmeet other exchange, international andnational students.

You can also register for a personal buddy,a local student who can help you find yourway.

If you arrive mid September, KU Leuven willmeet you at its welcome desk at Brusselsairport to help you onto the right track fromthe moment you land.

VISAAll non-EU students need a Long-StayVisa. Students must apply for this visa atthe Belgian Consulate or Embassy in theirown country or in the country where theylegally reside, and not from the publicauthorities in Belgium itself. If there is noBelgian Consulate or Embassy in your homecountry, you may submit the application atthe Belgian Consulate or Embassy in one ofthe neighbouring countries.

(HEALTH) INSURANCEEU nationals need to bring the EuropeanHealth Insurance Card (EHIC), provingthey already have insurance coverage intheir home country.

Any medical cost incurred, will bereimbursed by a Belgian health-insurancecompany if you show them the EHIC card.This also applies to the cost of drugs andmedication.

Non EU nationals can obtain reim burse -ment from their own health insurance oftheir home country, following their specificconditions. They will need to send their billsof medical costs incurred in Belgium to yourhome country and wait for reimbursement. If you do not have a health insurance inyour own country, the Social Service ofthe KU Leuven will help you subscribe to aBelgian health insurance which will reimburseabout 75% of your costs.

Non EU nationals will be required to sub -scribe to a third-party liability insurance.KU Leuven offers liability coverage for awhole academic year at the cost of € 10upon registration. EU students are stronglyrecommended to check their coverage andsubscribe as well if needed.

STUDENT LIFEJoin one of the many student organisationsand clubs, make use of the sports facilitiesand the lively cultural scene. Live life theBelgian way and enjoy the many restaurants,bars and shops. Good food and drink ata great location makes this an excellentstarting point to explore the rest ofEurope.

FEB KU Leuven AcademicProgrammes

If you want to continue your studies as a degree student, there are several English-taughtprogrammes at FEB KU Leuven.

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

• Master of Science in Business Administration• Master of Science in Economics• Master of Science in Business Economics• Master of Science in Business Engineering• Master of Science in Business and information Systems Engineering• Master of Science in International Business Economics and Management• Master of Science in Information Management• Master of Science in Actuarial and Financial Engineering

• Master of Science in Advanced Studies in Economics

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• Non-EU students: 1 March• EU students: 1 June

DEADLINE APPLICATIONS

• admissions.feb@kuleuven.be• www.feb.kuleuven.be/eng

MORE INFO

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“We liked the fact that Leuven is a small city, being used to living in Athens, this made a really nice change. We love the Belgian beer, the food (waffles!fries! chocolate!) and the architecture. We enjoyed our time here so much weare both thinking of doing a Master’s degree at KU Leuven.”

Loukia & Kleopatra - Athens University of Economics and Business - Greece

Testimonials

“KU Leuven is a great universityand the location of Belgium is reallygood, which makes it convenient totravel. The university has a greatbuddy programme which helped usget to know local people and localcustoms really quickly. My semesterhere has been special. It is a greatway to expand your horizon.”

Yue - University of Sydney - Australia

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“I chose to come to KU Leuvenbecause it is one of the bestuniversities in Europe. The city isalways full of students, you cannotget bored. You can easily combineenjoying student life with studyinghard when you need to. When I go back to Italy I will telleveryone to come to Leuven onexchange, because it is the perfectdestination.”

Alessio - University of Siena - Italy

“It was a spontaneous choice tocome here. I wanted to besomewhere central and KU Leuvenhas a very broad course offering,which corresponded to subjectsI wanted to take.”

Julia - Abo University - Finland

“I checked the rankings of all theschools in the list of options andKU Leuven had the best ranking,which was an important part of whyI chose to come here. But also,people in Belgium speak Englishwell, so I knew I wouldn’t have anyproblems here with the language.I am currently studying Dutch, whichis not so very different from Englishand am really loving learning a newlanguage. I really enjoyed the factthat I could combine finishingassignments for the professors withtravelling and exploring Belgium.The courses were interestingand really productive. I am nowconsidering doing a Master’s degreehere since the experience has beensuch a positive one for me.”

Ekaterina - Saint Petersburg University- Russia

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“I had the best time ever on myexchange. The international dormsgive you the opportunity to meetnew people easily. I made a lotof new friends this semester. Leuven is a lovely town. I didn’teven travel that often becauseI just enjoyed being here so much.I am even staying an extra semester.”

Rodrigo Andrés - Universidad AdolfoIbanez - Chili

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“KU Leuven is really well-ranked,so I decided I must come here onexchange. I loved my exchangeexperience. The Belgian studentsget so involved with internationalstudents and Pangaea (the meetingcentre for international students) isamazing. One tip: Go to Pangaea! Everything is well-organised and itis very clear to students what isexpected. The professors are topin their field and really helpful, theyalways try to explain the coursematerial clearly and if I emailedthem questions afterwards,they would reply quickly. Leuven is very walkable, you can doeverything by foot. The city is cosyand feels like home. Everybodyshould come here! It is anexperience I will treasure forever.”

Lais - Universidade de Sao Paulo -Brazil

“Belgium is situated in thecentre of Europe. I wanted theopportunity to travel around andget a feel for different cultures.I loved my exchange here. I metlots of different people, bothinternational and Belgians. It wasreally interesting how I got todiscuss ideas with other people andsee how different cultures have adifferent outlook on things and onlife in general.”

Milosz - University of Illinois - USA

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“I chose to come to KU Leuvenbecause it is a well-ranked uni and Iwas looking for a different culturalexperience. Belgium provided theperfect backdrop for this, it is adifferent experience within a safeplace, whilst also being a bit similarto home. Brussels is one of themajor cities of the world, much likeLondon, much like Paris but it hasa different feel to it. It is a goodplatform for if you want to travelaround Europe or if you are lookingfor an international city. You willalways find what you want as wellas new experiences.”

Ruzivo - Leicester University - UnitedKingdom

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SEPTEMBER

• Orientation activities• Welcome reception

OCTOBER

• Sports competition

NOVEMBER

• Go Global Fair &afterparty

MARCH

• Prom

MAY

• Summer reception

APRIL

• Easter trips

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JUNE

• Exams

JULY-AUGUST

• Graduation• Summer Holiday & exam resits

DECEMBER

• Christmas party

JANUARY

• Exams

FEBRUARY

• Orientation Activities• Welcome reception

International Office FEB

College PremonstreitOffice CPR 01.09 & 01.13

Naamsestraat 61 3000 LEUVEN

T'SerclaesFloor 5A

Warmoesberg 261000 BRUSSELS

Campus CarolusOffice 2.27

Korte Nieuwstraat 332000 ANTWERP

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FIND OUT MOREFEB International Officewww.feb.kuleuven.be/international

FEB Infopack for students coming from abroadwww.feb.kuleuven.be/infopack

CONTACT USInternationaloffice.feb@kuleuven.be

• Kathleen Monsieurkathleen.monsieur@kuleuven.beIncoming exchange students Campus Leuven

• Rebecca Rampelbergrebecca.rampelberg@kuleuven.beIncoming exchange students Campus Antwerp & Brussels

CONNECT WITH USfacebook.com/incomingmobility@FEBKULeuventwitter.com/leuvenuInstagram.com/kuleuven