View source for UCLouvain

{{Short description|Public university in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium}}
{{About||the university founded in 1425|Old University of Louvain|the 1817–1835 university|State University of Leuven|the 1834–1968 university|Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)|the present-day Dutch-language university|KU Leuven}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox university
| name = UCLouvain
| native_name = Université catholique de Louvain
| native_name_lang = fr
| latin_name = Universitas Catholica Lovaniensis<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Peter John |author-link=Peter John Anderson |title=Record of the Celebration of the Quatercentenary of the University of Aberdeen: From 25th to 28th September, 1906 |date=1907 |publisher=Aberdeen University Press ([[University of Aberdeen]]) |isbn=9781363625079 |publication-place=[[Aberdeen]], [[United Kingdom]] |language=en-GB |asin=B001PK7B5G}}</ref>
| image_name = Sedessapientiae1993.svg
| image_size = 130
| caption = The ''Sedes Sapientiae'', seal of UCLouvain.
| motto = ''Sedes Sapientiae'' {{small|([[Latin]])}}
| mottoeng = Seat of Wisdom, Seat of Knowledge
| established = 1425 as [[Old University of Leuven|Studium Generale Lovaniense]] (predecessor institution)<br/>1834 as [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)]]<br/>1970 ([[Split of the Catholic University of Leuven|split]])
| re-established = 1834 in [[Mechelen]] as [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)|Catholic University of Belgium]]<br />1970 ([[Split of the Catholic University of Leuven|split]])
| type = [[Private university|Private]], subsidised by public authorities
| budget = [[Euro|€]]220 million (2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dailyscience.be/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/contrat-de-mariage-UCL-et-U-St-Louis.pdf|title=Zahlen auf dailyscience.be}}</ref>
| administrative_staff = 6,097<small> (2021)</small>
| rector = [[Françoise Smets]]
| country = [[Belgium]]
| campus = [[Louvain-la-Neuve]], with  campuses in Brussels ([[Saint-Louis University, Brussels|City of Brussels]], [[UCLouvain Brussels Woluwe|Woluwe-Saint-Lambert]] & [[Saint-Gilles, Belgium|Saint-Gilles]]), [[UCLouvain FUCaM Mons|Mons]], [[Tournai]], [[UCLouvain Charleroi|Charleroi]], [[CHU UCLouvain Namur|Namur]], [[Dinant]], [[Yvoir]]
| students = 37,686<small> (2023-24)<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cref.be/annuaires/tab_rentr%C3%A9e_2023 | title=Chiffres de la rentrée 2023-2024 - Étudiantes et étudiants par université et par secteur d'études | language=fr | trans-title=Figures for the 2023-2024 academic year - Students by university and by sector of study | website=www.cref.be}}</ref></small>
| doctoral = 5,088
| affiliations = [[Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities]]<br />[[CEMS – Global Alliance in Management Education|CEMS]]<br />[[CESAER Association|CESAER]]<br />[[CLUSTER]]<br />[[Coimbra Group]]<br />IMCC<br />[[European Master of Public Administration Consortium|EMPA]]<br />[[Top Industrial Managers for Europe|TIME]]
| website = {{URL|1=https://uclouvain.be/en/index.html|2=www.uclouvain.be}}
| colors = Blue and white {{color box|#00214e}}&nbsp;{{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| logo = UCLouvain logo.svg
| logo_size = 280
| footnotes = Data {{As of|2011|lc=on}}
| other_name = UCLouvain
| former_name = Université catholique de Belgique
| nickname = Wolves
| mascot = Woulfy
| motto_lang = lat
| religious_affiliation = [[Roman Catholicism]]
}}
[[File:Souvenir 25 eme anniversaire de la Fondation Université catholique de Louvain novembre 1859.jpg|thumb|Book celebrating the 25 anniversary of the founding of the Catholic University of Louvain, November 3, 1859.]]
'''UCLouvain''' (or '''Université catholique de Louvain''' {{IPA|fr|ynivɛʁsite katɔlik də luvɛ̃|}}, French for '''Catholic University of Louvain''', officially in English the '''University of Louvain''')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/016709801#Graphic_representation|title=University of Louvain - EUTM file information|website=European Union Intellectual Property Office|year=2017|access-date=May 16, 2018}}</ref> is [[Belgium]]'s largest French-speaking university and one of the oldest in Europe (originally established in 1425). It is located in [[Louvain-la-Neuve]], which was expressly built to house the university, and has smaller campuses in [[Brussels]], [[Charleroi]], [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]], [[Tournai]] and [[Namur]]. Since September 2018, the university uses the branding UCLouvain, replacing the acronym UCL, following a merger with [[Saint-Louis University, Brussels]].

