Université libre de Bruxelles

Brussels has two universities whose names mean Free University of Brussels in English: the French-speaking Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Neither uses the English translation, since it is ambiguous.

Portrait of Théodore Verhaegen, founder of the ULB

When the Belgian State was formed in 1830 by nine breakaway provinces from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it had three state universities, in Ghent, Liège and Leuven, but no university in the new capital, Brussels. Since the government was reluctant to fund another state university, a group of Freemasons and intellectuals led by Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen and Auguste Baron planned to create a private university, which was permitted under the Belgian Constitution. After the Catholic Church sponsored the foundation of the Catholic University of Mechlin in 1834, the Université Libre de Belgique (Free University of Belgium) opened on 20 November 1834. In 1836, it changed its name to Université Libre de Bruxelles.[4]

Since 1935, some courses have been taught in both French and Dutch. Beginning in 1963, all faculties offered courses in both languages. In October 1969, shortly after the language dispute at the Catholic University of Leuven, the French and Dutch entities of the ULB separated into two distinct universities. With the act of 28 May 1970, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université Libre de Bruxelles officially became two separate legal, administrative and scientific entities.

November 20, called Saint Verhagen (often shortened to St V) for Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen, is a holiday for students of both the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

The main building on the Solbosch campus

The ULB comprises three main campuses: the Solbosch campus, on the territories of Brussels and Ixelles municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region, the Plaine campus in Ixelles, and the Erasmus campus in Anderlecht, beside the Erasmus Hospital.

The main and largest campus of the university is the Solbosch, which hosts the administration and general services of the university. It also includes most of the faculties of the humanities, the École polytechnique, the large library of social sciences, and among the museums of the ULB, the Museum of Zoology and Anthropology,[5] the Allende exhibition room and the M. De Ghelderode Museum.

The Plaine campus hosts the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Pharmacy. There are also the Experimentariums of physics and chemistry, the Museum of Medicinal Plants and Pharmacy[6] and student housing. This site is served by the metro station: Delta.

The Erasmus campus houses the Erasmus Hospital and the Pôle Santé, the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Public Health and the Faculty of Motor Sciences. There is also the School of Nursing (with the Haute école libre de Bruxelles - Ilya Prigogine), the Museum of Medicine[7] and the Museum of Human Anatomy and Embryology.[8] This site is served by the metro station: Erasmus.

The university also has buildings and activities in the Brussels municipality of Auderghem, and outside of Brussels, in Charleroi on the Aéropole Science Park and Nivelles.

The Erasmus campus in Anderlecht

• Institute for European Studies[9]
• Interfacultary School of Bio-Engineering
• School of Public Health
• High Institute of Physical Education and Kinesiotherapy
• Institute of Work Sciences
• Institute of Statistics and Operational Research
• Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics

University of California, Berkeley, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Université de Montréal, Waseda University, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris VI, BeiHang University, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Université de Lausanne, Université de Genève, University Ouaga I Pr. Joseph Ki-Zerbo, University of Lubumbashi

At the heart of the Free University of Brussels there are at least 2000 PhD students and around 3600 researchers and lecturers who work around different scientific fields and produce cutting edge research.

The projects of these scientists span thematics that concern exact, applied and human sciences and researchers at the heart of the ULB have been awarded numerous international awards and recognitions.

The research carried out at the ULB is financed by different bodies such as the European Research Council, the Walloon Region, the Brussels Capital Region, the National Fund for Scientific Research, or one of the foundations that are dedicated to research at the ULB; the ULB Foundation or the Erasme Funds.

For pre-1970 notable faculty and alumni, see Free University of Brussels.

• François Englert (born 1932): Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013.
• Denis Mukwege (born 1955): Nobel Prize for Peace in 2018.

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  Francois Englert, Nobel Prize in Physics (2013)

• Aéropole Science Park
• Atomium Culture
• BioVallée
• Institut Jules Bordet
• Royal Statistical Society of Belgium
• Science and technology in Brussels
• Solvay Business School
• Top Industrial Managers for Europe
• University Foundation
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Despy, A., 150 Ans De L‘Ulb Universite Libre De Bruxelles, Brussels, 1984
• Noel, F., 1894 Universite Libre De Bruxelles En Crise, Brussels, 1994
• The ULB, a university born of an idea
• ULB, at a glance

Media related to Université libre de Bruxelles at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website