Institute of Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Welcome on the website of the Institute of Medieval and Renaissance Studies!

The Institute of Medieval and Renaissance Studies of the University of Leuven (KU Leuven – Belgium) is an interdisciplinary centre, founded in 1966, that stimulates and coordinates research and graduate teaching in the history of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It enjoys a strong international reputation thanks to the various efforts of numerous dedicated research centres that are involved in the Institute, among which the Research Unit for the History of the Middle Ages, the De Wulf-Mansion Centre for Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Philosophy, Illuminare (illuminated manuscripts), the Aristoteles Latinus, the Seminarium Philologiae Humanisticae (Neo-Latin studies), and the Research Units for the History of Church and Religion. Students and scholars can also take profit from the excellent libraries at the KU Leuven, among them those at the faculties of arts, philosophy, and theology.

Strengthened by its expertise in ancient and modern languages, KU Leuven's historical-philological research strongly emphasizes the interdisciplinary study of texts. In the Leuven context, special attention is devoted to the role of the Church and its influence on intellectual and cultural life. In this context, the IMRS has a privileged partnership with LECTIO – Leuven Centre for the Study of the Transmission of Texts and Ideas in Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.

The IMRS coordinates a one-year interdisciplinary Advanced Master program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (taught in English); moreover, it is regularly involved in the organization of conferences, workshops, seminars and lectures.

The IMRS also edits the internationally renowned, peer-reviewed series Mediaevalia Lovaniensia in collaboration with Leuven University Press (info@upers.kuleuven.be, www.upl.be).

On these web pages you will find more information on the various activities of the IMRS. Please feel free to have a look around and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or remarks.

Prof. dr. Geert Claassens, Director of the IMRS