KU Leuven

The University of Zurich and KU Leuven have a strong track record in research collaboration and student exchange. The institutions are jointly involved in several large-scale collaborative European research projects, and they count more than 600 joint publications over the past five years, primarily in medicine. In past years, KU Leuven has emerged as a popular exchange destination for UZH students. Furthermore, both the University of Zurich and KU Leuven are members of the prestigious academic network League of European Research Universities (LERU), the European University Alliance Una Europa, and the global network Universitas 21. With the strategic partnership signed in spring of 2023, the two institutions acknowledged their existing institutional links and agreed to boost mobility and further increase collaboration on related issues.

The UZH Global Strategy and Partnerships Funding Scheme supports faculties, departments and professional service units in pursuing activities that strengthen the impact of the global UZH network in line with the Global Strategy. The funding scheme is open to joint initiatives with specific UZH partner universities, such as KU Leuven.

Founded in 1425, KU Leuven celebrates its 600th anniversary in 2025, making it one of Europe’s oldest universities. Today, KU Leuven is a cosmopolitan institution in a rapidly changing urban environment. Its unique profile reconciles cutting-edge science with quality of life and openness to talent. As of 2023, more than 60’000 students from 140 different countries are enrolled at KU Leuven. In addition, the university accommodates around 20’000 staff members conducting research that ranks among the world’s best. More about KU Leuven can be found here.