Institute description
K.U.Leuven , founded in 1425, is Belgium’s largest university. As a leading European research university, it offers a wide variety of academic programs in Dutch and English (more than 60 master programs are taught in English), supported by high-quality interdisciplinary research, both in the university and in its internationally recognized university hospitals. More than 6000 researchers, from over 120 countries, participate in fundamental and translational research at K.U.leuven, in close collaboration with industry. As a comprehensive university, K.U.Leuven offers three-year bachelor and one- and two- years academic master’s programs in almost all disciplines. The Leuven Doctoral Schools of Science, Engineering and technology, the Biomedical Sciences and the Humanities and Social Sciences organize the international PhD tracks of close to 3500 doctoral candidates. Leuven is a safe and multicultural town, with a vibrant student community.
K.U.Leuven offers high quality education. Study programs are research-based and organized within an innovative interdisciplinary framework, thus enabling students to adopt a critical and research and innovation-oriented attitude. Its educational approach, Guided Independent Learning, is student oriented and outcome-based. In a nutshell, this concept recognizes that the active student is in the end responsible for his or her learning process. It is the responsibility of the staff to provide optimal support for the student. The number of international students at K.U.leuven has been rising steadily over the last few years.
Expertise in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
At K.U.Leuven the program runs over the disciplines of three contributing Faculties i.e. Natural Sciences, Applied Sciences and Applied Biological Sciences. Part of the teaching staff is related to IMEC, bringing a strong component in the area of nanoelectronics. K.U.Leuven has a strong research component in the area Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronics. The research in this area is done in strong collaboration with the research groups of the three faculties at K.U.Leuven and the associated research institute IMEC in Leuven. The research groups at K.U.Leuven and at IMEC are recognized worldwide in this field. IMEC has research programs spanning the range of academic research and industrial research with important industrial players. Important research topics are spintronics, nanoelectronic materials and fabrication methods, bionanosystems, nanofluidics, nanometrology, nanophotonics and nanolithography.
Role in the EMM Nano program
The KU Leuven is acting as the coordinator of the proposed Master program. It offers the common part of the educational curriculum, which is followed by all 1st year students of the master. This common part consists of a set of Introductory courses (0-12 ects) for students that are entering from various backgrounds and the Core courses (33 ects), which are compulsory for all students, and which contain the basic knowledge within the main disciplines physics, chemistry, electronics, biochemistry, as well as two practical courses where the students learn to carry out some practical experimental work. Next also profiling elective courses (6-18 ects) are offered as a preparation for the students specialization in the second year, as well as elective non-technical courses (9 ects) to teach non-technical skills and quality to the students. The KU Leuven is also responsible for the common application procedure, for the central student registration and administration of the students Individual Study Program, and for the delivery of the joint diploma and diploma supplement.
From 2005 until 2008 KU Leuven was also offering specializations and master thesis work in the majors Nanoscience and Nanotechnology for second year students. Since the program reform of 2009, however, KUL does no longer have second year students.
Presentation of K.U. Leuven
