UCLouvain (Université catholique de Louvain) at a glance
- City
- Louvain-la-Neuve
- Type
- Public university
- Website
- uclouvain.be/en
Key takeaways
- For 2026/27, most non-EU students at UCLouvain pay €1,194 plus a €4,175 supplement, a total of €5,369 per year.
- Nationals of countries listed in the ARES circular (including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Nigeria) pay only €1,194 per year.
- The FindUniPath database lists 39 English-taught masters, 1 English-taught bachelor and doctoral training; most other programs are in French.
- For 2026/27, the deadline for non-EU applicants who need a visa was 31 March 2026; the 2027/28 date is not published yet.
- Non-EU applicants pay a €200 application fee, which is deducted from tuition if you are admitted.
On this page
UCLouvain is one of the best-value universities in Belgium for non-EU students: for 2026/27, most non-EU students pay €5,369 per year, and nationals of a list of lower-income countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, pay only €1,194. It also offers a long list of English-taught masters, mostly in engineering, computer science, economics and management.
This guide covers the real fees, the English-taught programs, the entry requirements, the 31 March deadline and the honest downsides, all based on UCLouvain's own pages and official Belgian sources.
Why UCLouvain is good value for non-EU students
UCLouvain is a large public French-speaking university. Its main campus is in Louvain-la-Neuve, with further sites in Brussels (Woluwe, Saint-Louis, Saint-Gilles), Mons, Charleroi and Tournai. Because it is funded by the French Community of Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels Federation), its fees are set by law, not by the market.
- Low, regulated fees: €1,194 base fee plus a €4,175 non-EU supplement, and many nationalities are exempt from the supplement.
- Strong English-taught master range: about 32 masters and 7 advanced masters can be taken entirely in English, according to the university.
- Technical focus: engineering, data science and computer science programs are well represented.
- Transparent rules: fees, deadlines and admission criteria are published on official pages.
UCLouvain tuition fees for non-EU students
For 2026/27, UCLouvain lists the full registration fee as €1,194. Non-EU students who are not assimilated to Belgian students add a supplementary contribution of €4,175, for a total of €5,369 per year. The university notes that 2026/27 amounts are pending approval by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, and fees for 2027/28 are not published yet.
Who pays only €1,194?
Nationals of countries listed in Annexes 1 to 3 of ARES Circular 2026-001 are exempt from the €4,175 supplement and pay only the regular fee. This circular applies to all French Community universities from 2026/27.
| Annex | Who is listed | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Annex 1 | UN least developed countries | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, Sudan, Yemen, Senegal |
| Annex 2 | Countries low on the Human Development Index | Pakistan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Syria, Palestine |
| Annex 3 | Additional country | Lebanon |
Not on the list
India, Egypt, Iran and Morocco do not appear in the annexes, so nationals of these countries should budget for the full €5,369. Check the circular yourself, because ARES says it may update the lists.
Application fee
Non-EU applicants without Belgian student status pay a €200 non-refundable application fee for bachelor and master applications. If you are admitted, it is deducted from your tuition. There is no fee for advanced (specialised) masters, doctoral training or international joint degrees, and you may submit at most two applications per year.
English-taught programs at UCLouvain
Most UCLouvain programs are taught in French. The FindUniPath database counts 39 English-taught masters, 1 bachelor and doctoral training. The only English-taught bachelor is the BSc in Business Engineering at Saint-Louis Bruxelles.
| Field | Examples | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | Biomedical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Energy, Chemical and Materials Engineering | 2 years (120 ECTS) |
| Computer & data science | Computer Engineering, Data Science Engineering, Computer Sciences | 1 or 2 years |
| Economics & business | Economics: General, Econometrics, Management, Business Engineering | 1 or 2 years |
| Other | European Studies, EU Studies, Linguistics, Physics | 2 years (120 ECTS) |
See the full list on UCLouvain's masters taught in languages other than French page, and our guide to English-taught programs in Belgium.
Admission requirements
Master's programs
- Degree: a relevant bachelor's. For engineering (EPL) masters in 2027/28, non-EU degrees need at least 4 years of study after secondary school, and applications are typically refused if the overall average is below 12/20.
- English: for EPL in 2027/28, TOEFL iBT 87, IELTS 6.0, TOEIC 785 or Cambridge FCE; you are exempt with an English-taught degree. Other faculties set their own levels.
- Maths proof for engineering: for example a GRE Subject Test in Mathematics; a video interview is possible.
- Documents: ID, passport copy, all diplomas and transcripts (including failed years), proof of your activities for the last 5 years, and a motivation letter.
