University of Luxembourg
The University of Luxembourg is a European research university with a distinctly international, multilingual and interdisciplinary character. Its students and staff have chosen a modern institution with a personal atmosphere, close to European institutions, innovative companies and the financial place. With nearly 6,400 students and about 1,800 employees from all over the globe, the University offers a unique mix of international excellence and national relevance, developing into the motor of economic diversification and innovation in Luxembourg. The University of Luxembourg's current priorities for research are computational sciences and ICT, systems biomedicine, law and European law, international finance and educational sciences. The University offers a range of Bachelor programmes, however the focus lies on Masters and PhDs. The mandatory semester abroad for Bachelor’s students reflects the importance attached to mobility. Student exchange agreements and research cooperations exist with universities around the world. The University of Luxembourg is ranked 179 according to the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2017/2018 (and 11 in THE Young Universities Ranking 2017).
Application Deadline
Program Start
Program End
Program Details
Academic Program
At the University of Luxembourg, you can take any courses in any subject area within one Faculty (known in the USA as Academic Departments). It may be possible to take courses from more than one faculty as well. Academic Advisors approve courses in advance by setting up a “learning agreement”. This is done as part of the Luxembourg application process. The three primary languages of instruction are English, French and German. Some courses have sections taught in different languages and some courses are only taught in a specific language.
Course Descriptions and Syllabi
Check out all the courses online here. Note that the courses offered are subject to change.
Review the University of Luxembourg’s website for more information regarding course offerings in English
General Education Information for UAlbany Students
Credits earned on this program will automatically satisfy the International Perspectives requirement. Three credits of foreign language study will satisfy the Foreign Language requirement. No additional approval is required for you to earn these general elective credits.
Major/Minor Information for UAlbany Students
Courses may also satisfy major and minor requirements, upon approval by the department.
Transcript
All courses taken abroad count towards UAlbany General Elective credits. Credits and grades will appear on your UAlbany transcript. You may file a request to have additional courses approved for equivalency as necessary.
Your Instructors
Your courses are taught by local faculty.
Housing
Once officially admitted and registered online, you will receive a student ID number, which is essential for applying for accommodation. All Incoming exchange students will receive a housing code a few days before registration opens.
Housing registration for the winter semester: starting in July
Housing registration for the summer semester: starting in January
The lease of the residence halls start on the 1st and on the 16th of each month.
Get more information about our university residence halls.
More information on housing can be found online.
It is highly recommended to stay in a residence hall because housing off campus in Luxembourg is very difficult to find. Rent costs for student residence halls can range from around $2,200 per semester to $4,200 per semester depending on what options you select.
Meals
There are many restaurants and cafés on and near campus. There is no meal plan included in this program. Learn more about the cost of living online here.
Estimate of Costs
Luxembourg Estimate of Costs Exchange 2019-20
More Information
Click for more information on Program Costs and Financial Aid.
Remember to speak with the Office of Financial Aid at your home campus to determine how your aid package could apply towards your program abroad.
Academic Requirements
Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors of all majors with at least 2.8 GPA with good academic standing are welcome to apply. Students with lower GPA should consult with the Program adviser about whether or not to apply.
Selection is first determined by UAlbany and then by the University of Luxembourg. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. More information is online for Incoming exchange students. Note that some classes are restricted and cannot be taken. Please contact us with any questions about these restrictions.
All students (UAlbany, other SUNY, and non-SUNY students) are welcome to apply for this program through UAlbany.
Experiential Learning
Check out some of the cultural events and sports offered!
Student Clubs and Organizations
There are multiple Student Associations to get involved with.
Funding Opportunities
The Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers US exchange students a scholarship for studying at the University of Luxembourg. The scholarship includes a 500 Euro per month stipend and housing in a student residence hall. More information about this scholarship is available in the application process. There is currently ONE scholarship available for Spring 2019.
Most financial aid and academic awards will apply to semester programs.
External scholarships, listed on our website, are a good way to partially fund your study abroad experience. In addition, the Center for International Education and Global Strategy offers two scholarship programs for UAlbany students studying abroad on UAlbany or 4-year SUNY programs.
More information on applying to these scholarships is located on the Scholarships web page.
