Leuven University Press 

Leuven University Press is a mission-driven academic press of international repute.

Active in scholarly publishing for over 50 years, the press has built up a strong book collection in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Moreover, interdisciplinarity is a defining feature of many of the titles we publish today.

Our books are written for an international audience of scholars, students and expert readers. All titles go through rigorous peer review.

Leuven University Press is committed to sustainable and future-proof publishing, and also stands for equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Next to traditional (non-Open Access) publishing, we also embrace Open Access as an academic publishing model and help authors to publish their book in OA through the KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access. See our latest OA-titles published via this route here >

Leuven University Press also has extensive experience in publishing art and artists’ books in collaboration with international museums and galleries. 

Leuven University Press is a full member of the Association of University Presses and a founding member of the Association of European University Presses.

Publishing Policy

Over the past years Leuven University Press has remained true to its commitment to disseminate scholarly knowledge and support academic research by publishing monographs, edited volumes, series, textbooks and periodicals.

Leuven University Press is committed to bringing its publications to the attention of a targeted, global audience of readers through an extensive network of representatives and distributors. Findability and availability are key words in its endeavor.

In the USA and Canada all English-language titles are distributed and sold through Cornell University Press. In the UK and Europe (excluding the Benelux) Leuven University Press is represented and distributed by Ingram Publisher Services UK. In the Netherlands, all titles are available via CB. In China our titles are distributed by Inspirees and in Japan by MHM Limited.

In addition to this international network of distributors, booksellers, and library suppliers, Leuven University Press makes use of digital distribution options such as Google Books, Amazon.com and Nielsen BookData to promote and market LUP titles. Our eBooks are available on our website and through selected online booksellers and library platforms such as ProQuest Ebook Central, EBSCOhost, Gardners Books, CEPIEC, Torrossa, Project Muse, JSTOR and Baker & Taylor.

All LUP publications are published with care and attention to detail. Prior to publication, all manuscripts are assessed by an independent editorial board and external specialist readers to ensure the highest academic standards. Combined with a service-oriented and personal approach this peer review process defines our publishing policy. 

You can find more information on our peer review process and editorial board in the menu 'For authors'.

For authors

By choosing Leuven University Press as your publishing partner you are choosing a professional approach with personal attention, maximum visibility of your work, and international availability.

Leuven University Press provides authors with two publishing scenarios: traditional (non-Open Access) and the option to publish in Open Access.

You will be working together with a team of experienced and enthusiastic professionals who will assist you in the process of preparing your manuscript, advise you technically throughout the complete publishing process, deliver a high-quality standard publication, and offer professional promotion, marketing and sales so your book gets the attention it deserves in the academic world.

Publishing with Leuven University Press in 8 steps

1 - PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Send us your book proposal - and, if already available, a preliminary manuscript or text sample - following the proposal form and guidelines on our website.
> lup.be/submission

2 - EDITORIAL BOARD ASSESSMENT
The editorial board, which meets 5 times a year, will examine your proposal. You will be notified of the outcome in the week after the meeting. Following a positive response, it is possible to submit an application to the KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access Committee for publishing your book in Open Access.
> lup.be/fundOA

3 - PEER REVIEW
Your final manuscript will be sent to two specialist readers for expert advice. This review takes approximately 6-8 weeks after the acceptance of the reviewer.

4 - CONTRACT AND FINALISATION OF MANUSCRIPT
In case of two positive reader reviews, revision and finalisation of the manuscript can be started based on the reviewers' feedback. A contract will also be drawn up at this moment.

5 - PRODUCTION
Once we receive the final manuscript for production, it takes 3-4 months before you have the final book in hand. The actual printing process takes about 2-3 weeks.

6 - PUBLICATION
Your work will be published in both print and ebook format. In case of Open Access, the ebook will be made freely available and discoverable online without barriers.

7 - DISTRIBUTION
We will distribute your book via an international network of specialised booksellers, library suppliers and distributors. Findability and availability are key words.

8 - MARKETING AND PROMOTION
To bring your book to the attention of a targeted, global audience of readers we will take care of your book’s offline and online promotion. As an author you can also spread the word in your network!
> lup.be/marketing

For more information contact publish@lup.be

Fall-Winter 2023 Catalogue

Discover our new and forthcoming titles!

Previous catalogues: https://lup.be/pages/catalogues

Editorial Board

Current members

Ortwin de Graef, KU Leuven
Isabelle Devos, UGent
Benoît Henriet, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Katarzyna Ruchel-Stockmans, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Itamar Shachar, UHasselt
Lara Schrijver, UAntwerpen
Peter Vermeersch, KU Leuven

For an overview of the deadlines for subsmission of manuscripts and proposals, please consult the menu ‘Submissions and proposals’.

Leuven University Press and Open Access

Leuven University Press provides authors with two publishing scenarios: traditional (non-Open Access) and the option to publish in Open Access.

True to its mission as a not-for-profit academic publisher, Leuven University Press fully embraces Open Access. Being able to share scientific insights with readers worldwide and giving them access to new knowledge, unhindered by financial thresholds, constitutes the pinnacle of scientific publishing.

Leuven University Press has a fast growing Open Access book collection across all disciplines. With the support of the KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access the press helps authors find the necessary funding to make gold OA-publishing come true.

Five reasons to publish Open Access:

• Free availability to all readers worldwide, without financial or distribution barriers 
• Research is picked up faster and has an immediate impact
• Books get much more visibility
• Open access publications can be easily located and searched
• Authors retain all copyrights

On this page you can find more information about:

• Green Open Access
• Gold Open Access (born OA)
• The KU Leuven Fund for Fair OA
• Quality control
• Open Access books with print edition
• Marketing and visibility
• Creative Commons licenses
• Links & resources