As a reminder, the amount of non-EPL courses is strictly limited to a maximum of 2 courses per academic semester, whether they are organised by the Language Institute ILV (language courses) or by other UCLouvain faculties.
Exchange students also have access to courses organized by the Faculté des Sciences" at UCLouvain (for courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) and to the "Faculté d'ingénierie biologique, agronomique et Environnementale". Courses of the "Faculté d'architecture, d'ingénierie architecturale et urbanisme" are also accessible.
It is also possible to take some non-technical courses in other UCLouvain faculties (eg. business, finance, law, literature, etc.).
Note that all these non-EPL courses will require authorisation from the course teacher when you arrive at UCLouvain.
Incoming exchange students are allowed to take a "French as foreign language" course, free of charge when the course is included in their ECTS learning agreement. See ILV related information. You can take MAXIMUM 2 French courses per semester, i.e., per semester, 1 general French course (their code LFRAN1_ _ _ ends in -01), possibly combined with 1 complementary French course whose code ends in -03, 04 or 05.
Examples : LFRAN1001 (A1 level), LFRAN1201 / LFRAN1205 (A2 level), LFRAN1301 / LFRAN1303 / LFRAN1304 (B1 level), LFRAN1401 / LFRAN1403 / LFRAN1404 (B2 level) and LFRAN1505 (C1 level).
You can find the French courses offer here: https://www.uclouvain.be/en/ilv/french-courses-offer
The course level will be defined by the UCLouvain language institute, ILV, at the start of the student's exchange programme.
Note that you are not allowed take a language course if it is your native language.
The following language courses, in the framework of the bachelor programmes, are proposed at ILV for incoming exchange students and they are also free of charge on the same principle as French:
- LANGL1171 Anglais pour ingénieurs civils I (Q1)
- LANGL1272 Anglais pour ingénieurs civils II (Q1)
- LANGL1373 English for engineers 3 (Q1)
- LNEER1300 Néerlandais général et académique - Niveau moyen (Q2)
- LNEER1500 Interfac - Néerlandais général et académique - Niveau approfondi (Q1 ou Q2)
- LALLE1101 Allemand - Niveau élémentaire 1e partie (0-A1) (Q1 ou Q2)
- LALLE1102 Allemand - Niveau élémentaire 2e partie (A1-A2) (Q1 ou Q2)
- LALLE1300 Allemand général - Utilisateur indépendant – niveau seuil (Q1+Q2)
- LESPA1101 Espagnol - Niveau élémentaire 1ère partie (0-A1) (Q1 ou Q2)
- LESPA1102 Espagnol - Niveau élémentaire 2e partie (A1-A2) (Q1 ou Q2)
- LESPA1301 Espagnol - Niveau moyen 1e partie (A2 - B1.1) (Q1 ou Q2)
- LESPA1302 Espagnol - Niveau moyen 2e partie (B1.1 - B1.2) (Q2)
The following language courses, in the framework of the master programmes, are proposed at ILV for incoming exchange students and they are also free of charge on the same principle as French:
- LANGL1181 (Anglais pour informaticiens I)
- LANGL1171 (Anglais pour ingénieurs civils I)
If you can’t add French in you Learning Agreement, you can study French for only 139 euros (as a "free student").
Other language courses proposed at ILV may be accessible but with a tuition fee and cannot be included in the student's learning agreement. You will then be registered as a "free student". More information here.
The 30-minute information session will take place at the language institute called ILV (ESOP33, 3rd floor) on:
- Monday 15 September at 12:00 am for beginners (A1, A2) (session in English)
- Monday 15 September at 1:15 pm for intermediate/advanced levels (B1, B2, C1) (en français).
Level test for the French courses will be accessible on Moodle from September 11th. Students need their ID and Password UCLouvain.
Courses begin from September 15th, 2025.
If you are interested in these courses, we strongly advise you to attend them as soon as possible, even if you have not yet taken the level test, as the ILV sets up groups on a first-come, first-served basis.
You must first attend the class and then register. No registration is possible before attending class. The registration procedure is explained in class (it differs depending on the status of the students) and at the information session.
Here you will find useful documents about the French courses organised in 2025-2026: French courses for incoming students and Usfeul information about French courses
Be aware that some courses in Biomedical Engineering (LGBIO) are organized on the UCLouvain campus of Brussels-Woluwe, which requires commuting from Louvain-la-Neuve to Brussels.
It is also important to note that Bachelor and Master courses in "architectural engineering" only are organized on the campus of Louvain-la-Neuve. Bachelor and Master courses in "Architecture" are organized on other campuses in Brussels (St Gilles) and Tournai and are uneasy to access from Louvain-la-Neuve.