Milestones at a glance

On October 18, 1969, more than 11,000 people – from the world of politics, business and civil society – took to the streets of Hasselt to demand the establishment of a university in the Region.

© HBvL

Two years after its foundation by law, the ‘Limburg Universitair Centrum’ (LUC) commences its very first academic year. There are six (undergraduate) programmes: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Dentistry and Medicine.

The University establishes its brand-new Faculty of Applied Economics, the successor of the EHL Business School and predecessor of the current Faculty of Business Economics.

UHasselt and Maastricht University establish the transnational University Limburg (tUL).

UHasselt/tUL launches the Biomedical Sciences programme. Three years later, the two-year Master's programme follows.

LUC/UHasselt and university colleges PHL and XIOS (presently: Hogeschool PXL) form the Limburg Association of Higher Education, or AUHL. The Association eyes the further development of higher education and scientific research in the Region.

LUC changes its name into Hasselt University (UHasselt).

Start of the new Law programme, a close collaboration between UHasselt, Maastricht University and KU Leuven.

UHasselt inaugurates a second campus, at the heart of the City of Hasselt, encompassing the Law Faculty, the Administration’s Building and the Old Prison (home to UHasselt’s Law students). It is also the place where prospective students enrol.

Four programmes are added to the University’s curriculum: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Engineering Technology and Rehabilitation Sciences. The number of Faculties increases from three to five (Engineering Technology and Architecture & Arts being the  latest additions).

The School of Transportation Sciences and the UHasselt School for Expert Education are created.

The Faculty of Business Economics adds one new programme to its curriculum: Commercial Sciences.

UHasselt inaugurates its Field Research Centre and Ecotron Hasselt University, a unique infrastructure for climate change and biodiversity research. It is located in the Hoge Kempen National Park.

Establishment of the School of Educational Studies (SES), offering Master programmes for prospective teachers in Economics, Health Sciences, Design, and Sciences & Technology.

UHasselt founds its seventh Faculty: Rehabilitation Sciences.

UHasselt opens its Science Tower, with state-of-the-art laboratories for teaching and research in the fields of Physics and Chemistry. 2021 is also the year where the University sets up its School for Social Sciences.

In 2022, UHasselt joined EURECA-PRO, the European University on Responsible Consumption and Production. The network brings together nine universities from eight EU member states. Together, they educate more than 120,000 students.

Five more programmes are added to the UHasselt curriculum: Social Sciences (Bachelor's), Materiomics (Master's), Nursing and Midwifery (Master's), Healthcare Engineering (Master's) and Software Systems Engineering Technology (Master's).

In April 2023, the 'Refugiehuis' and 'Witte Kazerne' (White Barracks) were officially inaugurated. The age-old buildings are home to some central administration offices, the School of Transportation Sciences and the Transportation Research Institute.