Bachelor's programs
For 2026/27, non-EU bachelor applicants needed a secondary diploma with an overall average of at least 13/20, obtained within the 3 academic years before applying, plus a definitive equivalence from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Applications without it are automatically rejected. Civil engineering and medicine have entrance exams. Read more in our Belgium admission requirements guide.
Application deadline
For the 2026/27 intake, the deadline for non-EU nationals who live outside Belgium and need a visa was 31 March 2026, for all programs. The 2027/28 deadline has not been published yet. Doctoral training has no deadline. Check the official application deadlines page from early in the year.
Scholarships and fee reductions
- ARES exemption: if your nationality is listed, you save €4,175 a year automatically.
- WBI MASTER IN grant: the Wallonia-Brussels International grant pays €10,020 over 12 months for masters at French Community institutions; you must be admitted first, and the 2026/27 deadline was 31 March 2026. Afghanistan is not among its priority countries.
- Social and financial aid: UCLouvain has an 'Apply for financial aid' service; we could not verify faculty-specific scholarships.
See all options in our Belgium scholarships guide.
Living in Louvain-la-Neuve: costs
Study in Belgium estimates living costs in French-speaking Belgium at €1,000 to €1,300 per month, with rent around €575 including utilities. For your visa, you must prove at least €1,062 net per month for 2026/27 (€12,744 a year), plus your fees. Read our cost of studying in Belgium guide for a full budget.
Honest downsides
Benefits
- Regulated, low fees, and €1,194 for many lower-income nationalities
- Wide choice of English-taught engineering and data masters
- No application fee for advanced masters or doctoral training
Difficulties
- Only one English-taught bachelor; daily life outside class is in French
- One early deadline (31 March) for visa applicants
- Bachelor applicants need the French Community equivalence first, which takes time
- Engineering masters ask for extra maths proof such as the GRE Subject Test
How to apply to UCLouvain step by step
- 1
Pick an English-taught program
Check the program's 'Admission' tab for its exact degree and English requirements.
- 2
Prepare your documents
Diplomas, transcripts, English test, motivation letter and proof of activities for the last 5 years. See our documents and legalization guide.
- 3
Bachelor only: get the equivalence
File your secondary-school equivalence with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation; for 2027/28 the window is 15 November 2026 to 15 July 2027.
- 4
Apply online and pay €200
Submit through UCLouvain's online application before the visa deadline. Upload any requested documents within 15 days.
- 5
Receive your authorisation to enrol
If admitted, you get the document you need for the visa.
- 6
Apply for your type D student visa
Show proof of funds, insurance, a medical certificate and a criminal record extract. Follow our Belgium student visa guide.
Applying from Afghanistan
Afghan nationals pay €1,194 instead of €5,369. Belgian student visas for Afghans are handled by the Belgian Embassy in Islamabad, through VFS Global in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore. Afghanistan is not in the Apostille Convention, and the Embassy says it does not legalise Afghan documents, so ask UCLouvain which form of your documents it accepts.
Dates change every year. You can track deadlines for free on FindUniPath and compare UCLouvain with other options in our Belgium country hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much is UCLouvain tuition for international students?
For 2026/27, most non-EU students pay €5,369 per year (€1,194 plus a €4,175 supplement). Nationals of countries listed in the ARES circular pay €1,194.
Is UCLouvain free for Afghan students?
No, but Afghans are exempt from the €4,175 supplement because Afghanistan is a UN least developed country, so they pay the regular €1,194 fee (2026/27).
Does UCLouvain teach in English?
Mainly in French, but about 32 masters and 7 advanced masters can be taken entirely in English. There is one English-taught bachelor, at Saint-Louis Bruxelles.
What is the UCLouvain deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 it was 31 March 2026 for non-EU applicants who need a visa. The 2027/28 date is not published yet, so check the official deadlines page.
What IELTS score does UCLouvain require?
For engineering masters in 2027/28, IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 87. Other faculties set their own levels per program.
Official sources
Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
- 1.UCLouvain — Registration fee amount
- 2.UCLouvain — Application deadlines
- 3.UCLouvain — Application requirements
- 4.UCLouvain — EPL master admission criteria 2027-28
- 5.UCLouvain — Masters taught in other languages
- 6.ARES — Circular 2026-001 (supplementary contribution exemptions)
- 7.Study in Belgium — Living costs
- 8.Study in Belgium — WBI MASTER IN grants
- 9.Équivalences FWB — Secondary equivalence
- 10.Study in Belgium — Master's admission and proof of means
- 11.Belgian Embassy Pakistan — Visa