Enrolling at Leuven University College as foreign student

Central entry

Foreign students will find our bachelor degree courses most suitable for their needs. Foreign students can enrol at Leuven University College by central entry.

Candidates still staying in their home-country, or candidates staying in Belgium but who are not yet fluent in Dutch or who don’t have a Leuven Language Institute-certificate ‘knowledge Dutch’ level 5 (or equivalent to level B2/C1 from the Common European Framework of Reference – CEFR), have to submit their file at Leuven University College, General Services, Abdij van Park 9, 3001 Leuven, before the 1st of February 2012. Candidates who don’t speak Dutch have to start the Dutch summercourse at the ILT in August 2012 and need to go through the different levels within the academic 2012-2013. Arrival in Leuven in july 2012 is highly recommended.

After the Dutch-courses in the academic year 2012-2013 the student can start his courses at KHLeuven in September 2013. Files of candidates already staying in Belgium and possessing a Leuven Language Institute -certificate ‘knowledge Dutch’ level 5 (or equivalent to level B2/C1 from the Common European Framework of Reference – CEFR) in September 2011 are also handled by the General Services. For these candidates however, there is no deadline for the introduction of the file. They can start the selected courses at the beginning of academic 2011-2012.

The File

The file of candidates still staying abroad has to include :
1. A fully completed application form
2. A Secondary School Degree (original or copy)
3. A sworn translation into Dutch, English or French of the Secondary School Degree
4. An equivalence certificate. In this document an official authority from the home-country (the board of the secondary school or of an institution of higher education, an embassy) declares that the Secondary School Degree gives access to higher education
5. A copy of the passport
6. A financial guarantee or another proof of financial guarantee.
Next to these documents, candidates already staying in Belgium also have to present proof of their legal stay in the country and a certificate ‘knowledge Dutch’ level 5 (or equivalent).
Candidates who already followed courses at K.U.Leuven or another institution of higher education in the academic 2010-2011 (or before) need to add a copy of their results gained in the first (or second if the case should arise) exam period.

If one of the required documents can’t be added to the file, a written motivation is required.

The application form, the equivalence certificate and the financial guarantee can be downloaded here:

• Application form
• Equivalence Certificate
• Financial Guarantee
• ILT Registration and Conditions
• Visa for Belgium for study

Information

Further information can be obtained with Fons Jordens, secretary general at KHLeuven fons.jordens@khleuven.be

Return and treatment of the file

Applications are to be sent by mail to Fons Jordens, KHLeuven, Abdij van Park 9, 3001 Leuven. After the file has been examined, candidates receive an answer explaining he/she is or is not accepted. Accepted candidates receive a letter of admission by the CEO.

• Students already staying in Belgium have to report with the letter of admission and the tuition fee at the department of the selected course where they are actually listed and receive a registration. If necessary students need to submit to the proper authorities with this registration to get their residence permit extended.
• Students still staying in their home-country need to submit to the local Belgian embassy with this registration (or consulate) to get a visa. Further useful information about visa for Belgium can be found on http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/services/travel_to_belgium/visa_for_belgium/visa_needed/

Knowledge Dutch level 5 –ILT (or equivalent to level B2/C1 from the Common European Framework of Reference – CEFR )

To be able to follow the courses at KHLeuven successfully a thorough knowledge of the Dutch language (spoken and written) is required. Therefore this is an absolute condition to get registered for courses at KHLeuven. Furthermore knowledge Leuven Language Institute - level 5 has proved inadequate for the courses in social work, nursing and education since cultural influences are very important in these domains.
Candidates who received a letter of admission get priority in getting registered for Dutch courses at Leuven Language Institute. (http://ilt.kuleuven.be/english/).
Belgian government grants foreign students one year to learn Dutch if they possess a letter of admission to a bachelor-course. However they have to do so during their first year in Belgium.

Examination of the file

The file of candidates who want to follow a course at KHLeuven needs to be complete and fraud-free. It’s also checked upon the past study, former results and the motivation of the candidate.
The decisions taken by KHLeuven are communicated in writing to the candidates.

The tuition fee for foreign students – academic 2011-2012

For the academic year 2011-2012 the tuition fee for most of the foreign students was set to 578,70euro. This fee is indexed annually.

Grants?

Foreign students who meet certain requirements can obtain a grant. “Studentenservice vzw” can assist students for these matters. Address: Van Dalecollege, Naamsestraat 80, 3000 Leuven. Tel. (+) 32 16-32 36 91).

Fons Jordens
Secretary General & Admission officer
February 2011