Academic Issues |
The semester is separated into 2 parts 6 weeks long: part 1 & part 2.
All courses are given for 6 weeks; thus, they are given in part 1 or part 2:
- The courses from part 1 may end with an exam after the 6 weeks of lecture (on week 8 for the Fall semester or on week 7 for the Spring semester) or may have the exam during the exam session (in January for the Fall semester or in June for Spring semester).
- The courses in part 2 have automatically the exams scheduled during the exam session (in January for the Fall semester or in June for the Spring semester).
LSM recommends a workload of 30 ECTS credits for one semester, 15 ECTS in each Part. This is equivalent to 3 courses in each Part, 6 courses in total.
The UCLouvain uses a grading system from 0 to 20.
If you need to know the ECTS grade corresponding to the UCLouvain grading system or the percentile of students awarded each grade, check the UCLouvain grading scale.
LSM Contact & Location |
Pierre Spineux
Incoming Students
CEMS Students can contact Caroline Gillard at lsm-cems@uclouvain.be
The LSM International Office is at :
Building "Collège des Doyens"
Place des Doyens, 1 - 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
LSM is located near the centre of Louvain-la-Neuve
Do not mix up Louvain-la-Neuve with the city of "Louvain" (in the Flemish Brabant), which is situated 30 minutes away from Louvain-la-Neuve (in the Walloon Brabant).
Check the Map with places you will have to go to when you arrive in Belgium.
LSM has 2 campuses: one in Louvain-la-Neuve and one in Mons
Even if nominated at Louvain-La-Neuve, you may choose to follow some courses on the Mons campus.
Take into consideration that Mons is at about 45 minutes drive or 2 hours by public transport. Students may get travel expenses reimbursement for minimum 3 courses registered on that campus.
The International Office on Louvain-la-Neuve Campus
Building "Collège des Doyens"
Place des Doyens, 1
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
BELGIUM
By plane :
- Fly to Brussels National Airport (Zaventem):
The National Tourist Information Office, situated in the luggage hall of the airport, can help you and provide useful information about getting to Louvain-la-Neuve. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Brussels National Airport (Zaventem) is linked to Brussels by a train service: 4 trains/hour between 5.30 a.m. and 12 p.m. during weekdays and between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. during weekends. Ask for a ticket to "Louvain-la-Neuve" and get off at the Brussels Nord station (a 12-15 min. ride). Take the Brussels-Namur-Luxemburg line (trains every half hour, weekend included), get off at Ottignies (about 35 min.) and switch to a train to Louvain-la-Neuve (about 8 min.). Some trains go straight from Brussels to Louvain-la-Neuve but take more time.
Timetables are available on the web site of the SNCB.
- Fly to Brussels South Charleroi Airport:
At the airport, go to the Ryanair help desk and ask for a combined ticket bus/train to Louvain-la-Neuve.
Bus connections are organised according to flight arrivals and departures (every half hour to Charleroi station and return). Take the bus to Charleroi station, from where you can continue by train to Louvain-la-Neuve.
By train :
At the "Louvain-la-Neuve Université" station follow the signs marked "Auditoires Montesquieu" (via the "Grand Rue" and then on the left at the small street named "Ruelle de la Lanterne Magique"). The LSM building is on your left-hand side.
By bus :
Get off at the stop "Terminal Bus TEC". The Place des Doyens is across the square (building number 34 on the map below.)
By car :
Take the E411 motorway Bruxelles-Namur-Luxembourg. Exit at 8A marked "Louvain-la-Neuve". At the roundabout, take the second exit "Centre Urbain" and follow the parking signs "Grand-Place". (There is a charge for the parking) Parking Plan.
Contacts at UCLouvain |
Check the different associations in Louvain-la-Neuve helping students.
UCLouvain Support Services
The Support Service located at the « Point de Repère » (point of reference) is open to the students in need of some help for:
- counseling
- social support
- financial assistance
- psychological follow-up
- health advice
- support for people with disability
The PEPS is a UCLouvain service helping the following types of students:
- Entrepreneurs
- Artists
- Top-level athletes
- Students with specific handicap needs
These will have to get in contact with the PEPS team at the beginning of their semester. The PEPS team will provide them with a specific form to fill in (in English).
