KU Leuven is the largest university in Belgium and is consistently ranked within the top 10 universities in Europe. The University belongs to the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and attaches great importance to attracting and appreciating talent. At the Faculty of Arts, research is conducted in the fields of Arabic and Islamic studies, archaeology, art history, Chinese studies, history, Japanese studies, musicology, linguistics, literary and cultural studies and translation and interpretation studies. The Faculty employs over 800 junior and senior researchers, and teaches around 4,500 students in various study programmes at its campuses in Antwerp, Brussels, Kortrijk and Leuven. The Faculty strives to be an open and inclusive environment, with a focus on dialogue, social safety, sustainability and a healthy work-life balance,

We are looking for a motivated lecturer and researcher to be part of the Arabic and Islamic Studies Research Group. The Arabic and Islamic Studies Research Group is renowned for its research on: (1) the early and classical history of Islam and theology, (2) classical religious thought within Islam and modern interpretations in the Islamic world, (3) Sufism and spiritua l Islam (4) Islam and Muslims in Europe, (5) Arabic literature, language and translation studies, and (6) the interactions between Europe and the Arab world in the early modern and modern periods. The research group consists of 6 senior researchers and several junior researchers. The members of the research unit have teaching duties (among others/primarily) in the bachelor and master Arabic and Islamic Studies.

You hold a PhD degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies or Middle East/North Africa Studies (or in a specific discipline, with a focus on the Arab world) and have successfully defended your dissertation at the time of submitting your application. You have a demonstrated expertise in the study of the politics, society, culture or media of the contemporary Middle East and/or North Africa. Proficiency in Arabic at native or near native level is required. You are willing to teach Modern Standard Arabic language courses.

You have a strong and validated, international academic portfolio with highly regarded publications in your field. You also have a clear vision of how your research can develop further in relation to the available research expertise.

You openly and enthusiastically contribute to the Arabic and Islamic Studies university study programmes of the future, in a spirit of open collaboration. Organisational skills, leadership qualities and good social skills are a must. Experience with scientific outreach or collaboration with the work field is a plus.

A good knowledge of English is required. The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take part in administrative meetings. Before teaching courses in Dutch, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required standard.

We offer a full-time tenure-track professorship (ZAP) in a dynamic faculty with diverse disciplines. You will be part of an intellectually challenging and international environment, with plenty of space and opportunity to grow as a lecturer and researcher, thus making a significant contribution to society. KU Leuven provides support and benefits for starting professors who have a partner and/or family, cf. www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/partner-and-family. 

You will be appointed as tenure-track professor for a period of five years. After a positive assessment following the five-year term, you will receive a permanent professorship at the level of ‘hoofddocent’ (associate professor). Within this function promotions to higher academic degrees are possible. All academic degrees have the ius promovendi.  

You will work in Leuven, a historic and lively city in the centre of Belgium, twenty minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam. 

The start date for this position is 1 September 2026. To facilitate scientific integration and the start-up of research, KU Leuven provides start-up funding of 110,000 euros for new professors, provided they do not have substantial other funding (e.g. ERC) and have an appointment of at least 50%. 

KU Leuven is well equipped to welcome foreign professors and their families and offers practical support with immigration and administration, housing, childcare and career coaching for the partner.

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.