The original [[Old University of Louvain|University of Louvain]] (''Universitas Lovaniensis'') was founded at the centre of the historic town of [[Leuven]] (or ''Louvain'') in 1425, making it the [[List of universities in Belgium|first university in Belgium]] and the [[Low Countries]], and abolished by law in 1797. This university was the centre of [[Baianism]], [[Jansenism]]<ref>''Dictionnaire historique de la Papauté'', sous la direction de Philippe Levillain, éd. Fayard, 1994, sub verbo "Innocent XII Pignatelli 1691-1700" : "Bien que la théologie et l’éthique jansénistes dans leurs postulats théoriques et pratiques aient été largement rejetées par le Saint-Siège, elles sont encore bien loin de disparaître de la vie de l’Église à la fin du XVIIe siècle. À l’époque d’Innocent XII, quelques groupuscules plus combatifs ont quitté la France et se sont transférés en Belgique et en Hollande, d’où ils redoublent d’activité, souvent en conflit avec les directives de Rome. L’université de Louvain est leur forteresse". Daniel Tollet et Pierre Chaunu, ''Le jansénisme et la franc-maçonnerie en Europe centrale au XVIIe et XVIIIe siècle'', p. 143 : "Louvain plaque tournante des idées jansénistes", and Henri Francotte1, professeur à l'université de Liège, ''La Propagande des encyclopédistes français au pays de Liège (1750-1790)'', Bruxelles : Hayez, 1880, p. 28. : "le jansénisme régnait en maître à l'université de Louvain".</ref> and [[Febronianism]] in Europe. A new university, the State University of Louvain, was founded in 1817 and abolished by the law in 1835. A new catholic university was founded in Mechlin in 1834, the [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834-1968)|''Catholic'' University of Mechlin]] and moved to Leuven in 1835 that is frequently, but controversially, identified as a continuation of the older institution.{{ref|caveat|A}}{{ref|caveat2|B}} In 1968 the Catholic University of Leuven [[Split of the Catholic University of Leuven|split]] into the Dutch-language ''[[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven]]'', which stayed in Leuven, and the French-language ''Université catholique de Louvain'', which moved to Louvain-la-Neuve in [[Wallonia]], 30&nbsp;km southeast of Brussels. Since the 15th century, ''Leuven/Louvain'', as it is still often called, has been a major contributor to the development of Catholic theology.

==History==
{{For|the history of the university prior to 1968|Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)#History|Universities in Leuven}}

The [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)|Catholic University of Leuven]], based in [[Leuven]] ("''Louvain''" in French), 30&nbsp;km east of [[Brussels]], provided lectures in French from its founding in 1834, and in Dutch from 1930. In 1968, the [[Dutch-language]] section became the independent [[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven]], which remained in Leuven, while the French-speaking university was expelled to a greenfield campus and town, [[Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve|Louvain-la-Neuve]], 30&nbsp;km south-east of Brussels, in a part of the country where French is the official language. This separation also entailed dividing existing library holdings between the two new universities.

With the democratization of university education already stretching existing structures, plans to expand the French-speaking part of the university at a campus in [[Brussels]] or [[Wallonia]] were quietly discussed from the early 1960s, but it was not anticipated that the French-speaking section would become an entirely independent university and lose all of its buildings and infrastructure in [[Leuven]]. The first stone of the new campus at Louvain-la-Neuve was laid in 1971, and the transfer of faculties to the new site was completed in 1979.[[File:Louvain-la-Neuve Halles.JPG|thumb|The ''Halles universitaires'' in [[Louvain-la-Neuve]]]]According to a 2007 agreement, the University of Louvain was to absorb three smaller French-speaking catholic colleges: the [[Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix|Facultés universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix]] ([[FUNDP]]) located in [[Namur]], the [[Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis|Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis]] ([[FUSL]]) located in Brussels (later called Saint-Louis University, Brussels) and the [[Catholic university of Mons]] ([[FUCaM]]) located in [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]] and [[Charleroi]]. The negotiations for a full merger aborted by an insufficient vote by the general assembly of the [[FUNDP]] in December 2010. The result was a merger between the University of Louvain and the [[Facultés universitaires catholiques de Mons|FUCaM]] in [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]], effective from 15 September 2011. The Mons campus is denoted UCLouvain FUCaM Mons. The three universities still collaborate in consortium, the [[Académie Louvain]]. Within this group, member universities have coordinated their masters programmes in the fields of economics, management, political sciences and sciences as well as the doctoral programmes in all disciplines.

In September 2018, the University of Louvain (or UCL until then) and [[Saint-Louis University, Brussels]] ''[[de facto]]'' merged, founding the ''UCLouvain'', a denomination they currently share.