More information can be found on the Support Service webpage . Students can also get directly in contact with them.
There are several health facilities and doctors on campus. Here are a few examples :
Administrative Information |
When arriving in Belgium, you can stay in the Kot Erasmus for a few days (approx. 3 days) to take the time to look intensively for accommodation. If you want to get a place in the Kot Erasmus, you must go on their website to subscribe online: http://koterasmus.be/
They offer temporary dorms to give you the time to find definitive accommodation when arriving in Belgium.
Go to the UCLouvain Housing Service as soon as possible (and every day) upon your arrival. Some UCLouvain housing is released early in the semester. There are several reasons for this such as students cancelling their arrival, finding another place to live, or missing exams.
If you need help upon arrival in Belgium, the ESN LLN offers a "buddy system". They will accompany you in your administrative steps and until you find accommodation. They will not search for a place to live for you but they will advise you on how to find it.
They are on Facebook and have a website (www.esnlln.org), but you can also send them an email at esn.lln@gmail.com.
If you wonder what the cost of living in Belgium is, please consult the UCLouvain webpage detailing a one year living costs at UCLouvain.
For more information, here is a video made by former exchange students explaining how housing goes at UCLouvain.
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Go on your “MyUCL” on your UCLouvain Account
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Select “Mes attestations” in the widget “Mes études”
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You have access to 4 types of Attestations where you can find your UCLouvain Proof of Registration called "Regular registration (family allowances, health mutual, ...)"
You must activate your account directly on UCLouvain webpages or by following the link you receive in the automatically generated email sent upon completion of your UCLouvain registration.
This is essential for the good organisation of your term at the LSM.
Activating your account will allow you to access :
- Your UCLouvain e-mail address: You must consult it regularly as all information will be sent to you that way; for example, information about courses and registration for exams.
- Moodle: the online learning platform used by teachers to organise courses.
Check the video on how to set up your UCLouvain account dashboard:
Which health insurance for whom? (More information on FAQ for international students)
- European students : The European health insurance card is accepted.
- Non-European students : You must subscribe to a health insurance in your home country or become a member of a "Mutuelle" in Belgium (mutual insurance company) which will reimburse medical care (in part or in full, depending on the type of care given) and the cost of some medicine.
Be aware that you must hand in a copy of your health insurance certificate (European health card or proof of a private insurance certificate) to finalize your UCLouvain registration.
Select your "Mutuelle" in Belgium
Joining a "Mutuelle" in Belgium means you will be reimbursed for part of your medical and dental fees, hospital fees, surgery, giving birth, etc. according to the tariff set for the various types of care provided.
You are free to decide which "Mutuelle" suits you best. Some "Mutuelles" are based on the campus :
- Partenamut, Traverse d'Esope, 11 - tel. 0032 10 24 72 08
- Mutualité Chrétienne, Place de l’Université, 8 – tel. 0032 10 45 13 76
If you made your choice before arriving in Belgium, you can already subscribe online (if available). Otherwise, you will be able to do it once you arrive in Belgium.
Before leaving LSM
The LSM International Office hopes that you have had a wonderful time in Louvain-la-Neuve!
There are no administrative steps to be taken for LSM before you leave Belgium. However, you should verify with your home coordinator if our International Coordinator needs to sign a specific Certificate of Stay for your home university.
Your Transcript of Records will be sent to your home coordinator shortly after all exam results are released. You can see your results on your UCLouvain account, "MyUCL".
Before leaving Belgium
If you are leaving Belgium for good, you must return your residence permit to the municipal authority. Also, make sure that you cancel your Belgian health insurance and, if applicable, close your bank account.
When you are moving out of your UCLouvain accommodation, please consult the UCLouvain Housing Service for the last things to do.
Social Networks
If it is not done yet, do not hesitate to join us on social networks to keep in touch!
If you appreciated your stay at LSM, we would be pleased to receive your testimony!