Internationalisation

Global framework

The Faculty of Applied Sciences has taken part, since their inception, in all the various mobility programmes which have been set up at both the European and world levels.

The numerous contacts it has with professional circles, notably via its Advisory Board, have demonstrated  to what extent employers are favourably impressed by a mobility experience in someone’s CV. The ever-increasing internationalization of research via networks linking laboratories throughout the world, speaks in favour of encouraging this mobility.

Students’ interest is aroused at the end of their Bachelor studies, notably via intensive courses such as those of the ATHENS (  ) or BEST (  ) networks.

In the course of the two-year Master’s programme, students are encouraged to take part in a 1- or 2-semester exchange scheme

Within Belgium, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is involved in a privileged partnership with the Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, with whom it has set up an exchange scheme relating to the first year of the Master’s curriculum (http://eng.kuleuven.be/).

At the European level, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is strongly involved in the CLUSTER excellence network (  ). This network encourages internal mobility, since this is a guarantee of quality as concerns both the level of teaching and the hosting of exchange students. Moreover, Cluster partners have signed an agreement recognizing each other’s Bachelor’s curricula. This agreement stipulates that all Bachelors of network institutions will have access to the Master’s studies in any institution on a par with local students.

Outside Europe, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is a partner in the Magalhaes network, which groups about fifteen European universities together with the best South American science and technology universities (http://www.magalhaes-network.net/).

Besides these network partnerships, the Faculty has also signed a number of individual agreements with various universities in Europe, North America or elsewhere in the world. A list of these agreements may be found on the website of UCL International Relations (http://www.uclouvain.be/international.html).

UCL is also a partner in the TIME programme (  ) which gives students the opportunity to obtain two engineeering degrees, via a specifically tailored curriculum.

Spoecific features of the KIMA Master’s:

The Master’s in chemistry and materials science engineering features two international openings, allowing a student to very easily pursue studies abroad, while ensuring a high-quality curriculum in chemistry and materials science. The integration of the Master’s into these international programmes requires that some courses be taught in English. This is why, the default situation is that all  first semester MAPR courses are taught in English, unless all attendees decide otherwise at the outset, out of respect for non-French speaking participants. However, all second semester MAPR courses are taught in French, unless all attendees decide otherwise at the outset.

Within the first international opening, organized by the European FAME excellence network, the student will choose a first year of Master studies in materials science either at the University of Augsburg, or at the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (all courses taught in English). The student may apply for an Erasmus grant to finance mobility during that first year. It will then be back to UCL for the second year, with the possiblity of carrying out part of the final thesis at one of the partner universities  (Augsburg, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Darmstadt, Aveiro, Liège, UCL). After successful completion of the curriculum, the student will be awarded a degree in chemical and materials science engineering from UCL, and also a "Master 2R Science et Génie des Matériaux" (Grenoble) or "Master in Advanced Materials Science" (Augsburg), grouped under the common title "International Master in Functional Advanced Materials and Engineering".  Additional information may be found on http://www.fame-master.com/

As for the second international opening, the student will complete the last year within the framework of the European Master’s in Rheology. This training comprises compulsory courses as well as group activities,  on the campus of the coordinating university (Minho, Portugal) and advanced elective courses on a remote basis. The final thesis will be conducted at  one of the partner universities  . After successful completion of the curriculum, the student will be awarded a KIMA Master’s degree from UCL, and also a European diploma in Rheology.

•  International possibilities (for UCL students)

Besides intensive courses which are one component of international relations, EPL students with outstanding results are encouraged to apply for 5- or 10-month exchange programmes.
When taking place during the first Master’s year, exchanges are generally 10 months long. In the second year, they only last for a semester, either as courses or else research in a foreign laboratory as a complement to the final thesis.

Some other more specific exchange programmes have been set up with South America, where the academic year is naturally on an “austral” basis.

Students are informed about the various exchange programmes as from their second Bachelor’s year. They are encouraged to prepare for their exchange in a timely manner, notably by taking language courses at the Modern Languages Institute of UCL.

•  International appeal (for non-résidents)

As described below, the University of Louvain (UCL) has developed a long-standing experience of greeting foreign students within the framework of international or exchange programmes. The "Master in Chemical and Materials Engineering" fits within this general tradition, and offers the student a top-notch programme in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, encompassing a wide field of scientific activities in Applied Physics and Chemistry. Admission requires approval by the Committee for Engineering Studies in Chemistry and Physics, on the basis of a comprehensive résumé submitted by the student pursuant to the general regulations of the University of Louvain published on www.uclouvain.be.

