Nestled in the heart of Outremeuse  – Liège’s elongated island created in the XIX^th century by “modern” water management planning – between the precinct of Saint-Pholien and the Bavière  quarter, the school’s campus is housed in a former military casern – itself a former abbey dating back to the XIII^th century. ESA Saint-Luc Liège shares the campus with the University of Liège with whom our school regularly collaborates on a wide range of issues. Traditionnaly, Outremeuse is a working class borough and a centre for local tradition and folklore such as Tchantchès  and the 15 august festival (the Asumption of Mary). Over the years, the school has participated in projects rooted in the heart of Outremeuse’s development (Welcome to Bavière). The school is a cultural hub in the neighbourhood and contributes the quarter’s vibrancy.

“Cours à choix”: elective modules crafted from within the different disciplines taught at Saint-Luc Liège. Incoming mobility students may choose up to three “cours à choix” if they are staying for the full year or two if they are only here for a semester. Please note that places are attributed following a randomised distribution among all eligible students at the beginning of the academic year. Therefore exchange students applying for the second semester will only be able to choose among the remaining modules for the second semester (hence it’s better to register early)

The atelier is a hands-on workshop module in which students are challenged to bring out the best of their creative abilities. Typically the atelier is the most important module of year (often representing around a third of the annual workload). The atelier is an annual module, during which student develop their personal work through the exchange with tutors and fellow students. Continuity is an important aspect of this approach that allow students to build up their artistic self-confidence and experience different techniques.

The short answer is no!

Currently, all lessons given at ESA Saint-Luc Liège School of Art and Design are taught in French. For this reason, we require incoming students to have a minimum level equivalent to B1 on the Common European Framework of References for languages.

Notwithstanding this requirement, we always try and accommodate our incoming students as best we can. The way we teach permits a high level of interaction between students and tutors. Most of our tutors can therefore provide assistance (possibly even in English) to Erasmus Students. A knowledge of French is however an important requirement in order to make your time at ESA Saint-Luc Liège School of Art and Design an enjoyable one.

Every year, usually at the outset of spring, the school organises an open school week.

In june, the school organises an exhibition of a selection of students’ projects. Families and friends and welcome to visit and soak in the wide range of creative projects.

Your cover letter should reflect why you are applying to come to our school. Please indicate which course (specialisation) you wish to follow.

A sample of your artistic work most relevant to your study choice at ESA Saint-Luc Liège.

Your application will be forwarded to the study council of your major discipline. After close evaluation, the tutors will decide whether the student is suited to the requirement of our school and assign an “atelier” for the student.

Example: Suzy is studying sculpture in Madrid and she wants to spend her exchange semester at ESA Saint-Luc Liège. Her application (CV, cover letter, portfolio, TOR, French certificate) will be forwarded to the tutors of our painting section. After evaluation, the tutor decide to accept Suzy’s application and assign the “atelier peinture BAC2” to her programme. She will thus have to follow the “atelier” module of the second year.

Following the application process, you will be assigned to an “atelier” (see above).

Please get in touch with the international offices of ESA Saint-Luc.

All the modules organised at ESA Saint-Luc Liège School of art are taught in French, it is therefore important you have the necessary skills to attend classes. French lessons are available for incoming students but that will not be sufficient if you are starting from scratch.

In Belgium, duh! Not satisfied ?

Liège is an hour’s train ride south east of Brussels. In half an hour you are in the Netherlands (Maastricht) or in Germany (Aachen – with Cologne just an hour further away). Or stay in Belgium and go to Hasselt or the Ardennes in under 40 minutes.

Liège is one of the biggest cities in Wallonia, it is known for its industrial past, its waffles, its theatres and opera, its cycling races and its seldom impressive football clubs.

But what make Liège really special though is its people, who are as joyful and warm as the weather is cold and gloomy.

Our campus is located in the Outremeuse neighbourhood, in the very heart of the city. We are blessed with 20,000 m² of military compound which has been transformed to create the perfect melting pot for creative minds. Space and infrastructure are made available to enable students to unleash their creative potential.

Oh and of course this is Belgium, so you won’t run out of beer, chips or chocolate.

Unfortunately, the public transport system is far from brilliant but it is getting better. After half a century of absence, the tram is finally making a comeback, though when exactly, remains to be seen. In the meantime, busses will get you to most places eventually.

Fortunately, Liège isn’t all that big and you can get around the city centre pretty easily by foot. If you have a car, you should not have too many problems finding parking spaces.

But you know what? It is 2021, so get real, get a bicycle! Even though the cycling infrastructure is far from good enough, one can get around pretty swiftly on two wheels provided one isn’t living at the top of the “Montagne de Bueren”. Second hand bikes are easy to find, for instance at the flea market held every Friday morning on the Boulevard de la constitution in front of the school.

In a flatshare (which we call KOT in Belgium), prices start around €350/month, while a studio flat will set you back at least €500/month.

Unfortunately, ESA Saint-Luc School of Art does not offer any student accommodation. We can nevertheless assist you in searching for a room. We also keep a list of our outgoing students who are looking for someone to sub-let their accommodation. In addition, the school’s social services can also provide assistance to students in need.

No, but we have a vibrant student council that organises activities open to Erasmus students.

No, but students can register with the RCAE of the university of Liège

At the beginning of the XX liege was an important industrial city. With the decline of the steel industry, poverty got a foothold in the city, public spaces and infrastructure have suffered accordingly. Sadly many people still have not grasped that, in 2021, litter belongs in a bin and not on the street. Notwithstanding this sad state of affairs, Belgium and Liège has of one of the best waste recycling programmes in the EU. At ESA Saint-Luc Liège we strive to continuously improve our waste treatment plan and transition towards zero waste.

Liège is not particularly dangerous, yet it is prudent to avoid certain areas/streets at night. Particularly women are often subjected to sexist and derogatory remarks from passers-by, which can swiftly change the atmosphere of the city. ESA Saint-Luc Liège School of art actively engages against all forms of discrimination and sexism.

If you are subjected to any type of assault or harassment please contact the local police department. The office for international relations and the school’s social worker can also provide assistance and council.