Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 2025

Leiden University in the Netherlands, founded in 1575, has campuses in Leiden and The Hague. It is one of the leading international research universities in Europe, boasting a student body of more than 26,900 and seven faculties in the arts, sciences, and social sciences.

Excellence Scholarship is a partially funded program established for outstanding international students to pursue master’s degree programs at Leiden University, Netherlands. The Leiden University Scholarship (LExS) eases the financial burden for talented students by covering tuition fees and living expenses. By attracting diverse and gifted students from around the globe, Leiden University creates a vibrant and inclusive academic community.

Being a recipient of the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship opens doors to a world-class education and a global network of scholars. Successful applicants will receive financial support and join a community of like-minded individuals, fostering cross-cultural exchange and intellectual growth. Applications for the scholarship program are open, and interested candidates from different countries are invited to apply.

Tuition Fees

The cost of studying at Leiden University for an academic year is €21,800 for non-international students (non-EU/EEA). The tuition fee for a second Dutch master’s program is €16,600 per year. You must pay an institutional tuition fee if you are not a citizen of an EEA country, Suriname, or Switzerland.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for LExS, you must:

• Be an outstanding international student.
• Not be a citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
• Have applied for admission to a Master’s program at Leiden University.
• Provide a strong motivation letter outlining your academic and personal achievements, goals, and reasons for applying for the LExS.
• Demonstrate leadership potential and extracurricular involvement.
• Have demonstrated outstanding academic performance in your previous education. This usually means having a high GPA or equivalent academic achievements.
• Prospective students must submit their application for the LExS before the specified deadline. Late applications are generally not considered.

Scholarship Benefits

The Leiden University (LExS) is not a full scholarship, so international recipients must submit ‘proof of sufficient funds’ for their student visa/residence permit application.

Please note that Leiden University only has around 25 LExS scholarships available. There are three categories under the LExS award, and they have been outlined below:

€ 10,000 of the tuition fee is awarded for the duration of the study program.
€ 15,000 of the tuition fee is awarded for the duration of the study program.
Total tuition fee minus the statutory tuition fee

Additionally, beneficiaries can access guidance and support services from academic advisors and experienced students. The scholarship also provides chances to connect with other students and professionals in their field.

Application Procedure

Step 1: Apply online for admission to a Master’s program at Leiden University and pay the application fee if applicable.
Creating and submitting an admission application can take up to 2 days, so start your application well before the LExS deadline.

Step 2: After submitting your application for admission, return to the Apply screen in your online application and click on Scholarships. If you are eligible to apply for the LExS, it will be visible in the scholarships section.
If you cannot see the LExS in your scholarships section, you have either not yet submitted your application for admission or are not eligible for the LExS.

Step 3: Indicate that want to apply for the LExS then upload your LExS motivation letter. This must be a PDF file of max. 500 words, in which you explain why you would like to be considered for the award.

Step 4: Submit your scholarship application before the LExS deadline. Please be aware that you cannot make changes to it online or by emailing additional items.

Step 5: If you are applying for more than one study program/specialization and wish to apply for a LExS for each, you must submit a LExS application and motivation letter within each separate online application for admission.

Late scholarship applications will not be considered. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they create/submit both their application for admission and their application for a scholarship before the LExS deadline.

Deadline/Expiration: Feb 1, 2025

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