Summer School 2005
 ICRPS Summer School 2005 will be held in Leuven, Belgium and be hosted by the University of Leuven.

*** Click Here for Directions on How to get to Leuven ***

Curriculum At a Glance
Click here to download the outline in Adobe Acrobat format.

Student Information

Leuven , Belgium

Leuven is situated in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, at about 26 Km east of Brussels. With a total population of about 90,000 inhabitants and around 22,000 students Leuven can be very busy and alive at certain moments and rather quiet during vacation time. The city of Leuven presents a lively atmosphere because of the many students from all over Belgium and the world. Especially in the evening, and certainly at night, the many bars and students’ cafés, spread all over the town, guarantee that there is always something happening.

 When brewing became a nationwide industry in the 19th century, Leuven became world famous for its beers, and today is still proud to be known as the beer capital of Belgium. The center of Leuven was almost completely destroyed during the First World War and after the war carefully rebuilt.

Leuven is easy to reach by train from Brussels. The trip takes only 20-25 minutes.

The University of Leuven
Leuven University , one of the classical medieval universities, was founded in 1425. The University's academic fame has attracted scholars and scientists as Justus Lipsius, Gerard Mercator and Andreas Vesalius who have all made valuable contribution to the European intellectual life. The University of Leuven can look back on a glorious past, but it also moves with the times. The University’s educational concept is modern, with research activities focused on the needs and aspirations of contemporary people and society. The University of Leuven is famous not just within the borders of Belgium, but far beyond as well.

Being a very lively city of and for students, Leuven aspires to maintain that reputation. The entire city lives off and with the University. In contrast to most university cities, Leuven does not have a closed campus. The University buildings are spread throughout the city.

Accommodation
Students will be accommodated in a University Residence near the Faculty of Social Sciences. All the lectures, classes and presentations will take place in the premises of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The building is brand new; its construction has recently been completed. The rooms are specifically adapted to the needs of the visitors from abroad whose stay in Leuven usually does not exceed one year.

The +/- 15 m² rooms are furnished with single bed, desk, closet, armchair, chair. Bed linen, blankets and towels will be provided. While there is a sink in the room, toilets and showers are to be shared. Students have at their disposal a small kitchen. Students can choose to have their meals either at the students’ restaurant ( Alma 2) situated next to the residence or in the other various private restaurants in the city.


The residence offers also a TV room for the students. Internet facilities are available in the rooms. The students that do not have a laptop at their disposal can use the Computers in the Library of Social Sciences as well as the special PC rooms of the university. There are public laundry facilities very close to the residence where the students will be accommodated.

The Faculty of Social Sciences is located very close to the centre of the city, near the Central Park of Leuven. The library of the Faculty, the students’ restaurant, a sport centre and the PC rooms of the university are situated in the immediate surroundings of the students’ residence.

In addition to that, next to the Faculty of Social Sciences there is an international students’ center, Pangaea, where students from all nationalities can meet socially.

Sports
Leuven offers various possibilities for doing sports. Apart from the University Sport Center, where students have the opportunity to engage in all types of sports, there is a private Sport Centre (Sport Plaza Leuven) offering fitness, squash, swimming pool and sauna facilities. While the students will be able to enter the University Sport Center based on a summer sports card, individual arrangements will have to be made for the private sport centre, located only 300 m from the Campus.

Other useful information  

  • Students must bring their student card with them. Special cards will be issued that will allow students to access the libraries, PC-rooms and the students’ restaurants.
  • There aren’t any dress codes or any other cultural/local requirements in Leuven. However, students will take part in some field trips, amongst which the European Institutions in Brussels, which require a more formal dress code.
  • Useful websites:

Photo Gallery Page
Check back in August 2005 for photos of the ICRPS summer school in Belgium.

Copyright 2005