With the exception of the MSc and LLM (non-advanced) programs at Leiden Law School, the Leiden University Excellence Scholarships 20024/25 are available to exceptional students beginning a full-time master’s degree program at Leiden University.
Benefits
For the length of the study program, the LExS is granted. There are three reward levels that are available:
€ 10,000 of the tuition fee
€ 15,000 of the tuition fee
Total tuition fee minus the statutory tuition fee
The LExS is not a full scholarship. Non-EEA LExS recipients must still submit ‘proof of sufficient funds’ for their student visa/residence permit application.
Requirements
Study programme requirements
All Leiden University Master’s program applicants, with the exception of:
The LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programs at Leiden Law School.
The Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Sciences, and the Leiden Law School will all be offering study programs in February.
Nationality Requirements
Applicants must hold a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport, and they could not be qualified for student loans from the Dutch government (Studiefinanciering), with the following programs exempt from nationality requirements:
- All LLM Advanced Studies programmes
- MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy
EEA/EFTA:Â All EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
Additional note for UK students
Students from the UK may now apply for the LExS since the UK is no longer an EEA member. Note: applicants who were already residents of the Netherlands and enrolled in their Dutch municipality’s BRP before to January 1, 2021, are not eligible for this. The Brexit dossier has additional information on Brexit.
Academic requirements: Students must have completed one or more previous study programs with excellent academic standing that are related to the Master’s program for which they are applying. The fact that the student graduated in the top 10% of his or her previous study program serves as an indicator. Please take note that this information is only intended to show the level of competition; evidence of ranking is not necessary.
Obligations: Before the scholarship is awarded, students who are awarded an LExS are required to adhere to the terms and conditions related to the scholarship and attest to them in writing.
Exclusions
With the exception of students enrolling to master’s programs that require a specific prior master’s degree or work experience (such as LLM Advanced Studies programs), scholarships cannot be given to applicants who have already earned a master’s degree from Leiden University.
Scholarships are not available to students enrolled in the following programs: Leiden Law School’s non-advanced LLM or MSc program; or the Faculty of Humanities’, Faculty of Sciences’, or Leiden Law School’s study program beginning in February.
Students who don’t match the aforementioned nationality standards aren’t eligible to receive scholarships.
Combining the LExS with another full scholarship from an outside source is not feasible. If a student receives a full scholarship from another source, they must contact the scholarships department. The LExS may occasionally be paired with a partial scholarship from an outside source. Get in touch with the Scholarships Team for more information.
Selection Process
Within six weeks following the LExS deadline, the faculty selection committees will propose their LExS honourees.
An email will be sent to each applicant informing them if they have been granted an LExS:
- At the end of November (for programmes starting in February)
- At the end of April (for study programmes starting in September)
Method of Application
Click Here to Apply
Apply online for admission to Leiden University’s Master’s program, and if necessary, pay the application cost.
Note: it can take up to 2 days to create/submit an application for admission, so start your application well before the LExS deadline.
Once your admissions application has been submitted, go back to the Apply screen and select Scholarships in your online application. The LExS application will now be available in the scholarships area if you qualify.
Note:Â 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
After indicating your want to apply for the LExS, upload your motivation letter for the program. This needs to be a 500 word or less PDF file in which you should explain why you want the award.
Apply for a scholarship before the LExS deadline. Please be advised that you will not be able to edit your scholarship application online or by emailing new materials after it has been submitted.
You must submit a separate online application for admission along with a motivation letter if you are enrolling for more than one study program or specialisation and would want to apply for an LExS for each.
Late scholarship applications won’t be taken into account. The student bears the obligation of ensuring that their application for admission and scholarship are created and submitted before to the LExS deadline.
Application Deadline:Â October 1, 2024.
