Catholic University of Louvain

Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) is a private university in Belgium.

The history of the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) can be traced back to 1425, when the original University of Leuven was founded. This university was one of the most prominent in Europe, and it played a major role in the development of Renaissance thought.

In 1797, the original University of Leuven was abolished by the French Republic. However, in 1834, the Belgian bishops established a new Catholic university in Mechelen. This university was moved to Leuven in 1835, and it was renamed the Catholic University of Leuven.

The Catholic University of Leuven quickly became one of the leading universities in Belgium. It was known for its strong academic programs in theology, law, medicine, and the arts. The university also attracted a number of distinguished scholars, including the physicist Georges Lemaître, who proposed the Big Bang theory.

In 1968, the Catholic University of Leuven was split into two institutions, the French-speaking Université catholique de Louvain and the Dutch-speaking Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. The French-speaking university moved to Louvain-la-Neuve in 1971.

UCLouvain has continued to thrive since its founding. In addition to its academic excellence, UCLouvain is also known for its commitment to social justice. The university has a long history of promoting human rights and democracy. UCLouvain has also been involved in a number of international development projects.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, Catholic University of Louvain is positioned as the #203 top university in the world, which makes it the #3 top university in Belgium. The university's global rank decreased by 23 points from last year.