At our faculty, there are many different opportunities for international experiences: study exchanges ranging from one week to a full year, taking a few courses to obtaining a full degree, an internship abroad… In short, there are plenty of exchange options. Detailed information can be found on the Internationalisation page of our faculty or in this presentation.
Go Global 2026
This academic year, from October 26th to 30th, is Go Global Week. Throughout this week, the entire campus is set up to promote international adventures. The entire week leads up to the application presentation on Thursday evening, where all the important information will be provided. Further information about this can be found on the Go Global website.
Erasmus+
"Erasmus" is an exchange program for 1 or 2 semesters at a European university of your choice. Among all the possible programs, this is by far the most popular and common. Whether you can go on exchange (1st or 2nd Master) depends on your study program. The destination also depends on the specific master's program you are enrolled in.
The application process starts with registration on the online application platform. This platform provides instructions on what you need to do. The deadline for this application is the second Tuesday of the second semester. You need to submit your study program, including a list of the courses you plan to take at the foreign university, to the exchange coordinator of your program. This should correspond to the courses you will not be taking at KU Leuven during that semester, typically equivalent to 30 study credits for a semester at our faculty. It's important to note that credit values can vary between universities. Your course program must be approved by the exchange coordinator of your program.
In March, you will find out if our faculty approves your exchange. The requirements for eligibility are as follows: a FULL Bachelor's degree, a minimum CSE (Cumulative Study Efficiency) score of 80%, and a weighted average of at least 60% after the January exams. After your application is approved, an Erasmus+ scholarship will also be applied for on your behalf. Then, the faculty will submit a Study Period Abroad application in KU Loket, and you will be able to make any necessary adjustments. After the faculty officially nominates you to your designated host institution, you will receive information from the host institution to complete your application with them.
Outside Europe
If you would like to push your boundaries even further, our faculty offers the opportunity to study for one or two semesters on another continent. These options are the Global Engineering Education Exchange (GE3) and the Global Exchange Programme (GEP).
Global Engineering Education Exchange GE3
Since 2018, KU Leuven has been part of the GE3 programme. This allows students to study more easily in a non-European student city. To participate, you must also have obtained your full Bachelor's degree. The minimum requirements for this program are stricter than for a regular exchange, namely a CSE of 90% and a weighted average of 70%. Furthermore, this program follows the exact same application process as an Erasmus application, except that you must also submit an application in the GE3 tool within the same deadlines.
Furthermore, nothing changes regarding tuition fees for the following academic year: you still pay your tuition fees to KU Leuven. With the admission letter you receive from the host university abroad, you can register there as an exchange student without paying tuition fees. It is important to note that your credits will be accepted at KU Leuven, even if the number of credits per course differs at the host university. A list of all available universities can be found here. (Some European destinations are also listed, but for those we refer to the Erasmus+ program).
Global Exchange Program GEP
Another option is the GEP. This involves 1 or 2 semester(s) at a top non-European university. The destinations are highly variable, and the number of available places can change every year. It is best to inquire about current possibilities by sending an email. A list of possible destinations can be found here. Importantly, the requirements for this program are also strict: a CSE of 90% and a weighted average of 70% after the January exams, alongside completing your full Bachelor's degree. If you are selected for an exchange within GEP, you can apply for a scholarship just like in other programs. A mobility grant from KU Leuven is almost guaranteed.
ATHENS
If six months is too long, there is also the option to spend a week abroad. ATHENS is a program where you can take a 3-credit course during a week abroad within the semester and take an exam (or other evaluation) for it at the end of the week. ATHENS stands for Advanced Technology Higher Education Network. In the academic year 25-26, this week falls from November 14th to 21st for the 1st semester and from March 13th to 20th for the 2nd semester. Unlike other options for a foreign study experience, it is not a requirement to have completed the full bachelor's degree here. However, you can only participate in this program once a year and a maximum of two times during your master's.
The application process begins with registering on the ATHENS website. After registration, you must choose your course. You will select the three courses that interest you the most. For these three courses, you must meet all the requirements, and none of them should be in Leuven. You can find all the information about the correct application procedure here. After submitting your online application, you need to sign and scan the registration form and the student commitment and send them to ATHENS.
Accommodation is not included in the program, but the host institution can often provide options. The costs for accommodation usually range from 250 to 500 euros. It's important to note that KU Leuven students do not receive scholarships for this program. All further practical information will be provided at least one week before departure. If you are not selected for the ATHENS program, you can ask your program director to replace the Capita Selecta course in your ISP with another elective.
Interim Abroad
Some organisations such as IAESTE and Humasol provide you with the option to work as an intern or temporary worker abroad for a couple of weeks or months. This is a great opportunity to gain practical work experience in an international environment.
Buddy Programme
Don't feel like leaving your beloved Leuven, but still want to interact with other nationalities and cultures? Then the Buddy Programme might be just the thing for you! You can help an international student find their way in our beautiful student city and make lifelong friends in the process. Conversely, the Buddy Programme can also come in handy if you go on an exchange yourself, allowing you to establish contacts before the first activities even start!