== Chronology ==
In 1425, Dukes of Brabant created the University of Louvain<ref>{{Cite web|title = UNIVERSITÉ DE LOUVAIN|url = http://www.universalis.fr/encyclopedie/universite-de-louvain/|website = Encyclopædia Universalis|access-date = 2016-02-23|first = Encyclopædia|last = Universalis}}</ref> (Université de Louvain), which was suppressed under [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II]], reopened in 1790, and was finally closed under the French Republic in 1797.<ref name=cathen>{{cite book|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09391a.htm | author=V. Brants|date= 1910|title=University of Louvain|publisher=Robert Appleton Company|via=New Advent|access-date=12 January 2019}}</ref>

In 1817, the [[State University of Louvain]] (''Université de l'Etat de Louvain'') was founded, which closed 15 August 1835.<ref>{{Cite book|title = La matricule de l'Universite de Louvain (1817-1835)|last = Graffart|first = Arlette|publisher = Album de Carlos Wyffels|year = 1987|location = Bruxelles|pages = 181}}</ref>

In 1834, the Catholic bishops of Belgium created the Catholic University of Belgium (Université catholique de Belgique) in [[Mechlin]], also known as the Catholic University of Malines (Université catholique de Malines).

A law passed on 27 September 1835 stated that there would be only one university funded by the State of Belgium in Louvain. The same year, shortly after the suppression of the State University, the Catholic University of Belgium moved to Louvain.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Dictionnaire de l'histoire universelle de l'Eglise|last = Encyclopedie theologique|publisher = J.P. Migne|year = 1863|location = Paris}}</ref> It took advantage of the reputation of the city as an ancient university centre and adopted a new name: Catholic University of Louvain (Université catholique de Louvain).

In a Catholic spirit inspired by [[Pope Gregory XVI]],<ref>{{Cite book|title = Les annees Lovanium|last = Ndaywel è Nziem|author-link = Isidore Ndaywel è Nziem|first = Isidore|publisher = L'Harmattan|year = 2010|location = Paris|pages = 19}}</ref> the promoter and first rector of the university, Monseigneur de Ram, wanted to create a shield that would repulse religion's enemies and block every doctrine weakening the base of Catholic society.

The pharmacy school was founded in 1845 and the [[Louvain School of Engineering|engineering school]] in 1865.

In 1884 the Catholic University of Louvain celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Universite Catholique de Louvain: Liber Memorialis: 1834-1884|last = Descamps|first = E.|publisher = Peeters|year = 1887|location = Louvain|pages = V}}</ref>

In 1968, as a result of linguistic issues, the university was divided into two different universities: one French speaking, which moved to the province of [[Walloon Brabant]], and one Dutch speaking, which remained in the same location.

In 1970, these two universities were established by law as the ''Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven'' and ''Université catholique de Louvain''.

In 1971, the first foundation stone was laid in Louvain-la-Neuve, a new city constructed for the French-speaking university.

=== Student population ===
Evolution of the number of students at the University of Louvain, including the [[UCLouvain FUCaM Mons|FUCaM]] in Mons that integrated the UCL in 2011, [[Saint-Louis University, Brussels]] that formally integrated the university in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annuaires |trans-title=Yearly directories |url=http://www.cref.be/annuaires/ |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=Council of the Rectors in French-speaking Belgium}}</ref>
{{Graph:Chart
| width = 630
| height = 300
| type = stackedrect
| xAxisTitle = Year
| yAxisTitle = Registered students
| legend = Institution
| x = 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
| y1 = 1274,1252,1361,1300,1314,1361,1434,1511,1638,1554,1566,2032,2268,2368,2489,2583,2592,2702,2761,2888,3638,3873,3965,3950,3828,4482
| y1Title = FUSL, later USL-B
| y2 = 1353,1347,1374,1372,1292,1261,1158,1143,1191,1137,1129,1187,1265,1283,1214,1237
| y2Title = FUCaM
| y3 = 20013,19659,19566,19132,18978,18671,18937,19499,19847,20409,20640,20218,20799,21990,23449,25990,28351,28656,29025,29643,29956,30787,30939,31132,31884,34227
| y3Title = University of Louvain
|colors=#F24548,#f89528,#5db3e6
}}

==Faculties and schools==
[[File:Louvain-la-Neuve Montesquieu.JPG|thumb|203x203px|The Montesquieu square in Louvain-la-Neuve, where the Faculty of Law and Criminology is located.]]

