Good news! The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is now open. In this article, we will explain the details of this scholarship program, its benefits, and the step-by-step application process.
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 2025-2026 is a tuition fee master’s scholarship for international students. This scholarship provides an average amount of €15,000 annually.
Leiden University invites international students to apply for the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree at the university in the Netherlands. These scholarships are fully funded and are awarded to talented students.
The number and type of awards depend on the available budget for each faculty department. Founded in 1575, Leiden University is one of Europe’s top international research universities.
The motto of the university is ‘Praesidium Libertatis’, which means Bastion of Freedom. Leiden University has seven faculties in the fields of sciences, arts, and social sciences, located in both Leiden and The Hague. The university employs over 6,700 staff members and has 28,130 students.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Masters
- Institution(s): Leiden University
- Study in: Netherlands
- Courses Offered: All Masters programs in the following faculties:
- Humanities
- Archaeology
- Medicine/LUMC
- Law
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Governance and Global Affairs
- Science
- Interfacultair Centrum voor Lerarenopleiding, Onderwijsontwikkeling en Nascholing (ICLON)
- African Studies Centre
- International Institute for Asian Studies
- Program Period:
- Maximum study period for a 1-year program: 12 months
- Maximum study period for a 2-year program: 24 months
- Deadline:
- 1st February for programs starting in September
- 1st October for programs starting in February
Scholarship Coverage
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LexS) provides the recipient with the following benefits:
- €15,000 of the tuition fee
- €10,000 of the tuition fee
- Total tuition fee minus the statutory tuition fee
Eligibility Criteria for Leiden University Excellence Scholarship
To qualify for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LexS), candidates must meet all of the following requirements:
- Required Language: English
- Eligible Countries: Non-EU/EEA international students
- Academic Requirements: The student must have achieved excellent study results in their previous education, relevant to the Master’s program they wish to apply for. As a guideline, the student should be in the top 10% of their previous program. Note: Proof of ranking is not required; this is to indicate the competitiveness level.
- Passport Requirement: The student must hold a non-EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for support under the Dutch study grant and loan system (“Studiefinanciering”). For more details, visit: www.duo.nl. This rule does not apply to Advanced Masters programs, which are open to all nationalities.
- Program Change: If the student changes their degree program, the continuation of the LexS scholarship is not guaranteed. The request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Faculty Selection Committee. If the change occurs before registration, the LexS will be revoked, and the student must reapply.
- Scholarship Validity: The LexS is only valid for the duration the student is enrolled as a full-time student at Leiden University within the specified program duration.
- Non-Transferable: The LexS granted for a specific academic year cannot be transferred to another year or intake. If a student postpones their intake, the LexS will be revoked. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Faculty Selection Committee.
- Other Scholarships: The student cannot receive another full scholarship for the same program unless it’s a partial scholarship, which must be confirmed in writing beforehand. The student should inform Leiden University if they receive any other full scholarship, such as the Netherlands Fellowship Program or Jean Monnet, and which scholarship has been accepted.
- ECTS Requirement: For programs longer than one year, the student must earn a minimum of 60 ECTS in the first year to retain the LexS for the following year. The Leiden University Selection Committee will set the standards for satisfactory progress.
- Multiple Applications: A student can apply for several scholarships at once, but it is not possible to combine scholarships provided or sponsored by Leiden University (e.g., Orange Tulip – China, CEU, Praesidium Libertatis, etc.). The LexS cannot be combined with scholarships from bilateral agreements with educational institutions or other future scholarships from Leiden University.
- Visa Compliance: The student must comply with Dutch visa regulations.
- Second Master Program: The LexS will not be awarded to students admitted to a second Master’s program at Leiden University, except for programs that require a specific prior Master’s program or work experience.
- Changes in Nationality or Residence Permit: The student must notify Leiden University as soon as possible about any changes in nationality, residence permit type, or Studiefinanciering support throughout the academic year.
- Premature Termination: If the student terminates their studies early, any tuition fee reimbursements will be made according to the “Regeling inschrijving, college- en examengeld” for the relevant academic year. The student should submit a deregistration form to Leiden University and will receive a pro-rata reimbursement of the tuition fee, less the scholarship.
- Active Participation: During their studies, the student will actively participate in activities that promote the LexS.
- Acceptance: The student must accept the granted LexS scholarship by filling out the ‘Acceptance Form LExS’.
How to Apply for Leiden University Excellence Scholarship?
Please follow below instructions to avail this Leiden University Excellence Scholarship:
- Apply online for admission to a Master’s program at Leiden University and pay the application fee if applicable.
- In the scholarship section of your online application, indicate that you wish to apply for a LExS.
- Upload your LExS motivation letter as instructed in your online application. This is a Word doc of max. 500 words, in which you explain why you would like to be considered for the award.
- Submit your online application, containing your LExS application, before the LExS application deadline.
- If you apply for more than one study program and wish to apply for a LExS for each, indicate this clearly in each application and upload a LExS motivation letter for each.
To know more about Leiden University Excellence Scholarships (LexS), please visit official website: