The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is available for outstanding international students seeking to enrol in a full-time Master’s degree programme at Leiden University. However, this scholarship excludes all Humanities programmes, LLM (non-advanced), and MSc programmes within Leiden Law School.
Key Details:
- Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
- Study Location: Netherlands
- Institution: Leiden University
- Degree Level: Master’s
- Eligibility: Open to both men and women
- Funding Body: Leiden University
Scholarship Benefits:
The LExS provides financial support for the duration of the study programme, with three award categories:
- €10,000 towards the tuition fee.
- €15,000 towards the tuition fee.
- Full tuition fee minus the statutory tuition fee.
Note: The LExS is not a full scholarship. Non-EEA recipients are required to submit proof of sufficient funds to qualify for a student visa or residence permit.
Eligibility Requirements:
1. Programme-Specific Criteria:
Applicants must be enrolling in a Master’s programme starting in September 2025. The scholarship is not available for:
- Humanities programmes.
- LLM (non-advanced) or MSc programmes in Leiden Law School.
2. Nationality Criteria:
Eligible applicants must hold a non-EEA or non-EFTA passport and not qualify for Dutch government student finance (Studiefinanciering). Exceptions to this nationality restriction apply for the following programmes:
- LLM Advanced Studies programmes.
- MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy.
EEA/EFTA includes EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Special Note for UK Students:
UK students are eligible to apply as the UK is no longer an EEA country. However, this does not apply to those who were registered in a Dutch municipality before January 1, 2021.
3. Academic Excellence:
Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic performance in prior relevant studies, typically ranking in the top 10% of their class. Proof of ranking is not mandatory but indicates the scholarship’s competitive nature.
Exclusions:
- Students who already hold a Master’s degree from Leiden University (unless applying for programmes requiring prior related qualifications).
- Programmes starting in February.
- Applicants who fail to meet nationality or programme criteria.
- Combining LExS with a full external scholarship is not permitted.
Obligations:
Recipients must agree to the scholarship’s terms and conditions in writing before the award is confirmed.
Application Process:
- Submit Admission Application:
- Visit Studielink and apply for a Master’s programme at Leiden University. Pay any required application fees.
- Allow up to 2 days to complete your admission application.
- Apply for the Scholarship:
- Once your admission application is submitted, return to the online application portal and access the Scholarships section.
- If eligible, the LExS option will be visible.
- Upload a motivation letter (max. 500 words, PDF) explaining why you should be considered for the scholarship.
- Deadline Compliance:
- Submit both your admission and scholarship applications by February 1, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.
Important: If applying to multiple programmes, submit a separate LExS application and motivation letter for each.
For further details, visit Leiden University’s official website.