=== Sector of Human Sciences (SSH) ===

* '''Faculty of [[Law]] and [[Criminology]] (DRT)''', [[Louvain-la-Neuve]]
** School of Criminology
* '''Saint-Louis Faculty of Law (DRTB)''', [[Saint-Louis University, Brussels|Saint-Louis Brussels]]
* '''Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Literature (FIAL)''', Louvain-la-Neuve
** [[Higher Institute of Philosophy]] (ISP)
** School of [[Philosophy]] (EFIL)
** Department of Languages and [[The arts|the Arts]]
*** [[French language|French]] and [[Romance languages|Romance]] languages and literature (ROM)
*** Modern Languages and Literatures (LMOD)
*** Ancient languages and literatures (classical and oriental) (GLOR)
*** Modern and ancient languages and literature (LAFR)
*** [[Linguistics]] (LING)
*** Louvain School of [[Translation]] and [[Language interpretation|Interpreting]] (LSTI)
** Department of History, Art History and Archaeology
*** [[History]] (HIST)
*** [[Art history|Art History]], [[Archaeology]] and [[Musicology]] (ARKE)
** Department of Information and Communication
*** Multilingual communication (MULT)
*** [[Performing arts|Performing Arts]] (THEA)
*** [[Information technology|Information]] and [[Communication studies|Communication Sciences]] and Technologies (ICTS)
* '''Saint-Louis Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Human Science (PHLB)''', Saint-Louis Brussels
* '''[[Marie Haps Faculty of Translation and Interpreting]] (TIMB)''', Saint-Louis Brussels
* '''[[UCLouvain Faculty of Economic, Social and Political Sciences and Communication|Faculty of Economic, Social and Political Sciences and Communication]] (ESPO)''', Louvain-la-Neuve, [[UCLouvain FUCaM Mons|Mons]] & [[UCLouvain Charleroi|Charleroi]]
** Commission for the Aggregation and In-service Training of Teachers (AGES)
** School of [[Communication]] (COMU)
** [[Economics]] School of Louvain (ESL)
** Interfaculty School of [[European studies|European Studies]] (EURO)
** [[Hoover Chair]] - Teaching Commission (HOOV)
** Open Faculty of Economic and Social Policy (FOPES)
** Louvain School of [[Political science|Political]] and [[Social science|Social Sciences]] (PSAD).
** [[Undergraduate degree|Undergraduate]] Bureau (ESSP)
** School of Labour Sciences (TRAV)
* '''Saint-Louis Faculty of Economic, Social and Political Sciences and Communication (ESPB)''', [[Saint-Louis University, Brussels|Saint-Louis Brussels]]
* '''Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences''' '''(PSP)''', Louvain-la-Neuve
** School of [[Psychology]] (EPSY)
** School of [[Speech-language pathology|Speech Therapy]] (ELOG)
** School of [[Education]] and Training (EDEF)
** School of [[Sexology]] and [[Family science|Family Sciences]] (ESFA)
* '''Faculty of Theology (TECO)''', Louvain-la-Neuve
** Doctoral School of [[Theology]] and [[Biblical studies|Biblical Studies]] (EDT)
** Departement of [[Theology]] (THEO)
** Department of [[Biblical studies|Bible Studies]] (EBIB)
** Department of [[Religious studies]] (SREL)
* '''[[Louvain School of Management]] (LSM)''', Louvain-la-Neuve, Mons, [[Université de Namur|Namur]] & [[UCLouvain Saint-Louis - Bruxelles|Brussels]]
* '''Saint-Louis Institute for European Studies (IEEB)''', Saint-Louis Brussels

The faculties of Philosophy, Arts and Human Sciences, Economic, Social, Political and Communication Sciences (ESPB), Law (DRTB), the Institute for European Studies (IEEB) and the [[Marie Haps Faculty of Translation and Interpreting|Marie-Haps Faculty of Translating and Interpreting]] of autonomous [[Saint-Louis University, Brussels|UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles]] campus are not attached to their corresponding counterparts of UCLouvain.
[[File:JP2017 234.jpg|thumb|234x234px|The garden of medicinal plants on campus ''[[UCLouvain Bruxelles Woluwe]]''.]]

=== Sector of Health Sciences (SSS) ===

* '''Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (MEDE)''', [[UCLouvain Brussels Woluwe|Brussels]]
**[[Medical school|Louvain Medical School]] (MED)
** School of [[Dentistry]] and [[Stomatology]] (MDEN)
* '''Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (FASB)''', Brussels
** School of [[Pharmacy]] (FARM)
** School of [[Biomedical sciences|Biomedical Sciences]] (SBIM)[[File:Auditoires des Sciences and Place des Sciences photographed on a drizzly evening in December (Ecole Polytechnique de Louvain, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium).jpg|thumb|Auditoires des Sciences and Place des Sciences]]
* '''Faculty of [[Public health|Public Health]] (FSP)''', Brussels
* '''Faculty of Motor Sciences (FSM)''', Louvain-la-Neuve

