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University of Antwerp

Logo: Universiteit Antwerpen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

University in Antwerp, Belgium

The University of Antwerp (Dutch: Universiteit Antwerpen) is a major Belgian university located in the city of Antwerp. The official abbreviation is UAntwerp. The University of Antwerp has about 20,000 students, which makes it the third-largest university in Flanders.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

Oct 2003Founded1
  • HeadquartersAntwerp, Belgium1
  • Websitewww.uantwerpen.be
  • Legal formAndere rechtsvorm3
  • LEI967600O13D7L93G8FL193
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusIssued and current3
  • Registered addressPrinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium3
  • Registered withFederal Public Service Economy (Ministry of Economy), 02572164823

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Campus Middelheim Building A
Photo: Jroovers, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons6

The University of Antwerp (Dutch: Universiteit Antwerpen) is a major Belgian university located in the city of Antwerp. The official abbreviation is UAntwerp. The University of Antwerp has about 20,000 students, which makes it the third-largest university in Flanders. The University of Antwerp is characterised by its high standards in education, internationally competitive research and entrepreneurial approach. It was founded in 2003 after the merger of three smaller universities.2

Corporate structure

University of Antwerp sits at the top of its group. 3 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

History

Origins

The university's roots go back to Sint-Ignatius Handelshogeschool (Saint-Ignatius College of Commerce) founded by the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) in Antwerp in 1852. This was one of the first European business schools to offer formal university degrees. It later opened a Faculty of Literature and Philosophy (including Law) and a Faculty of Political and Social Sciences. It was renamed Universitaire Faculteiten Sint-Ignatius Antwerpen (UFSIA)

in the 1960s when the Belgian government granted it university status. In the early 1970s UFSIA joined into a confederation with "Rijksuniversitair Centrum Antwerpen" (RUCA) and "Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen" (UIA), public institutions.

Merger

In 2003 UFSIA, RUCA, and UIA merged into the University of Antwerp to become the first explicitly pluralistic university in Belgium, offering philosophical, ethical, and spiritual discourse and openness towards religion and intercultural dialogue. It soon became the third largest university in Flanders with 20,000 students. In order to face the challenges posed by the internationalization of European education and research, the university is part of the Antwerp University Association (AUHA). The Catholic influence that the Jesuits had at UFSIA continues through the Saint Ignatius University Centre (UCSIA), Antwerp, founded in 2003.

In September 2020, the University of Antwerp chose to start the new academic year with stricter coronavirus measures than those recommended by the government.

History

Bart De Wever, (1970-), politician (prime minister of Belgium (2025–present), representative, floor leader New Flemish Alliance party and mayor of Antwerp)

Marie-Rose Morel, politician

From Wikipedia’s article on University of Antwerp, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

From Wikidata.1

Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded Rijksuniversitair Centrum Antwerpen1
  2. Succeeded Universitaire Faculteiten Sint-Ignatius Antwerpen1
  3. Succeeded University Institution Antwerp1

Timeline

  1. Oct 2003Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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