Flats, rooms and residences near the UCLouvain

The Catholic University of Leuven was founded in 1425, making it one of the oldest universities in the world. Note that in 1970 it was divided into two: on the one hand, there is UCLouvain, whose language of instruction is French, while on the other hand, there is KU Leuven, whose official language is Dutch. Are you going to study at UCLouvain as an Erasmus student? This article is for you! Here, we mention the most important details to consider if you want to find student accommodation near the Université Catholique de Louvain.

Flats and spare rooms for students near UCLouvain

To search for accommodation nearby, you must first determine where the campus you are going to is located and then choose from the most convenient neighbourhoods to live in.

Where is the Université Catholique de Louvain located?

The university has eight campuses:

Louvain-la-Neuve Campus

This is the main campus of the institution, located in Louvain-la-Neuve, about 30 kilometres away from Brussels. It is important to highlight that this city was created to accommodate this campus of UCLouvain, so the area is usually full of students and people related to the University.

Brussels Woluwe Campus

This large campus is located in the Woluwe area, about 25 minutes by transport from the centre of Brussels. On its large grounds, there are buildings where classes are held, a sports centre, university clinics, and other facilities.

FUCaM Mons Campus

Located in the city of Mons, east of its centre. Here you will find two faculties:

• Louvain School of Management (LSM)

• Faculty of Economic, Social, Political and Communication Sciences (ESPO)

Tournai Campus

This one is located in the city of Tournai, southwest of Brussels. It houses part of the Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering, and Urbanism of UCLouvain.

St-Gilles Campus (UCL-LOCI)

This new campus, located in the St-Gilles district south of Brussels, also houses part of the Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering, and Urbanism.

Charleroi Campus

One of its buildings is located in the Ville Basse district in the centre of Charleroi, known as Maison Georges Lemaître. Its other location is called Campus HELHa, in Montignies-sur-Sambre, east of Charleroi.

Namur Campus

It is part of the CHU UCL Namur hospital complex, with many university spaces where medicine is practised.

Saint-Louis - Brussels Campus

This is the newest campus of the institution, which was formerly Saint-Louis University. It has the following faculties and institutes:

• Philosophy, Letters and Humanities

• Law

• Economic, Social, Political and Communication Sciences

• Translation and Interpretation Marie Haps

• Institute of European Studies

Best neighbourhoods to live in near UCLouvain

We suggest that you consider some of the following neighbourhoods in the different cities where the university is present:

Centre of Louvain-la-Neuve

This area is located right next to the Louvain-la-Neuve campus and has numerous shops, restaurants, and bars. It is a vibrant and lively area with a good mix of students and locals.

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (Brussels)

This district is ideal for living if you are attending the UCLouvain Brussels Woluwe Campus, as it is located right there. It is a quieter area than central Brussels, but you can easily reach leisure spots by public transport.

Centre of Namur, Charleroi, Mons and Tournai

The centre of these four cities is usually the ideal neighbourhood to live in as a student. There you will be close to each of the corresponding UCLouvain campuses and one of the most popular entertainment venues for young people. They are relatively small cities, so students usually choose the liveliest area to live in.

Student residences near the UCLouvain

If your preferred alternative is to live in residence, you should know that in addition to typical student residences, in Belgium there are the so-called "Kots" (small buildings or typical houses where students live and share common areas). Thanks to this, you will find student residences and Kots near UCLouvain in Brussels and in the other cities where the institution is located, including Namur, Mons, and Charleroi. In addition, the University offers several accommodation options for students, including residences inside and outside the campus.

Erasmus in the Université Catholique de Louvain

The following are some facts to keep in mind when doing your mobility at this Belgian institution:

• French is the main language of instruction at the university, so we suggest you have at least some basic knowledge of French before arriving. However, the university offers French courses for international students through the UCLouvain Language Institute (Institut des langues vivantes, ILV).

• In the restaurants and cafeterias of the University, you will not only eat at affordable prices, but also try different dishes of Belgian gastronomy, including “Boudins”, “Frites” and “Boulettes d'agneau et de boeuf”.

FAQ about the Catholic University of Louvain