2022_Wapenschild_Embleem_Scientia Vincere Tenebras_VUB

During the Enlightenment, a few influential philosophers rejected the prevailing belief in authority as an instrument for achieving reliable and practical knowledge. Translating 'Scientia' as 'science', however, does dishonour to the richness of the word. In addition to modern science and philosophy, it also encompasses the much broader concept of human knowledge: yet another confirmation of the humanistic foundation of our university.

Copied from the ULB

Our French-speaking sister university Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) has the same slogan. We adopted the slogan from them when we went our separate ways in 1969. We are still very much linked to ULB and still adhere to the same philosophy. Our common slogan emphasises this.