Belgium – Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Program Summary
The Junior Program at the Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, Belgium (KU-Leuven) offers an educational experience that focuses on European culture and society. Courses are taught in English, aimed at junior-level students, and cover nine academic areas; a list of courses is available in the Study Abroad Office.
• Business and Economics
• Philosophy
• English and Literature
• History
• Political and Social Sciences
• Cultural Anthropology
• Religious Studies
• Languages
• Psychology
The Junior Program also offers an intensive three-week course in Dutch language and culture for American students during both the fall and spring semesters. Tours organized by Junior Program staff, or by the students themselves, to prominent sites in the vicinity and to neighboring countries expose American students firsthand to the history and culture of Europe.
KU-Leuven hosts over 2,000 international students annually, many of whom are enrolled in the Erasmus Program that offers a baccalaureate course of study in English to residents of the European Union. The Junior Program in European Culture and Society – the program through which Hanover College is affiliated – brings nearly 60 American undergraduates to Leuven each semester for up to a year of study. You will find yourself in an international classroom. The faculty teaching these courses are recruited from regular University faculty for their academic expertise, language skills, and familiarity with American higher education.
Where KU-Leuven differs most from Hanover is in the nature of its courses and the tendency of European professors to emphasize student initiative and responsibility for study and learning. A typical class meets once each week in lecture format with 60-100 students, resulting in few day-to-day graded projects. In addition, professors expect that, as students prepare for class, they will extend their study beyond the basic requirements stipulated in the course description. Assigned texts are considered to be only a starting point, and most of the descriptions for Junior Program courses list only one required text and perhaps several recommended readings. Final course grades are usually determined during a single 15- to 30-minute oral exam designed to probe the student's understanding and appreciation of course material. Top scores are awarded to students who demonstrate true mastery of the subject. It should be noted that, while this requires Hanover students to adjust their study habits to a very different system, all evidence suggests that Hanover students enrolled at KU-Leuven adapt well to these demands and become much more well-rounded and independent in the process.
The University
The Katholieke Universiteit, founded in 1425, is Belgium's largest university and is the oldest Catholic university in the world. KU-Leuven's classroom facilities are modern, and University personnel are knowledgeable, helpful, and generally fluent in English. The University operates several computer labs and leases PC's to students. All campus computers are linked to the Internet. The University library system in impressive: its central facility holds over one million volumes, has an online catalogue, and computer facilities and CD-ROM stations that permit students to perform a great variety of searches and other tasks, with a multi-lingual command selection option. The holdings of departments and faculty bring the University collections to over three million volumes, many of which are in English, including thousands of journals and newspapers.
The Setting
Leuven is a medieval university town with 27,000 of its 90,000 inhabitants being affiliated with the University. It is situated in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium. The city is 20 miles east of Brussels, the Belgian capital, which, as the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, is considered the unofficial capital of Europe.
Travel
Reflecting their role in international affairs, Belgians typically speak English well, easing travel for students who do not speak the local languages. Leuven's central location, Europe's close distances, and an extensive train network facilitate short trips to European cultural centers. Leuven is three hours by train from Paris, Amsterdam, and Cologne, and four hours through the "Chunnel" from London. It is also an excellent base for extended trips throughout Europe, again made convienent by the train system and flexible unlimited rail passes.
Housing
The Junior Program reserves rooms for students in residences within walking distance of the University, where they live together with Belgian and other European students. Residential facilities are suitably furnished, offer a common kitchen, and reflect the Belgian student tendency to study in one's room. Bed linen, comforters, pillows, and kitchenware are included in the rent. Students may also seek their own housing in the private market.
Academic Calendar
The fall semester starts mid-September and ends in December. The spring semester begins in early February and ends in June.
Application Process and Deadlines
The application process is initiated in and coordinated through the Study Abroad Office. The application procedure is necessarily lengthy, due to the requirements of international study and the need to maintain satisfactory progress toward graduation from Hanover. The application deadlines are strictly enforced. Students are urged to contact the Study Abroad Office for an Application for Off-Campus Study. Consult your academic advisors or the study abroad advisor early in your career, so that you can plan ahead. Studying off-campus for a term requires careful planning to ensure timely completion of the Liberal Arts Degree Requirements and major course requirements.
Special Requirements
- Obtain a passport and visa. See the Study Abroad Office for information on obtaining these documents.
- Enroll in the intensive Dutch language and orientation course.
- Purchase an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). The holder is eligible for basic medical, accident, and illness insurance, and gains a variety of discounts. These cards may be purchased through the Study Abroad Office for $22.
On-Campus Experts
Our faculty that have visited KU-Leuven include Professors Ahrens, Hughes, Thornton, Barlow, and Eden, all of whom are happy to answer your questions.
KU-Leuven Web Address
Check out KU-Leuven at http://www.arts.kuleuven.ac.be/junior