In Their Own Words
“During my semester at the University of Luxembourg, I was able to travel and explore what life is like living in Europe. I had the opportunity to travel to 21 different countries, all while studying abroad. Luxembourg is a very safe and small country in the heart of Europe. Studying at the very diverse university allowed me to meet numerous other people from around the world. The University of Luxembourg is a young college with a new campus in a very historical area. A variety of languages are used in Luxembourg, and it would be helpful to know some French or German, but I was able to get by just speaking English. Overall the entire experience was amazing!” – Thomas Nevins, Business Major
Check out some of the Luxembourg international student testimonials here!
About the City
Luxembourg is a small country located between France and Germany and Belgium. The University of Luxembourg has multiple campuses.
Parlez-vous français? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Do you speak English? Or Lëtzebuergesch? If you want to talk to the young woman or man at the nearby cafe table, first of all you have to find out what language they speak. In the Grand Duchy, one of the founder states of the European Union, about 46 per cent of the 576 000 inhabitants are foreign. This multicultural ambience of day-to-day contact with people from the four corners of the earth gives the small state an astonishingly cosmopolitan outlook – especially thanks to the European institutions and the financial centre. Of course it is far easier to get around the capital (104,000 inhabitants) as it is not as large as Berlin or Paris, but offers just as much multicultural flare. The distances are short. There is a lively scene around the fashionable bars of Hollerich, Grund and Clausen in the capital, or in the Rockhal and the Kulturfabrik in Esch / Alzette. Furthermore, there are plenty of leisure activities: cinemas and climbing parks, mountain bike trails and an enormous cultural range – from jazz in the mediaeval city, contemporary art at MUDAM, theatre in every language or classical music in the most beautiful new building in Luxembourg, the Philharmonie. All this set against the romantic backdrop of the mediaeval city (a UNESCO world heritage site since 1994), the castles in the richly-forested north and the vineyards along the Mosel.
Check out the videos and information online here.
Travel Documents
A valid passport is required to participate in this program. You will also need to apply for a temporary stay authorization and residence permit. More information regarding the visa application process is available upon acceptance to the program.
Application Availability
Applications become available online one semester before the program start date, based on the following timeline:
- Spring programs: July
- Fall/Year programs: December
Program Dates
Academic Year 2019/20
Fall 2019
9/16/2018 to 2/8/2020
Spring 2020
2/17/2020 to 7/4/2020
Check out the full academic calendar online. The dates above do not include travel. Arrival timing and details will be provided to you after admission. Exams take place in the last month and vary depending on your courses. Fall semester applicants need to make sure their courses can finish and you can take the exams before Spring semester start date. Contact us with questions.
About the Program
A modern and dynamic university
- Founded in 2003
- bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as doctoral schools
- Suiting the needs of the employment market
- Europe-oriented
- An academic staff of 260 professors and lecturers
- Supported by 850 professional experts (in finance, lawyers, entrepreneurs and practitioners)
- Research-oriented
- High-quality equipment, Wifi on campus
- Close ties to the business world and to the Luxembourg labour market
A university at the heart of Europe
- Luxembourg it is only a two-hour drive to Brussels, Cologne, Strasbourg…
- Close to the European institutions and to the Luxembourg financial centre
A multilingual and international university
- Courses taught in English, French, German
- Generally bilingual degrees (usually French/English or French/German); some degrees are taught entirely in English
- Students originating from 120 different countries
- Personnel originating from 84 different countries
- Language courses available for students and personnel
- International networking
A university promoting “mobility”
- Bachelor students have to spend one semester abroad
- over 100 exchange agreements and research cooperations with universities
A university with a personal touch
- nearly 6,400 students
- Tutoring for the majority of 1st-year bachelor students
- Small auditoriums and working groups
Check out this Video Gallery to learn more!
Program Orientations
Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation. During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet other program participants, discuss in-depth the details of your program, and prepare of the overall education abroad experience. The fall semester pre-departure orientation will be conducted the Saturday before the end of Spring UAlbany classes and in late November/early December for the spring term abroad.
Upon arrival at the University of Luxembourg, you will attend a mandatory program orientation. This is an important and informative set of sessions organized by International Office of your host university.
Support Services
UAlbany’s Office of Education Abroad staff assists you during the application process, in your preparation to travel abroad, and on-site if necessary. The International Office staff serve as an experienced resource for resolving issues that you may encounter in while abroad.