=== Sector of Science and Technology ===

* '''[[Louvain School of Engineering]] (EPL)''', ''École polytechnique de Louvain'', Louvain-la-Neuve
** School of Urban and [[Spatial planning|Spatial Planning]] (URBA)
* '''[[UCLouvain Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning|Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning]] (LOCI)''', [[Brussels]], [[Tournai]] & Louvain-la-Neuve
* '''Faculty of Bioengineering (AGRO)''', Louvain-la-Neuve
** Department of [[Biology|Applied Biology]] and [[Agricultural production|Agricultural Production]] (BAPA)
** Department of [[Chemistry]] and [[Biotechnology|Bioindustries]] (CABI)
** Cluster in [[Environmental science|Environmental Sciences]]
* '''Faculty of Science (SC)''', Louvain-la-Neuve
** School of [[Biology]] (BIOL)
** School of [[Chemistry]] (CHIM)
** School of [[Geography]] (GEOG)
** School of [[Physics]] (PHYS)
** School of [[Mathematics]] (MATH)
** School of [[Veterinary medicine|Veterinary Medicine]] (VETE)
** School of [[Statistics]], [[Biostatistics]] and [[Actuarial science|Actuarial Sciences]] (LSBA)

==Campuses==
While the main [[campus]] of the University of Louvain is based in [[Louvain-la-Neuve]], it also comprises a campus in Brussels, [[UCLouvain Brussels Woluwe]], in [[Woluwe-Saint-Lambert]], which until recently was called "Louvain-en-Woluwe" hosting the university's sector of medical science and [[Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc|primary academic hospital]] (8000 students), a campus in [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]] called [[UCL Mons|UCLouvain FUCaM Mons]] (2300 students), a minor installation in [[Charleroi]] with 133 students (as of 2011) at [[UCLouvain Charleroi]], an architectural school in [[Tournai]], UCLouvain Tournai, with 540 students (as of 2011), and an architectural school in [[Brussels]], UCLouvain Bruxelles Saint-Gilles, with 570 students (as of 2011). With the merger with Saint-Louis University, it also comprises an independent campus specialized in education and research of social and human sciences in the center of the [[City of Brussels]], [[UCLouvain Saint-Louis - Bruxelles]] and the [[Marie Haps Faculty of Translation and Interpreting|Marie-Haps Faculty of Translating and Interpreting]] in [[Ixelles]]' [[Brussels and the European Union|European quarter]], next to the [[European Parliament]] (4150 students).

== Hospitals ==
UCLouvain's main medical implementation is in [[UCLouvain Brussels Woluwe]], [[Woluwe-Saint-Lambert]], [[Brussels]], where the faculty of medicine is installed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kbopub.economie.fgov.be/kbopub/vestiginglijst.html?ondernemingsnummer=419052272|title=Establishments of the Université catholique de Louvain|website=economie.fgov.be|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref>

* [[Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc|Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc]], [[Brussels]]
* [[CHU UCLouvain Namur]], [[Namur]]
* CHU UCLouvain Dinant-Godinne, [[Dinant]] and [[Yvoir]].
* Centre Hospitalier Neurologique William Lennox, [[Louvain-la-Neuve]]

== Museums and collections ==
The UCLouvain hosts Belgium's largest [[university museum]] in Louvain-la-Neuve; the ''[[Musée L]]''. It exhibits part of the university's 32,000 piece wide collection of art and scientific objects including works of [[Albrecht Dürer|Dürer]], [[Anthony van Dyck|Van Dyck]], [[Francisco Goya|Goya]], [[Auguste Rodin|Rodin]], [[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]], [[René Magritte|Magritte]] or [[Pierre Alechinsky|Alechinski]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|date=November 2017|title=Musée L|journal=Bulletin communal d'Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve|volume=209|pages=27}}</ref> [[sculpture]]s,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/content/l-museum-louvain-la-neuve|title=Louvain-La-Neuve's university museum|website=Wallonia Belgium Tourism}}</ref> [[Archaeology|archaeological]] and [[Ethnography|ethnographic]] objects or specimens of [[natural history]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uclouvain.be/fr/decouvrir/musee-l.html|title=Musée L|date=2017|website=University of Louvain}}</ref>

The [[UCLouvain FUCaM Mons]] campus also owns the extended collection of the Convent of the Black Sisters in the city-center of [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]], where the university has placed its ''Ateliers des FUCaM'' campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fucam.ac.be/index.php3?pere=21263|title=Exposition Les Soeurs Noires|date=2004|website=Ateliers des FUCaM|language=fr}}</ref>

[[UCLouvain Saint-Louis - Bruxelles|UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels]] also owns a classical and modern art collection, primarily paintings recovered from its original campus in [[Mechelen]].

