University of Mons

University of Mons which people commonly call UMONS functions as a major public research institution that serves the city of Mons which exists in the Walloon region of Belgium. The university functions as a main educational center for Hainaut province because it operates close to the French-Belgian border and European Union capital Brussels. The university maintains two campuses which include its main urban campus that covers the historical area of Mons and its second campus which operates in Charleroi. The institution which functions as a founding member of Pôle Hainuyer academic cluster works to create an environment that promotes open-mindedness and critical thinking and social responsibility through its academic programs which drive regional development and international scientific research.

The university reached its current united state through official recognition on January 1 2009 while its historical origins trace back to the 19th century. The Engineering Faculty of Mons (FPMs) and University of Mons-Hainaut joined together to create a new institution which merged these two established educational institutions. The Engineering Faculty opened as Belgium's first engineering school to train professionals for the region's expanding industrial and coal mining industries. The institutions which came before this institution went through different types of administrative changes from the time State University of Mons opened its doors in 1971 until now. The 2009 merger combined engineering school technical knowledge with local state university multidisciplinary capabilities to establish a modern educational institution which builds on its historical roots.

University of Mons is ranked as the #9 top university in Belgium during 2026. This is the same rank as last year.