Erasmus - Leuven or Liege

[Mitsouko67]

My young person is studying English.
Which would be the best option for Erasmus year?

Thank you for your thoughts.

[maddy68]

I didn't think Erasmus was still a thing for UK students?

[lumpofcomfort]

I don't have personal experience of those universities but I did study at a different university in Belgium many years ago. Leuven is in the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium and Liege the French part of that makes a difference. English is generally widely-spoken and understood in Flanders, perhaps less so in Liege. Liege is bigger but Leuven is a well-known university town. I haven't been there for many years but remember thinking it was quite charming.

[Mitsouko67]

Hi,
I'm Irish, not in UK.

[Mitsouko67]

Thank you , that's helpful.

[maddy68]

@Mitsouko67

Hi,
I'm Irish, not in UK.

Lucky you.

Where does your child want to go? That would be my main influence.

[Mitsouko67]

Agreed. I don't think she knows. She needed quite a bit of help with putting in her application.
There are spaces available on both courses.
Leuven is higher ranking.

[surroundedbyblondes]

I did my Erasmus year in Leuven many, many years ago! Lived in Belgium for several years after that as well. Leuven is a brilliant student town and I would totally reccomend it. As pps have said it's more accessible because the flemish typically speak better English. It's closer to Brussels and Flanders is wealthier than Wallonia. Not sure what Liege is like these days but it wasn't that exciting as far as I remember.

[Mitsouko67]

Thank you very much , that sounds really good!!

Leuven sounds like the better option.

Erasmus wasn't an option in my day.
Great to have a chance to study abroad.

[KerryWeaver]

Leuven is a university town and is much nicer than Liege.

Leuven is also one of the top universities in the world and is ranked 42nd in the THE World University Rankings. For comparison, Bristol is ranked 92nd and Durham is ranked 162nd.

[Mitsouko67]

Thank you. She has been offered Liege. She is enquiring with her college whether Leuven is an option.

[pointythings]

Go for Leuven if you can get it, it's a much nicer town. Liege is a bit run down.

[MissAmbrosia]

Definitely Leuven - especially for English speaking. It's a lovely town with a very vibrant student life.

[ISeeTheLight]

Leuven is a much, much nicer place to live. Great student town! Liege is very run down. Leuven is also a better uni.

[SandyIrvine]

Agree with others that I'd prefer Leuven for both uni and area. However I liked Liege when I lived in Belgium twenty years ago. It reminded me of my home city (Glasgow) and was well placed for travel eastwards. Friends who lived there and language probably made me enjoy Liege.

[TizerorFizz]

@KerryWeaver
Except no one believes Durham is 162nd. 82nd seems to be the updated position. Manchester is, oddly, 27th. So these rankings don’t really get it right!

When my DD did Erasmus, the university had links with a selection of unis and they listed what was on offer each year. If it wasn’t listed, you didn’t go. So if they only list Liege, they won’t have an exchange in place with Leuven.

[Mitsouko67]

Thank you everyone for valuable feedback, really appreciated. Leuven sounds wonderful. But Liege probably more likely.
She has asked for Leuven so you never know. ..She is very late applying so it appears she is not really in a position to pick and choose.

Either way i think a year in Europe will be very beneficial for her.

[TizerorFizz]

Does the university list Leuven as a partner? That’s they key to this. If they don’t, the lecturers don’t have a relationship with the uni or an Erasmus agreement with them. Just asking isn’t going to alter this.

[Mitsouko67]

Thank you. Both cities are listed as partners but as my daughter has left it very late she is lucky to be getting an offer at all.

I'm relieved she is agreeable to going as she has been talking about taking time out (and she's already taken the scenic route!)

She is actually quite academic but not happy in herself and i think time away might help her do the growing up she needs to do iykwim.

[TizerorFizz]

Ok. Listing is the important thing. When my DD did Erasmus, some unis abroad were so popular that students had to submit an essay about why they wanted to go there. 20 applicants for 5 places as I recall. DD got one and it suited her. I think others were happy elsewhere. The year abroad can be valuable in promoting self sufficiency and organisational skills plus the opportunity to study subjects you don’t get on your course here if you are a MFL undergrad. Obviously not the same breadth available to other subjects. Hope she enjoys her time there.

One really important factor: if the uni has halls of residence for Erasmus students, apply by the deadline. For DD, in her first uni/country, the deadline was 1 April. She got a room in a fantastic uni flat. Late applicants had to rent privately in a hugely expensive European city paying way more than DD for a box in a less than great area. So check the details about Erasmus student accommodation and don’t waste any time applying if it’s available. It’s a great opportunity.

[Luxembourgmama]

Leuven is MUCH nicer

[Mitsouko67]

Thanks for that tip about accomodation. Yes for a lot of reasons i'd prefer her in halls.

[Mitsouko67]

She got offered Leuven, can't believe it.
Delighted for her! She's going for a full year next year. Thank you all so much.

Getting on to accomodation now!

A mother's work is never done...

[TizerorFizz]

Well done. Never hurts to ask. If they have Erasmus accommodation, apply early! My DD found her Erasmus grant went quite a long way as she chose carefully.

[mynameisnotmichaelcaine]

Congrats to your DD! I thought this was in the baby names topic and thought they were all awful 🤣 Fyi I probably would have plumped for Liege (as a baby name that is...)

[Mitsouko67]

Laughing at baby names ...

Acommodation applications open next month.
We'll be ready.