History - UHasselt

Hasselt University was established in 1971. Until 1991 it was an undergraduate level university institution consisting of two faculties: the Faculty of Medicine-Dentistry and the Faculty of Sciences (with study programmes in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Chemistry and Biology). In 1991 Hasselt University expanded by transforming the Limburg Business School (Economische Hogeschool Limburg), an independent university college which was located on the same campus, into the Faculty of Applied Economics. At the same time, Hasselt University became entitled to organize postgraduate programmes and to award doctoral degrees in its three Faculties.

In 2001 the Flemish and Dutch Ministers of Education signed an International Treaty by which the transnational University Limburg was founded. Academic staff from Hasselt University and from nearby Maastricht University (in the Dutch Province of Limburg, the Netherlands) jointly undertake research activities and offer degree programmes in Life Sciences and Computer Sciences.

In September 2004 Hasselt University started with an unique degree programme (bachelor and master) in Transportation Sciences. Since September 2008 Hasselt University was entitled to organize a bachelor programme of Law. Hasselt University can award doctoral degrees in its four Faculties and in the Institute of Transportation Sciences.

Hasselt University is a young, innovative and dynamic university with approximately 3.000 students, 600 teaching and research staff and 250 administrative and technical staff.

In 2002 Hasselt University, together with XIOS Hogeschool Limburg and the Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg (PHL), established the Limburg Association of Higher Education. This Association led to the foundation of three “Associated Faculties”:

• the associated Faculty of Applied and Industrial Sciences;
• the associated Faculty of Architecture;
• the associated Faculty of Physiotherapy.

In these faculties the research basis is provided by Hasselt University.