Belgian University Education System & The Master of Statistics and Data Science at KU Leuven
Disclaimer: This article is a part of “Secrets of the MSc in Statistics and Data Science at KU Leuven”. Note that the written information below is purely subjective and it does not represent any officials from the program.
Author: Lennert Vanhaeren
About the other articles:
Are you a future student in the Master of Statistics and Data Science at KU Leuven who doesn’t have Belgian nationality? Or are you an international student who simply wants to go study in Belgium? Then this post is for you! The Belgian university education system is quite different from that of many other countries. In this blogpost, I will give a brief overview of how the system works, with a focus on the specifics for international students enrolling in the Master of Statistics and Data Science at KU Leuven. Furthermore, I will go over the admission requirements and tuition fees.
About Belgium
Belgium is a small, densely populated country located in Western Europe. Among other things, it is known for its delicious chocolate, waffles, beer and fries (which were actually invented there!). The country consists of two main linguistic communities: Flanders (Dutch-speaking) and Wallonia (French-speaking). Flanders is indicated in dark grey on the map and Wallonia in light grey.
source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-the-country-of-Belgium-Belgium-is-composed-of-three-autonomous-regions_fig2_292348899
Education system
In Belgium, higher education is organized at the community level. This means that the university systems in Flanders and Wallonia are somewhat different. KU Leuven is one of Europe’s highest-ranked and most renowned universities. It is located in Flanders, the Dutch speaking community of Belgium. But don’t worry, the master program of Statistics and Data Science is completely in English and most Belgians have no trouble talking in English to others!
In Flanders, university education can be subdivided into 3 cycles. The first cycle is a bachelor’s degree and lasts three years. The second cycle corresponds to a master’s degree, which usually takes one or two years to complete, depending on the field of study. Finally, the third cycle is the doctoral program. This typically takes four years to complete. A large percentage of Belgians start working after obtaining a master’s degree and never move on to the third cycle.
In Belgian universities, there is a regular examination period twice per academic year, each time at the end of a semester. The academic year starts in mid-September and ends in late June or early July. For the academic calendar of KU Leuven, please refer to the KU Leuven Calendar and click on “KU Leuven” to see the exact dates for the academic year you want. Grades are given on a score of 0 to 20. If you receive a 10 or more (unless stated otherwise by your professor), you pass the course. If your grade is below 10, you fail the course and have the chance to retake the exam in the Summer. This third examination period is only for retakes of failed exams and usually starts mid-August and ends early September. If you pass all your courses, you don’t participate in the third examination period.
Furthermore, an important aspect of Belgian universities is their emphasis on research. KU Leuven is particularly well-known for its research programs. Many students even have the opportunity to participate in research projects alongside their studies. This can be a great way to gain experience and network in your field of interest.
About the program
The Master of Statistics and Data Science at KU Leuven consists of high-quality statistics training, enriched by a range of top-notch data science courses. The duration of the study is two years, corresponding to 120 ECTS (~60 ECTS/academic year). The program can be tailored to your interests and needs. It can be followed either fully on-campus or remotely (blended/online). Whatever you choose, you will obtain the same degree. It is possible to switch from one to the other, but ONLY at the start of a new academic year. You can’t change your mind after, for example, 1 month!
You also need to choose one of the following tracks (specializations):
- Statistics and Data Science for Biometrics
- Statistics and Data Science for Social, Behavioural and Educational Sciences
- Statistics and Data Science for Business
- Statistics and Data Science for Industry
- Theoretical Statistics and Data Science
- Interdisciplinary Statistics and Data Science
- European Master of Official Statistics (EMOS)
For all tracks, the programme consists of mandatory basic courses (31 ECTS), track-specific compulsory courses (32 ECTS), optional courses and a master’s thesis.
More details on the courses for all the tracks can be found here:
There also exists an abridged program of one year (60 ECTS). This program is called “Quantitative Analysis in the social sciences” (QASS). Starting from the academic year 2023–2024, the QASS program will be a part of the Master of Sociology. More details on the QASS curriculum can be found HERE.
For more information about the Master of Statistics and Data Science, please refer to the official website.
Admission requirements
The specific requirements for international students to enroll in a master’s degree in Belgium can differ depending on the university and the program of study. I will focus on the admission requirements to enroll in the Master of Statistics and Data Science at KU Leuven. The following requirements apply:
- Academic requirements: International students must have obtained an academic bachelor’s degree with at least two courses in introductory statistics. Results of a GRE or GMAT test should be submitted with your application.
- Language proficiency: International students must be able to demonstrate proficiency in English, which is the language of instruction for the program. Students are required to provide proof of language proficiency through standardized language tests. For the accepted English proficiency tests, please refer to the information.
- Application process: International students must complete the application process for the Master of Statistics and Data Science. This involves submitting transcripts and other required documents, see also HERE.
- Visa requirements: International students from outside of the EU must obtain a student visa to study in Belgium. The visa application process typically requires proof of enrolment in a recognized educational institution, proof of financial means to support oneself during the stay, and proof of health insurance.
Note that the above list is non-exhaustive. To get the most correct, up-to-date, and detailed information about the application procedure and admission requirements, please refer to the official admission page.
Tuition fees
It is worth noting that in Belgium, tuition fees are relatively cheap compared to many other European countries. However, there are still fees that need to be paid, particularly for non-EU students. The exact amount of fees a student will have to pay will depend on a number of factors, such as the program of study, the student’s nationality, and whether they are studying full-time or part-time.
For the academic year of 2023–2024, the tuition fee for the master in Statistics and Data Science is as follows:
- €1.092,10 for EU students
- €7,099.10 for non-EU students
You can check out and calculate your tuition fee HERE. More information can also be found HERE.
Conclusion
Overall, the Belgian university education system might be quite different from what most international students are used to. However, with some preparation and research, it is definitely possible to navigate and succeed within the system. KU Leuven in particular is a highly regarded institution with a long history of academic excellence, and it may be a great choice for students looking to study in Europe.
Maybe I will see you in one of my classes next year? In any case, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn if you have any more questions!