Program Description

Study Environmental Science and Engineering at the Katholieke Universiteit (KU) in Leuven, Belgium. This program provides undergraduate engineering students with an opportunity to gain international experience while taking two environmental courses for 6 US credit hours. The “low” countries of Belgium and the Netherlands are among the leaders in the world in the recycling of wastes and the development of alternative waste treatment methods as well as air quality engineering. In this 5-week program, students will learn about wastewater treatment technologies and engineering methods to protect air quality. Students will compare U.S. and European environmental practices and policies.

Program Excursions

Students can expect to participate in activities such as these:

• Visit the Port of Antwerp
• Visit Indaver and view sustainable waste management
• Examples of household organic waste composting
• Visit to a Flemish drinking water production center
• Visits to the Stella Artois Brewery (AB Inbev)
• Visit to an air quality treatment system at municipal waste incinerator
• Visit to sites involved in processing animal manure to produce value-added products
• Guest speaker seminars from local agencies and organizations on course-related topics
• Additional relevant cultural activities

Leuven is located approximately 30 kilometers/15 miles from Brussels, Belgium. KU Leuven is a modern, world-class university with excellent facilities. Leuven is a student-oriented city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and many cafes and restaurants. The city is compact and very conducive to travel on foot or by bicycle. All students will be provided a bicycle for transportation to class and around town. Field trips and seminar speakers will allow students to learn about European environmental practices and policies and compare them to U.S. practices. In addition to course excursions, students will have four-day weekends to explore Europe.

Eligibility Requirements

• Good standing at UT with a 2.0 GPA or higher
• Rising junior, junior or senior status
• Approval of Texas A&M faculty director and UT academic advisor/department head
• Student in the UT Knoxville BESS Department
• Successful completion of Fluid Mechanics course or equivalent
• If a non-engineering student, must have taken Finite Mathematics and Calculus or Engineering Mathematics I & II courses or their equivalents

Academic Credit

Students who successfully complete the program will receive six Texas A&M credits, which will be transferred back to UTK in place of the following courses:

Biosystems Engineering students:

• 3 UTK credits of BSE 480: Special Topics (Texas A&M’s course BAEN 477: Air Pollution Engineering)
• 3 UTK credits of BSE 480: Special Topics (Texas A&M’s course BAEN 465: Design of Biological Waste Treatment Systems)

Environmental and Soil Sciences students:

• 3 UTK credits of ESS 499: Research Problem in Environmental and Soil Science (Texas A&M’s course AGSM 477: Air Pollution Control and Regulatory Compliance)
• 3 UTK credits of BSET 474: Environmental Instrumentation and Monitoring (Texas A&M’s course AGSM 337: Technology for Environmental & Natural Resource Engineering)

Students take the two courses that align best with their academic path. Students must discuss their selection and receive approval from their UT department in advance of participating on the program.

Housing

Students will be staying in the J.L. Vives International Residence at Katholieke Universiteit (KU) in Leuven. This residence is located at Damiaanplein, close to Leuven city center. The residence has 31 student rooms, grouped around 3 kitchens and features a communal TV room, washing machine and courtyard with a covered bike rack. Students share a room with a roommate from the program. Students will be provided with a rental bike to ride to class and around the city, which can be stored at the residence.

Housing is included in the program fee.

Cost Information

The Texas A&M Program Website outlines important information, dates, and fees that are billed to all participants by Texas A&M. You will pay Texas A&M directly for the program. *A current SEC agreement allows UT students to pay Texas A&M’s in-state tuition for this program’s academic coursework.

AT UT, you will pay a study abroad administrative fee of $175. This UT fee will appear on your MyUTK account and it is due according to the UT billing schedule for your study abroad term. Click the One Stop calendar to review the payment schedule.

You should carefully review costs, budgets, and financing when selecting and preparing for your experience abroad. If you have any questions at any step of the process, we encourage you to reach out to the program contacts for guidance.

Funding Your Study Abroad Program

You should carefully review costs, budgets and financing when selecting and preparing for your experience abroad. If you have any questions at any step of the process, we encourage you to reach out to your Programs Abroad Coordinator for guidance.

Steps to Financing Your Study Abroad Program

1. Review the program's Costs Sheet to understand the breakdown of program expenses.
2. Consider your Financial Aid options.
3. Search and apply for scholarships and grants on our Funding Opportunities tab.
4. Review your UTK financial aid package and speak with One Stop about applying it to your study abroad program costs.

If you wish to use your HOPE Lottery Scholarship for the summer term, you may be eligible to receive a prorated amount but you must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours.

• Is this the program for you? Complete the UTK study abroad application by clicking on the blue Apply Now button below.


• Contact Dr. Julie Carrier, dcarrie1@utk.edu, in the BESS department to discuss your interest in the program now.


• Don't wait! Review the Texas A&M program information in detail and start on the Texas A&M application processes.