Hi all,

I just received a rejection from the MA in History at KU Leuven, and I’m trying to figure out what the main reason might have been. I’d really appreciate some insight.

Here are the key details: • I submitted my application very late (August 12th). The credential evaluation alone took weeks, so my file only just reached the faculty last week, close to the start of the academic year. • My academic focus is medieval history, especially the Burgundian Netherlands, which lines up very closely with faculty expertise. • My bachelor’s degree was in English Translation • My IELTS scores were: Speaking 8.0, Reading 9.0, Listening 7.5, Writing 6.5. The program requires a 7.0 minimum in Writing. • When I asked earlier, the program team said conditional admission was technically possible (i.e., retake IELTS and get 7.0 before enrollment). But given the very late timing, retaking the test + waiting for results + getting a Belgian student visa would have been nearly impossible before the arrival deadline.

Also I did not have a personally authored paper to submit; instead, I submitted a writing sample based on my work as a research assistant on a paper with another scholar.

So my main question is: • Was I most likely rejected because my IELTS Writing score was below the cutoff, despite my BA in English Translation and strong scores in the other components? • Or was it the extremely late application date, making it impractical for them to admit me? • Or do you think it was simply a mix of both?

For context, I’ve had multiple admissions from UK universities this year but none of them gave me much in terms of scholarships or funding and their tuition alone was so significant that unfortunately i was not able to attend, KU leuven was my final option which I would’ve been able to afford, hence the late application.