== Rankings ==
{{Infobox university rankings
| ARWU_W = 201–300 | ARWU_W_year = 2023 | ARWU_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2023.html|title=Academic Ranking of World Universities 2030|website=www.shanghairanking.com}}</ref>
| THE_W = =168 | THE_W_year = 2024 | THE_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/universite-catholique-de-louvain|title=World University Rankings 2024|date=7 March 2024}}</ref>
| QS_W = =180 | QS_W_year = 2024 | QS_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/universite-catholique-de-louvain-uclouvain|title=QS World University Rankings 2024|date=7 March 2024}}</ref>
| USNWR_W = =171 | USNWR_W_year = 2023 | USNWR_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/universite-catholique-louvain-506348|title=U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2023 - University Catholique of Louvain|date=7 March 2024}}</ref>
| CWTS_W = 312 | CWTS_W_year = 2020 | CWTS_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2020/list|title=CWTS Leiden Ranking 2020 - P(top 10%)|access-date=7 March 2021|work=CWTS Leiden Ranking}}</ref>
| CWUR_W = 189 | CWUR_W_year = 2020-21 | CWUR_W_ref =<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cwur.org/2020-21.php|title=World University Rankings 2020-2021|access-date=7 March 2021|work=Center for World University Rankingsg}}</ref>
| ARWU_N = 4–5| ARWU_N_year = 2024| ARWU_N_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2022|title=ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities|website=www.shanghairanking.com}}</ref>
| QS_N = 3| QS_N_year = 2024 | QS_N_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings/2024?tab=indicators&countries=be|title=QS World University Rankings 2024|date=13 September 2024|website=Top Universities}}</ref>
| THE_N = 4| THE_N_year = 2024| THE_N_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/world-ranking#!/length/25/locations/BEL/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats|title=THE World University Rankings 2024: Belgium|date=4 October 2022 }}</ref>
}}
The University of Louvain educates around 27,261 students from 127 nationalities<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uclouvain.be/6209.html |title=UCL - En quelques chiffres |publisher=Uclouvain.be |date=2012-06-28 |access-date=2012-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206160745/http://www.uclouvain.be/6209.html |archive-date=6 December 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> in all areas of studies at its different campuses. It has educated a large part of Belgium's elite and is still considered, with its Dutch-speaking sister, as a centre of excellence in many fields. In 2006, it was ranked 76th in the [[world universities ranking]] established by the Times Higher Education supplement (24th in Europe).

In the 2011 [[QS World University Rankings]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011?page=2 |title=QS World University Rankings |publisher=Topuniversities |access-date=2012-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227083349/http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011?page=2 |archive-date=27 December 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> the University of Louvain was ranked 125th overall in the world, moving up one place from its position of joint 126th in the 2009 [[THE–QS World University Rankings]] (in 2010 [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]] and [[QS World University Rankings]] parted ways to produce separate rankings).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2009/results |title=QS World University Rankings |publisher=Top Universities |access-date=2012-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102005901/http://topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2009/results |archive-date=2 January 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> An overview of the THE-QS Rankings:

{| class="wikitable"
|+[[QS World University Rankings]]
|-
!Year !! Overall Rank (Change)
!Theology
!Philosophy
!Economics
!Statistics
!Social Sciences
!Medicine
|-
|2015||149 ({{increase}} 5)
| -
|31
|45
|29
|
|
|-
|2016
|146
| -
|43
|51-100
|47
|
|
|-
|2017
|154
|17
|33
|51-100
|51-100
|84
|105
|-
|2018
|153
|12
|32
|51-100
|51-100
|122
|124
|-
|2019
|165
|'''8'''
|51-100
|51-100
|51-100
|94
|
|}

==Student activities==

===Cercles===
{{unreferencedsect|date=January 2024}}
''Cercles'' are [[Student society|Student Societies]] or [[Fraternities and sororities|Fraternities]] based around each faculty. The Cercles, along with the Régionales (which are based around their respective regions of origin) coordinate and manage most of the students' animation and nightlife.  Most Cercles run small bars to fund their activities, and also jointly operate a larger nightclub, "La Casa".

Cercles and Régionales are run exclusively by member students known as the committee. These members are elected every year, usually by voting from all members (active or otherwise) wishing to participate, although some Cercles restrict the number of possible voters in some cases.

Aside from promoting student folklore and coordinating student animation, Cercles also offer academic aid to students in their respective faculties and organize more cultural activities, such as visits to museums and/or other cities, conferences, and low-cost trips for students (for example skiing in the Alps during the Winter Break).

Every Cercle and Régionale has its own customs and traditions, but some are practiced by all:

The Baptême ({{langx|fr|baptism}}) is a [[hazing]] ceremony used by most to induct new members, who then participate in a number of trials and activities involving eggs and other foodstuff, paint, demeaning chants etc. Baptized members (les Baptisés) are among the most common type of members, and some Cercles and Régionales try to only accept new members this way, although it is in no way an obligation to be baptized in order to be a part of a Cercle or to frequent them.

The [[Calotte (Belgium)|calotte]] is a Belgian [[student cap]] worn by students attending Catholic universities. They are emblems of student folklore dating back to the late 19th century. Nowadays, most calottes are passed by way of a ceremony known as the coronae.  How they are passed and what must be known or done to deserve it depends on the Cercle or Régionale. One thing that is universally known, is that there is a lot of singing involved.

