Université Libre Bruxelles
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Université Libre Bruxelles Guide
The Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) was founded in 1834 as a secular response to Belgium’s Catholic-dominated educational institutions. The university’s title is significant: libre symbolizes the ethos of freedom that the ULB has maintained since its creation. Just like the city itself, the Free University of Brussels is proud of its multiculturalism – one third of its students and professors are international. The ULB is spread across 3 main campuses: Campus du Solbosch and Campus de la Plaine are in Ixelles, and Campus Erasme (the medicine faculty) is in Anderlecht.
- Number of Faculties: 12
- Numbers of students: 29000
- Languages Taught: French and English
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 50, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
What students like the most
The grass lawns, hedgerows and trees are both pleasant and peaceful; the international vibe; great public transport connections; thé dansant parties; and over 80 student associations, known as cercles étudiants.
What students don´t like
Non-EU students pay extra fees, commuting to the campus if not living nearby.
What we like the most
- Many masters programmes are taught partly (sometimes entirely) in English. Students have access to language-learning facilities, French classes in particular, both before and during the academic year. ULB founded the Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), a network of 46 capital city universities across Europe. The University has its own academic medical center (the Erasme Hospital). Prestigious partnerships with Oxford University, Cambridge University, and the University of California (Berkeley).
Things to keep in mind
- An increasing amount of courses are taught in English, but the majority are still taught in French; faculties are spread across 3 campuses; and depending on your subject, you may not be taking classes at the main campus.
Facilities & Activities
- Extra-curricular cultural workshops including Academic Writing and Human Evolution. ULBJob is an online portal that helps students find jobs to accompany their studies. A university crèche to help students with young children. The Solbosch campus (main campus) provides access to a car-sharing scheme. There are over 80 cercles étudiants organizing activities, conferences, and outings for students.