Leiden University was founded in 1575 by William of Orange and is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It ranks 2nd in the country and 75th in the world according to the QS World University Rankings. Times Higher Education named it the best university for arts and humanities in continental Europe. It is home to 40 research institutes and is a member of several prestigious organizations such as the Coimbra Group, the Europaeum and the League of European Research Universities. The university has ties with many international leaders, including former US President John Adams, 2 NATO Secretaries General and 16 Nobel laureates. Other famous alumni include René Descartes, Hugo Grotius, Baruch Spinoza and Paul-Henri Thiry d'Holbach. Einstein himself was a professor at the university and taught there for several weeks a year. Leiden University is dedicated to freedom of spirit, thought and expression. Its education is innovative and motivates students to be curious and to constantly question nature, the human mind and the complex relationships between the two. The university gives its students the chance to develop their talents and interests through a wide range of academic activities and encourages them to take part in various research programs.
Leiden is located on the Rhine River in the province of South Holland and is the birthplace of Rembrandt. It is close to the cities of The Hague and Haarlem. Thanks to the university, founded in 1575, Leiden quickly became one of the most important intellectual centers during the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, especially after winning its independence from the Spanish king and Catholicism. With its unique architecture, the city has many architectural monuments from the 13th to 17th centuries. It is a small, friendly student city.
Bachelor's programs in English (For a detailed list of programs taught in Dutch, ask one of our consultants)
- Archaeology
- Dutch Studies
- International Studies
- Psychology
- South and Southeast Asian Studies
The university also offers numerous master's programs taught in English. For a detailed list, ask our consultants.
Key information
Program length:
3-5 years for bachelor's programs
1-2 years for master's programs
Academic year:
2 semesters - September and February
Start of the year:
September for bachelor's programs
September and February for master's programs
Application deadline:
There is an application fee of €100.
June 15 for most programs.
January 15 for medicine and biomedical sciences
February 15 for psychology
April 1 for programs with limited places.
For master's programs, the deadline is June 15 for programs starting in September and December 1 for programs starting in February, except for a few programs that have a different deadline.
Admission requirements:
High school diploma with a minimum GPA of 5.5.
IELTS
For bachelor's and master's programs, between 6.5 and 7.0, depending on the major.
TOEFL
For bachelor's and master's programs, between 90 and 100, depending on the major.
For Dutch language qualifications, ask one of our consultants.
Cambridge English: Advanced/Proficiency
For bachelor's and master's programs, Advanced between A and C, or Proficiency with a PASS, depending on the major.
Scholarships and loans
The tuition fee for bachelor's and master's programs is €1951.
Accommodation:
The application deadline for university housing is June 1. The university does not have its own residence halls as in the UK, so it simply helps students find a place. There is a €350 placement fee, which is refunded to the student if he/she stays 2 months or less. There is a non-refundable €150 fee, as well as €50 for a bedding set. If the student stays more than 2 months, there is a €500 deposit, which is refunded at the end of the stay. The rent itself is paid separately and ranges between €360 and €600 per month. Living expenses in Leiden range between €800 and €1400 per month.