Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

Below, we have gathered the most frequently asked questions and answers to help you get started quickly and easily. Whether you need information about registration, your study career, exams, or other faculty-related topics, you will find the answers you need here.

If you cannot find the answer to your question or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help!

  • The required prior knowledge varies by program. For admission to the Master in Society, Law, and Religion (60 credits), an academic bachelor's degree or a certificate from a full program qualifying one for the office of minister in a recognized religion is required. If you hold a professional bachelor's degree, you may need to complete a bridging program, which must be approved by the faculty.

    For admission to the Master in Canon Law (120 credits), you are required to hold a Master in Society, Law, and Religion.

    For more details, please visit the faculty website under the 'Study Programs' tab.

  • Your registration process depends on your specific category: first-time registration (or after a break), re-registration (second consecutive year), doctoral program, etc. Complete details on registration procedures, deadlines, and tuition fees are available on this webpage.

  • Registration at KU Leuven is managed by the central Registrar's Office, independent of the faculty. If you encounter any issues with your registration or have questions about the process, you can consult the FAQ page for the relevant service or contact them directly.

Study career

  • At KU Leuven, there are several ways to monitor and track your study progress. You can access this information through your study progress file in KU Loket.

    For more details about your academic progress file, please visit this page.

  • Your ISP, or Individual Study Programme, is a contract between you and the faculty (and, by extension, the university). It is unique to you.

    In your ISP, you can select which course components you want to take in the upcoming semester or academic year, adhering to the applicable rules, and indicate which components you will participate in for evaluation.

    Once you submit your ISP (deadline: the third Wednesday of the semester), an ISP staff member will review and approve your programme. After approval, your study programme for that semester is final, and changes can no longer be made.

    You can access your ISP through KU Loket under the 'Education and Students' tab.

  • You can find manuals for completing the Individual Study Programme (ISP) on the faculty website under the 'Student Portal' tab, then 'Guidelines ICT', or by following this link. Additionally, there is a video available with practical information.

    Please note: If you click on ‘temporarily save’ after finishing your ISP, you’ll still be able to make adjustments as a student. The ISP manager can view your ISP, but won't approve it until after the student deadline has passed.

    However, if you click on ‘submit’ after completing your ISP, you won’t be able to make any changes yourself. In this case, only the ISP manager can make modifications or approve your ISP.

  • In the program guide, you can select a program and view its schedule by clicking the calendar icon in the top left corner.

    Once you've completed your ISP, you’ll also find a link to your personal schedule in KU Loket.

  • In your schedule, you can find the room for your class by clicking on the course unit title. Most lectures are held in the faculty classroom (AUG 02.15), but depending on the size of the group, some may be in different rooms or auditoriums.

    Always check your schedule to confirm the location. Room changes may also be communicated through Toledo Ultra or your student email, so be sure to check those regularly.

  • During the first lesson(s), your professor will inform you about the required course materials and where to purchase them. Most materials are distributed through Toledo Ultra, KU Leuven's digital learning environment. You can find all recommended and compulsory literature (excluding paper courses or readers) in the relevant subject's learning environment.

    If a separate course or reader is used, it will typically be available during the first lectures or within the first week. A Code can be purchased at the faculty secretariat during opening hours.

  • Many students balance their studies with a job, and the faculty provides extensive support for working students. You have the option to spread your study program over several years, and part of the curriculum can be completed through distance learning.

    However, attendance at compulsory contact moments, such as 'concentrated teaching weeks,' and exams is required. Outside of these mandatory sessions, you can work through the course material at your own pace. Unless otherwise stated, all lectures are available as video recordings.

    Please note: Students must apply for the status of working student themselves before the start of the academic year. Instructions for the application process can be found via this link.

    • Additionally, priests can upload a declaration from their bishop instead of proof from an employer.

  • Each semester, the faculty organizes two weeks during which many lectures take place. During these intensive teaching weeks, all students are expected to be present at the faculty. These weeks serve as important contact moments between professors and working or international students, providing an excellent opportunity to connect with peers and engage with the faculty. This helps ensure that working students and international students stay involved in campus life.

    The dates for the concentrated teaching weeks are set several years in advance and are communicated well ahead of time (see the 'Student Portal' under the 'Calendar' tab).

Rights and obligations

  • The Regulations on Education and Examination (OER) apply to all students registered in a bachelor's program, initial master's program or master-after-master's program, as well as those with a credit or credit-examination contract. The OER outlines your rights and responsibilities regarding education and examinations at KU Leuven.
    You can access the OER, along with the complementary regulations of the faculty, via this link.

