Selective Bilateral Agreements with Chinese Universities

K.U. Leuven cooperates with two Chinese universities in a doctoral grant programme:
Beijing University
Contact: Ms. Zheng Ruqing

Fudan University (Shanghai)
Contact: Mr. Y.Z. Chen

Preliminary contacts on a similar agreement have been established with Zhejiang University in Hangzhou and Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Each year two full grants are offered to students from each of these universities to make doctoral studies at K.U. Leuven. The participating universities are invited to propose six candidates for the selection rounds. Three of these candidates should have an academic background in exact sciences, three of them in humanities. Each year one student in humanities and one student in exact sciences from each participating Chinese university will be selected as grantee.
An excellent performance in previous studies and a sound knowledge of English (a TOEFL score of 580 on the paper test or 237 on the computer test) are prerequisite. Ph.D. studies take four years, five at the most, the first year then being a predoctoral year. Each year of study will be followed by an evaluation in order to decide on the prolongation of the grant.

The total period of doctoral studies may also be taken up in a sandwich system, in which at least 40% of the period is spent at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. A final defense of the doctoral thesis takes place in Leuven. Various modalities of these grants can be taken into consideration: provision of co-promotorship at the home university, periods of stay at the home and host university, conveyance of double degree. At the time of submission of the application to the K.U.Leuven Selection Committee, however, one should be able to specify the exact conditions under which one wishes to take up the grant. These conditions can be negotiated beforehand through the respective international relations offices of both universities.

Students who wish to apply, should present a completed application form and description of the doctoral project to their home university. Application forms are made available to the International Relations Office of the participating universities, and can also be printed from our Foreign Guests' Website. Please explicitly state your contact in Leuven, since preference will be given to candidates who already have a promotor for their Ph.D. thesis or at least have established contacts with the faculty or department concerned.

All K.U. Leuven faculties offer the opportunity to make doctoral studies. Applications for the academic year 2003-2004 should be submitted to the International Relations Office of the K.U. Leuven before December 31, 2002. This procedure is coordinated at the international office of the Chinese institution. Students can get additional information from the contact person in China.
The K.U. Leuven is providing a grant of 1,085EUR/month to cover living expenses and housing, an installation allowance of 459 EURO upon first arrival and shipping expenses up to 248 EURO . Grantees accompanied by their partner receive 1,332 EURO per month, and 1,456 EURO when accompanied by more than one child. Health insurance and third party liability insurance will be taken care of by K.U. Leuven. Grantees are exempt from tuition fee.

The Chinese universities offer research opportunities for K.U.Leuven lecturers and professors in the framework of this same bilateral agreement.

An Huts
International Relations Office