To facilitate the integration of foreign students, courses are given in English during the first and third semesters of the Master’s (this rule may be relaxed for some courses at the onset of the semester, if so decided by ALL participating students). This allows non-French-speaking students to begin their Master’s studies under the best conditions, while upgrading their knowledge of French by following French-as-a-Foreign-Language classes (see below) or by immersion into the student life of Louvain-la-Neuve. However, the courses of the second and fourth semesters are given in French (unless decided otherwise by all participating students), which provides foreign students with a unique opportunity to master French, one of the important official languages of the European Union.

The curriculum consists of a large number of elective courses which allow students to set up a customized programme based on their previous learning experience, and comprises an optional traineeship in industry, 30 credits of work in research laboratories, and projects giving a more practical bent to the training. The instructors of the Master’s in Chemical and Materials Science Engineering are recognized scientists, with track records of excellence in applied chemistry and physics, as testified by their integration into European networks of excellence (FAME, NANOBEAMS, NANOQUANTA), their participation in international research programmes, their numerous contracts with European industrial companies, and their large number of publications in high ranking scientific journals including Nature, Science, Nature Materials, Physical Review Letters, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Nano Letters, etc. This not only ensures that the most recent scientific advances in the fields of chemistry and physics are passed on to the students, but also that students are introduced to typical industrial concerns, issues and recent developments.

The programme can also be taken as part of the International Master’s in Functional Advanced Materials and Engineering which is currently being considered for support within the Erasmus Mundus frame. In addition, the final year of the Master’s may be super-imposed on the second year of the European Master’s in Rheology. Ask for updated information on these possibilities from the person in charge of the programme at Louvain.

Services offered by the University to foreign students

About 1000 European and third-country students are welcomed each year in Louvain-la-Neuve, amounting to almost 19% of Louvain's students. A series of administrative units from Schools and University Central Services are responsible for foreign students. These units benefit from support from the International Relations Office (Administration des relations internationales, ADRI) for the follow-up of application files and for grant management. The University web site provides answers to frequently asked questions about housing, admission, rules, curricula and names of responsible officers or Faculty members.

Arriving visiting students may obtain useful information by reading the "Guide for the visiting exchange student" published on the web site of ADRI (http://www.uclouvain.be/en-etudiantinternational.html). This comprehensive guide, which is regularly updated and available in French and English, provides information on practical issues such as housing, language courses, admission and registration, student assistance, cost of living, student clubs, health insurance, University structure, etc. In addition, the registration service of UCL sends to registered students, well before their arrival in Belgium, all the paperwork needed to obtain a visa, apply for housing, and solve specific legal issues.

Once arrived in Belgium, and upon final registration, students also receive a copy of the "Guide pratique de l’étudiant", which lists useful addresses and links for residents of Louvain-la-Neuve. Finally, the Student Assistance Service provides help to students in need of social, medical, financial or cultural assistance.

The campus of Louvain-la-Neuve benefits from numerous extra-curricular activities organized by student societies. Some students elect to live in community apartments (or "community-kots") devoted to the development of specific projects (in culture, sports, politics, etc.). A few of these "community-kots" are dedicated to helping foreign students to socialize in Louvain-la-Neuve. Furthermore, disabled persons benefit from special support from the University and specialized "community-kots", and the whole campus is wheelchair-friendly.

Numerous computer rooms and libraries are available to registered students. Free language classes are provided by the ILV (Institut des Langues Vivantes) during the course semesters; alternatively, students may pay to access language classes organized during the course semesters or holiday periods by the independent CLL (Centre de langues de Louvain-la-Neuve). Fee reductions are available for Erasmus Mundus students. A few "community-kots" also propose language support and discussion panels. Finally, classes of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) are organized by the ILV and are freely accessible to students who take these classes as part of their curriculum.

•  Partner programmes

- With European institutions

International Master ‘s in "Functional Advanced Materials and Engineering" (FAME) (120 credits)

One of the openings of Master’s in Chemical and Materials Science engineering is the International Master ‘s in "Functional Advanced Materials and Engineering", set up by seven partner universities within the framework of the FAME European excellence network, which was awarded the Erasmus Mundus label by the European Commission. Our wish is that the Authorities of UCL also award the label of UCL international Master’s. Students making this choics will perform their first year of Master studies either at the University of Augsburg, or at the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, and will then return to UCL for their second year. The final thesis will be carried out in collaboration with Louvain at one of the seven partner universities. Registration for this Master’s is detailed in the appended Erasmus Mundus project. It is coordinated by INPG, and entails a slightly higher fee (1000 €/an). 

- TIME programme with :

- Ecole Centrale Paris
- Supaero Toulouse
- Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
- Politecnico di Milano
- Politecnico di Torino

-The EPL has also signed a specific convention with the Institut Français du Pétrole (http://www.ifp.fr/) which allows the possibility of combining the second Master’s year with the first year of the complementary  programme at IFP.