Cercles are notorious for their generally high intake of alcohol (especially beer) and low level of cleanliness. Students tend to wear old clothes that they don't mind damaging or dirtying as a consequence, and the overall ambiance is more akin to a rave or a frat-party than a nightclub or sports bar.

===Kots===
Student accommodation in Belgium comes in the form of a "[[Kot (lodging)|kot]]", a term having [[Flemish dialects|Belgian Dutch]] origin. A "kot" can be translated as den or hut. The French way to form the plural of "kot" is "kots" (in Dutch, the plural of "kot" is "koten"). In the bilingual region of Brussels, where there are both Dutch- and French-speaking universities and their students, it is common that "for rent" signs are in French only, with the French plural of "kot".

===Kot-à-projet===
{{main|Theme-based shared flat (kot-à-projet)}}

Unique to UCLouvain a [[Theme-based shared flat (kot-à-projet)|Kot-à-projet]] (kap) is a kot whose inhabitants have similar interests and who organise activities for the general student population, they are similar to [[Fraternity and sorority houses]], but smaller in size with only the committee living in the kot. Being small several Kots can be situated in the same, university owned, apartment building. One of them is "le kap contes", a kot promoting the art of storytelling. Another is called "Kap Délices" which suggests varied activities such as theme buffets, cooking lessons, and material renting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kapdelices.net |title=Kap Délices &#124; Accueil |publisher=Kapdelices.net |access-date=2012-12-02}}</ref>

===Student Union===
The AGL (General Assembly of Louvain students) is the UCLouvain's [[Students' union]]. The body comprises an [[Executive (government)|executive]] Committee, and a [[Legislature|legislative]] Council. The Committee consists of ex-officio members: President, Vice-Presidents for Education & Welfare, VP for the Medicine faculty (situated in [[UCLouvain Brussels Woluwe]]), General Secretary, Activities Officer, Communications Officer, Operations Officer, Foreign student's Officer, Cultural Officer, [[Editing#Executive editor|Editor-in-Chief]] & Deputy Editor-in-Chief as well as the president of the council.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aglouvain.be/wiki/index.php/Comit%E9 |title=Comité AGL — AGkiosk |access-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171011031126/http://www.aglouvain.be/wiki/index.php/Comit%E9 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Publications===
''Quinzaine'' a university produced newsletter, ''La Savate'' produced by the AGL and the monthly ''l'étincelle'' by the [[Theme-based shared flat (kot-à-projet)|Kot-à-projet]] KAP Etincelle. Cercles also produce publications.

===24h Vélo===
[[File:24h velo (LLN) (1808220531).jpg|thumb|A fanciful bike [[float (parade)|float]] at the [[24h vélo de Louvain-la-Neuve]]]]
{{main|24h velo (LLN)}}

The 24 Hour Cycle (24h Vélo) is, nominally, a [[bicycle]] endurance [[Road bicycle racing|road race]] held in October, organised by  ''CSE Animations'' (Centre Sportif Etudiant). While there is an elite race with teams of two, Student groups enter novelty themed multi-bike vehicles, in the shape of a Van or Whale for example, for prizes. The quality of these designs range in terms of artistic merit, and ability to stay intact over the duration of the race. A 240-minute race also takes place for teenagers. The event is probably best known for what happens off the track. Concurrent with the race is [[Belgium]]'s largest student event, with concerts and stands lasting the full 24hrs.

==Notable people==
===Faculty===
*[[Paul Pascon]], sociologist

===Alumni===
{{For|pre-1970 alumni|Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)#Notable alumni}}

