Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) signed a five-year agreement in August 2016, setting up the Taiwan–KU Leuven Scholarship program. The MOE and the university agreed to award and jointly fund scholarships covering the tuition fees and living expenses of up to five Taiwanese students each year to encourage outstanding Taiwanese students to undertake a PhD in this world-class university in Belgium. The university ranks 45th in the Times Higher Education World Rankings and 84th in the QS World University rankings, and Reuters has consistently ranked KU Leuven as the most innovative university in Europe since 2016. 

Twenty Taiwanese students were awarded a Taiwan–KU Leuven Scholarship in the initial five years and undertook programs in various fields—including oncology, semiconductor physics, electrical and material engineering, biotech, and neuroscience—at one of the three doctoral schools at the oldest Catholic University in the world. 

The final intake of the initial agreement took place for the 2020-2021 academic year but the MOE and KU Leuven were happy to continue this mutually beneficial program and in July, they renewed the agreement for a further five years. 

Given its outstanding research reputation, it is not surprising KU Leuven attracts approximately 50 to 60 Taiwanese students each year. The vast majority are degree students who stay for several years and about one third are exchange students who spend from 3 to 12 months at the university. The Taiwanese Student Association Leuven helps them to settle in easily and gain a close-knit group of friends to make their time in Leuven very enjoyable, as they receive an excellent education in Leuven and get to know the country of Belgium.