    Please note: Provisions related to the doctoral program are detailed in the specific doctoral regulations.

  • As a student, you can request various certificates directly through the 'self-service certificates' tile on the KU Loket homepage. These certificates will be sent immediately to your student email address, allowing you to save or print them quickly and easily.

    For certain certificates, you will need to make your request through KU Leuven. More information is available on this webpage.

Assistance with your studies

  • For questions or issues related to education, you can reach out to the faculty's ombudsperson at ombuds.fac.canon.law@kuleuven.be. The ombuds acts as a mediator between students, professors, and administrative bodies.

    For more details about the ombuds' role, please refer to article 102 of the Regulations on Education and Examinations.

  • From the beginning of your studies, you can reach out to KU Leuven Stuvo (Student Services) for information, advice, and support related to your student life. This includes assistance with financial support, health, mobility, study guidance, and resources for students with disabilities. If you’d like to speak with a confidential counselor, Stuvo can help with that too. For more information, click here.

  • International students can reach out to ASK KU Leuven through this webpage or by emailing ask@kuleuven.be. This service is here to assist you promptly or direct you to another service if needed.

  • Each year, a group of dedicated students works hard to enhance your student experience. The student association for canon law students, Canonica, is instrumental in this effort. You can connect with them on Facebook or reach out via email at canonicaleuven@gmail.com.

Exams

  • The Individual Exam Schedule (IES) is an application available in KU Loket that allows students to view their exam times. Once the exam schedules are released, the exam times for automatically assigned subjects will appear in your IES.

    You can access your IES via KU Loket under the 'Education and Students' tab. For more details on exams and evaluation, you can find additional information here.

  • The examination schedule for both the first and second exam periods will be finalized for each student no later than five weeks before the start of the exam period (as per the university deadline, see Education and Examination Regulations, Art. 45).

    For the third exam period, the schedule will be set no later than the fourth Monday following the announcement of the second period's results.

    You can find the start and end dates of the exam periods in the academic calendar at the beginning of the academic year to ensure you keep these periods free.

    If you encounter any issues or overlaps in your exam schedule, please contact the ombudsperson at ombuds.fac.canon.law@kuleuven.be.

  • In the student guide for the organization of exams at the Faculty of Canon Law, you will find an explanation of how a traditional exam proceeds, as well as important points to consider.
    Make sure to read this guide carefully to be well-prepared. More detailed information can be found in the Regulations on Education and Examinations.

  • For the third examination period, you must register on time for all course components you wish to retake, including the master's thesis, internship, and components with continuous assessment. This applies to both retakes and any subjects for which you have not yet received a result from the first or second examination periods.

    You can register through your study progress file in KU Loket. Registration opens once your exam results from the second period are released and closes by the Thursday following deliberation week. You will receive multiple reminders before the deadline.

    For more details on registration for the third examination period, please refer to this manual.

  • After the deliberations by the examination committee, exam results will be released digitally via KU Loket (at least 5 hours after deliberation).

    You will receive an email at your official student.kuleuven.be address containing a link to your results. The emails are sent gradually and in random order, so if you haven't received an email yet, your results are not available.

    Graduating students can download their exam results and a certificate (official proof of graduation while awaiting their diploma) via KU Loket under the 'Certificates' section.

  • Your diploma is usually sent to you by post. Occasionally, it may be awarded during the proclamation ceremony held at the end of September or the beginning of October. There is no proclamation following the first examination period in February.

Practical

  • If you wish to contact the faculty, please use the following email addresses based on your inquiry:

    When emailing the faculty, be clear about your question to ensure a prompt and efficient response. If you are a student, remember to include your student number.

  • As mentioned earlier, lectures are usually held in the Maria Theresiacollege or in our classroom (AUG 2.15).

    You can visit the faculty during the secretariat's opening hours or by appointment.

    Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and in the afternoon by appointment only.

  • The academic calendar is prepared and published annually. It includes important dates such as the start of the academic year, examination periods, deadlines, and holidays. You can consult the academic calendar on the KU Leuven website or through this link: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/about-kuleuven/calendars/index.html.

    Additionally, it's important to stay updated with the faculty calendar, which can be found on the faculty website under the 'Student portal' tab, then 'Calendar.' This calendar includes all university deadlines as well as faculty-related activities. Unless stated otherwise, the final deadline for submitting papers and exam assignments is 11:59 PM.

  • If you have questions about applications or their technical aspects, we recommend checking the FAQ page of the ICTS Service Desk first or contacting them directly.