Address: Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Hainaut, Belgium
Materials Science, Engineering, Computer Science
UMONS resulted from the 2009 merger of the Faculté Polytechnique de Mons and the Université de Mons-Hainaut. It is a French-speaking university with a strong engineering tradition.
UMONS, the University of Mons, resulted from the 2009 merger of the Polytechnic Faculty of Mons and the University of Mons-Hainaut. It is a public French-speaking university with about 10,000 students and 1,200 staff, and about one student in five comes from abroad. The engineering tradition goes back to the nineteenth century, when the Mons mining school trained engineers for the coal basin of Hainaut.
The university is spread across several sites in Mons, with the Polytechnic Faculty and the sciences on the Houdain and Sciences campuses, and the Warocqué site for humanities. Engineering, materials science and computer science remain the main subjects. Elio Di Rupo, who studied chemistry in Mons and later became prime minister of Belgium from 2011 to 2014, is one of the best-known alumni.
Research is built around materials science and engineering, energy, digital technologies, artificial intelligence and the biosciences. The university is part of the EUNICE European University alliance, which includes partners in France, Germany, Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom. Close ties with French universities across the border, in Valenciennes and Lille, make it easy to run joint doctoral projects and shared laboratories.
Courses are mostly in French. Fees follow the regulated French Community tariff, which is low for EU students, with reductions for low-income households, while non-EU students pay higher fees. Engineering applicants take the entrance exam in mathematics and sciences. Class sizes are smaller than at the large Brussels universities, and staff are generally easier to reach.
Mons is a small city of about 95,000 inhabitants with low rents, a compact centre and a good rail link to Brussels in about 50 minutes. The city was European Capital of Culture in 2015, which left it with several museums and cultural venues. About 50,000 people have graduated from UMONS and its predecessors.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Data Analytics, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Life Sciences, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology and Genetics, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Process Control, Robotics, Software Engineering, Statistics, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Part of EUNICE European University. Regional and international collaborations, especially with French universities.
Research:
Materials science and engineering, Energy research, Digital technologies and AI, Biosciences and health.
Famous Alumnis:
Elio Di Rupo
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1200
Current students***:
10000
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
50000
Pros
Human-sized university, strong engineering tradition from the historic Faculté Polytechnique de Mons, good student support.
Cons
Smaller than other major Belgian universities, narrower range of programs, less international visibility compared to Brussels/Flanders.
Best For
Engineering and applied sciences with a strong regional anchor in the Hainaut province.
A good alternative in the same country is Université de Liège, which likewise covers nanotechnologies, microbiology and genetics and fluid dynamics; it covers aerospace and food science as well, and is larger, enrolling about 26,000 students against roughly 10,000 here.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel overlaps with this university on nanotechnologies, fluid dynamics and civil engineering, so the two are easy to compare, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers bioinformatics and optics as well.
Among national alternatives, Universiteit Antwerpen stands out for its focus on nanotechnologies, microbiology and genetics and process control, and it covers bioinformatics and bioengineering as well, and is larger, enrolling about 22,000 students against roughly 10,000 here.
A good alternative in the same country is Université libre de Bruxelles, which likewise covers nanotechnologies, fluid dynamics and civil engineering; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers bioinformatics and optics as well.
For students who like the nanotechnologies, microbiology and genetics and fluid dynamics focus of this institution but want another option nearby, Universiteit Gent fits well: it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Université PSL, in France, takes a similar route through nanotechnologies, microbiology and genetics and fluid dynamics; it covers astroscience and bioinformatics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 17,000 students against roughly 10,000 here.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Tokyo Tech in Japan, where nanotechnologies, microbiology and genetics and fluid dynamics also form the core, and it has almost the same size, at about 10,000 students, and is also a public institution.
For a study option in China with a comparable spread of nanotechnologies, microbiology and genetics and fluid dynamics, USTC is the reference point: it is larger, enrolling about 25,000 students against roughly 10,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Université Bretagne Sud (France) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly nanotechnologies, microbiology and genetics and fluid dynamics; it has almost the same size, at about 10,000 students, and is also a public institution.
AGH University of Science and Technology, in Poland, takes a similar route through nanotechnologies, microbiology and genetics and fluid dynamics; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers sound engineering and metrology as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is UMONS?
The administrative address is Place du Parc 20 in Mons, Hainaut. The university has several sites across the city.
How large is UMONS?
About 10,000 students and 1,200 staff.
How was UMONS created?
It resulted from the 2009 merger of the Polytechnic Faculty of Mons and the University of Mons-Hainaut.
Is it a public university?
Yes. UMONS is a public university in the French Community of Belgium.
What languages are used for teaching?
Mostly French, with some programmes and courses in English.
How much does it cost to study there?
Fees are regulated and low for EU students, with reductions for low-income households. Non-EU students pay higher fees.
What are the main fields of study?
Engineering, materials science, computer science, energy, biosciences and health.
Which alliance does UMONS belong to?
It is part of the EUNICE European University alliance.
Who are some famous alumni?
Elio Di Rupo, former prime minister of Belgium, studied chemistry in Mons.
How far is Mons from Brussels?
Trains take about 50 minutes, and the French border towns of Valenciennes and Lille are also close.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Engineering, Materials, Product Development, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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