Faculty of Social Sciences

The KU Leuven Faculty of Social Sciences is a leading institution in the fields of anthropology, communication sciences, political sciences and sociology. Ranking 12th in continental Europe and 42th worldwide according to the 2023 TIMES Higher Education Ranking, the Faculty’s education and research have strong academic and societal relevance.

The faculty’s eight units conduct research on a wide array of issues pertaining to four disciplines. Research in political science focuses on electoral studies, citizenship, the functioning and history of political institutions, and European policy and decision-making – specifically with regard to external policies of the EU in various areas. Furthermore, the research focuses on peace, conflict and development, politics and society in Eastern Europe, Russia and the Eurasian area since the end of the Cold War. 

The Faculty of Social Sciences has a long-standing tradition in the research and teaching of research methodology. The Faculty co-organises the Quantitative Analysis in the Social Sciences programme, a one-year programme aiming to improve the methodological knowledge of students who acquired a master's degree in behavioural sciences. The Faculty is also the Belgian/Flemish partner and one of the founding members of the European Values Study and the European Social Survey.