Leiden University Excellence Scholarship in Netherlands

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is a prestigious award that covers a significant chunk of your tuition fees.

The LExS Scholarship is for excellent students joining a full-time Leiden University Master’s degree programme – with the exception of LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School.

Scholarships are available for the following faculties

• Archaeology, Humanities,

• Medicine/LUMC,

• Governance and Global Affairs,

• Law,

• Social and Behavioural Sciences, Science,

• African Studies Centre,

• International Institute for Asian Studies

The following nationalities are eligible to apply for the 2027 Leiden University Scholarship: 

• Non-EEA/non-EFTA* nationals who are applying for a Master’s programme at Leiden University. See additional note for UK students below.

• Students of all nationalities applying for an LLM Advanced Studies programme, or the MSC in International Relations and Diplomacy.

*EEA/EFTA: All EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

1. Study programme requirements

• Applicants for all Master’s programme at Leiden University – with the exception of LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School.

• 2. Students must have achieved excellent academic results in their previous study programme(s), which must be relevant to the Master’s programme for which they are applying.

• As an indication, the student is amongst the top 10% of graduates in his/her previous study programme. Note that proof of ranking is not required – this information is purely to indicate the level of competitiveness.

The LExS is awarded for the duration of the study programme. There are five available levels of awards:

• € 10,000 of the tuition fee

• € 15,000 of the tuition fee

• € 17,500 of the tuition fee

• € 18,500 of the tuition fee

• € 19,000 of the tuition fee

• The faculty selection committees will nominate LExS recipients and inform the Scholarships Team, up to 6 weeks after the LExS deadline.

• The Scholarships Team will notify all LExS applicants of the decisions:
   – At the end of November – for the February intake.  
   – At the end of April – for the September intake.

To apply for the 2027 Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, interested and qualified applicants should;

• 1

  Click on the button below to visit the scholarship application page

• 2

  Apply online for admission to a Master’s programme at Leiden University and pay the application fee if applicable.

• 3

  In the scholarship section of your online application, indicate that you wish to apply for a LExS.

• 4

  Upload your LExS motivation letter as instructed in your online application. This is a PDF file of max. 500 words, in which you explain why you would like to be considered for the award.

• 5

  Submit your online application, containing your LExS application, before the LExS application deadline.

• 6

  If you apply for more than one study programme and wish to apply for a LExS for each, indicate this clearly in each application and upload a LExS motivation letter for each.