* {{Interlanguage link|Christian Arnsperger|fr}} (b. 1966), [[economist]]
* [[Nimer Assy]], (b. 1961) hepatologist
* [[Irene Bertschek]], economist, Professor at [[University of Giessen]], head of [[ZEW]] (Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research)
* [[Thierry Braspenning-Balzacq|Thierry Braspenning Balzacq]], professor of political sciences and international relations
* [[Rafael Correa]] (b. 1963), Ex-President of [[Ecuador]]
* [[Xavier De Cuyper]], agricultural engineer
* [[Maryellen Fullerton]], lawyer and professor and interim dean at [[Brooklyn Law School]]
* [[Maria-Anna Galitzine|Archduchess Maria-Anna, Princess Galitzine]], (b. 1954), Catholic activist
* [[Véronique Gouverneur]], (b. 1964), professor of chemistry
* [[Dyab Abou Jahjah]], (b. 1971), Lebanese-Belgian political activist
* [[Oly Ilunga Kalenga]], (b. 1960), Minister of Health for the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Carlos Larraín]], President of [[National Renewal (Chile)]]
* [[Queen Mathilde of Belgium]] (b. 1973)
* [[Joëlle Milquet]] (b. 1961), law, politician<!--graduated 1984-->
* [[António Mascarenhas Monteiro]] (1944–2016), [[judge]] (law) and first democratically elected president of [[Cape Verde]]
* [[Pierre De Muelenaere]] (b. 1958), entrepreneur
* [[Philippe Van Parijs]] (b. 1951), [[philosopher]] and [[economist]]
* [[David Payne (politician)|David Payne]] (b. 1944), politician<!--Leuven or LLN?-->
* [[Gustavo Petro]], (b. 1960), [[President of Colombia]] 2022 - 2026
* [[Grégoire Polet]] (b. 1978), French-speaking Belgian writer, laureate of several literary prizes
* [[Arnoud de Pret de Calesberg]], commercial sciences, [[InBev]]
* [[María Cecilia Rivara]], Chilean computer scientist
* [[Ronald Rolheiser]], [[O.M.I.]] (b. 1947), President of the [[Oblate School of Theology]], [[San Antonio, Texas]]
* [[Páll Skúlason]] (b. 1945), philosopher and former Rector of the University of Iceland<!--grad. 1967 : Leuven, PhD 1973 : LLN ?-->
* [[Vera Songwe]], economist
* [[Walter Swennen]], artist
* [[Sophie Warny]] (b. 1969), Belgian Antarctic researcher
* [[Nor Mohamed Yakcop]], (b. 1947) Malaysian politician, Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, in charge of Economic Planning Unit.
* [[Jean-Pascal van Ypersele]], (b. 1957) climatology

==See also==
{{Portal|Belgium|Catholicism}}
* [[Academic libraries in Leuven]]
* [[Belgian Co-ordinated Collections of Micro-organisms]] (BCCM)
* [[Catholic University of Mechlin]]
* [[Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters]] (CRED)
* [[Collegium Trilingue]]
* [[Louvain-la-Neuve Cyclotron]]
* [[Lovanium University]]
* [[Open access in Belgium]]
* [[Orchestre Symphonique des Étudiants de Louvain-la-Neuve]]
* [[Science Parks of Wallonia]]
* [[University Foundation]]
* [[List of split up universities]]

==Notes==
:A.{{note|caveat}} The Old University of Leuven (1425) is the oldest university in the low countries, and the Catholic University of Leuven (1834) is sometimes, controversially, identified as a continuation of it. Belgium's highest court, the [[Court of Cassation (Belgium)|Court of Cassation]] has ruled that the (1834) Catholic University of Leuven cannot be regarded as continuing the old (1425) University of Leuven.<ref>Ruling of the Cour de Cassation of Belgium of 26 November 1846: "''The Catholic University of Leuven can not be regarded as continuing the old University of Leuven''", in, ''Table générale alphabétique et chronologique de la Pasicrisie Belge contenant la jurisprudence du Royaume de 1814 à 1850'', Brussels, 1855, p. 585, column 1, alinea 2. See also: ''Bulletin Usuel des Lois et Arrêtés'', 1861, p.166</ref> See [[Old University of Leuven#History]].
:B.{{note|caveat2}} This is a relatively recent phenomenon. In 1859 the university celebrated its 25th anniversary and issued a book celebrating the 25 anniversary of the founding of the Catholic University of Louvain, November 3, 1859. In 1884, the university celebrated its 50th anniversary, acknowledging its actual date of foundation.<ref>In the year 1887, the Catholic University of Louvain, has celebrated his 50th anniversary.... E. Descamps, in : ''Université Catholique de Louvain : Liber Memorialis : 1834-1884'', Louvain : Peeters, 1887, p. V : "''les fêtes du cinquantième anniversaire de l'Université catholique de Louvain ont eu un brillant éclat et un immense retentissement''".</ref> Only in 1968 did the new Catholic university add the date 1425 to its neo-gothic seal (created in 1909).

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Université catholique de Louvain}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141008024913/http://www.uclouvain.be/en-index.html Official web site of the University of Louvain] {{in lang|fr}}

{{Coord|50|40|10.6|N|04|36|44.15|E|display=title}}
{{Universities of Louvain}}
{{Top Industrial Managers for Europe}}
{{Coimbra Group}}
{{CESAER}}
{{Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities}}
{{Belgian universities}}
{{European Masters in Public Administration Network}}
{{Christian universities in Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Universite Catholique De Louvain}}
[[Category:Université catholique de Louvain| ]]
[[Category:Education in Brussels]]
[[Category:Catholic universities and colleges in Belgium|Louvain, Universite Catholique de]]
[[Category:Engineering universities and colleges in Belgium|Louvain, Universite Catholique de]]
[[Category:Pontifical universities|Louvain, Universite catholique de]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1834|Louvain, Universite Catholique de]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1968|Louvain, Universite Catholique de]]
[[Category:Forestry education]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in Belgium]]
[[Category:Catholic University of Leuven]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Walloon Brabant]]
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[[Category:1834 establishments in Belgium]]