Leiden University in the Netherlands offers the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) for top-tier international students entering their full-time Master’s degree programs. This funding opportunity is designed to ease the financial barrier of studying at one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious research institutions, located right in the heart of the Netherlands.
Benefits Involved
The LExS program is a partial tuition fee waiver. Depending on the strength of your academic profile and your department’s budget, the scholarship is awarded at one of three tiers:
- Tier 1: €10,000 towards the tuition fee.
- Tier 2: €15,000 towards the tuition fee.
- Tier 3: Total Tuition Fee Waiver minus the statutory tuition fee rate.
Important Note: The LExS award specifically targets tuition costs. It does not provide a monthly stipend or cover day-to-day living expenses, health insurance, or student housing. Recipients must be able to prove they can cover their own living costs to secure their Dutch student visa.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the LExS program, applicants must meet the following baseline requirements:
- Academic Excellence: Candidates must belong to the top 10% of their graduating undergraduate class. Excellent grades across your bachelor’s degree transcript are a mandatory prerequisite.
- Passport / Nationality: Non-EEA (European Economic Area) passport holders applying for a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), or Master of Laws (LLM) program.
- Prior Degrees: You must not have already obtained a degree from Leiden University.
- Admissions Status: You must first apply for and receive an offer of admission (conditional or unconditional) to an eligible full-time Master’s program at Leiden.
Application Deadlines
Your scholarship letter must be submitted at the exact same time you apply for your Master’s program. Deadlines depend heavily on when your specific course begins:
- For Programs Starting September (Fall Intake):
- The deadline is February 1 of that same year.
- For Programs Starting February (Spring Intake):
- The deadline is October 1 of the preceding year.
Application Process
You do not apply for this scholarship through a separate portal; instead, it is integrated directly into your standard university application.
- Submit Your Master’s Application: Head to the official online application portal (Studielink and Leiden’s Oasis system) and complete your regular application for your chosen Master’s program.
- Indicate Your Interest: In the scholarship section of your online application form, tick the checkbox indicating that you wish to apply for the LExS program.
- Upload Your Motivation Letter: You must upload a targeted LExS motivation letter (max 500 words). This separate document should clearly outline why your academic achievements make you an ideal fit for the excellence scholarship and how the program aligns with your career goals.
- Pay the Application Fee: Submit your application and pay the standard university application fee to initiate the official faculty review process.
