Welcome to Irish College Leuven
Situated in the academic heart of Leuven, Belgium, we are a vibrant hub for learning and collaboration. We specialise in designing and delivering tailored international education and training programmes for universities, professional bodies, and public sector organisations worldwide, creating inspiring experiences that encourate growth, connection, and purpose. In addition, we provide comfortable modern accommodation in our 59 spacious rooms, complete with a buffet breakfast each morning, while also offering the ideal environment for professional seminars, conferences, and networking in our state-of-the-art conference spaces. Finally, we also celebrate Ireland’s rich heritage through a dynamic calendar of annual cultural and artistic events
Upcoming Events and Visiting Groups
On our programmes in Identities and Cultures of Europe you will investigate questions of identity in the context of European and related cultures, and develop effective intercultural and interdisciplinary competencies for successful engagements with diverse audiences. You will take part in an international field trip to Irish College Leuven and you will have the option of a work placement as part of your programme (Masters only), which will further advance your network and real-life experiences.
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly works with key stakeholders at EU, national, regional and local level to optimise and accelerate regional development. They make an annual trip to Irish College Leuven so that they can explore the European Union in Brussels and make connections to help benefit the region in the future.
The ILR/UCD Semester in Dublin Program is the educational centerpiece of a comprehensive collaboration between the ILR School at Cornell University and the Lochlann Quinn School of Business at University College Dublin. The ILR/UCD Semester in Dublin Program is unique among study abroad options at Cornell. It is the product of careful planning and close collaboration between two internationally renowned schools devoted to understanding and illuminating issues of work and workplace relations. This programme is split between time in Ireland and a couple of days at Irish College Leuven in Belgium.
EU member states take turns holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months. The presidency's role is to chair most meetings of the Council, set its work programme and agendas, and act as the representative of the Council. Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council, its eighth time doing so, from July until its term ends on 31 December 2026. Under the motto 'Strength with unity', Ireland will focus on the core themes of competitiveness, values and security. Some events surrounding this presidency will take place at Irish College Leuven
The Irish Baroque Orchestra presents Handel's Band Off Duty on 24 November, 2026 in Irish College Leuven's historic auditorium. The performance begins at 19:00. For this performance, the Irish Baroque Orchestra moves away from the traditional recital format. Instead, we are creating an immersive, high-energy session that imagines the music Handel and his contemporaries would have heard in the informal settings of the 1740s - where Baroque virtuosity met the living Irish traditional music of the day. This programme imagines the musical influences in Dublin during Handel's stay and draws together works by Handel alongside traditional Irish music. Click this button to purchase tickets.
George Mason University returns to kick-off 2027 with their second visit to Irish College Leuven! This programme offers its students a powerful lens for understanding the multilateral institutions that are based in Brussels and their relevance to US national security. Based at Irish College Leuven, the students will take frequent trips into Brussels, the capital of the European Union and headquarters of NATO, the location provides unparalleled access to high-level briefings and meetings with diplomats, EU officials, and security experts, giving students firsthand insight into the mechanics of transatlantic cooperation and institutional decision-making.