Leiden University Excellence Scholarship | Study in Netherlands

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Leiden University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the Netherlands, offers a wide range of scholarships to support talented international students. Among these, the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is particularly notable for its focus on academic excellence. This scholarship is designed to attract top-tier international students who wish to pursue a master’s degree at Leiden University.

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is a merit-based award designed for non-EU/EEA students who wish to enrol in a master’s program at Leiden University. The scholarship is highly competitive and is awarded to students with exceptional academic records.

Key Information –

• Country: Netherlands
• University: Leiden University
• Level of Study: Master’s Degree
• Field of Study: Any master’s program offered at Leiden University, except Advanced LLMs & MSc Int. Relations and Diplomacy
• Deadline: 1 Feb for programmes starting 1 Sept / 1 Oct for programmes starting 1 Feb

Eligibility Criteria

1. Study programme requirements –

Applicants for all Master’s programmes at Leiden University, with the exception of :

• Leiden Law School’s LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programmes.
• Study programmes starting in February at the Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Sciences and Leiden Law School.

2. Nationality requirements –

Applicants must have a non-EEA/non-EFTA* passport and may not be eligible for student finance via the Dutch government (Studiefinanciering) – with the exceptions of students applying for the programmes listed below for which no nationality restrictions apply:

• All LLM Advanced Studies programmes
• MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy

3. Academic requirements –

• 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.
• It is not possible to combine the LExS with another full scholarship from an external provider.

Benefits

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

• EUR 10,000 or INR 9 Lakhs of the tuition fee
• EUR 15,000 or INR 13 Lakhs of the tuition fee
• Total tuition fee minus the statutory tuition fee

How to apply?

1. Apply online for admission to a Master’s programme at Leiden University and pay the application fee if applicable. 
2. After submitting your application for admission, return to the Apply screen in your online application and click on Scholarships. If you are eligible to apply for the LExS, it will be visible in the scholarships section.
3. Indicate that you want to apply for the LExS then upload your LExS motivation letter. This must be a PDF file of max. 500 words in which you explain why you would like to be considered for the award.
4. Submit your scholarship application before the LExS deadline.
5. If you are applying for more than one study programme/specialisation and wish to apply for an LExS for each, you must submit an LExS application and motivation letter within each separate online application for admission.

Official link – https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/scholarships/sea/leiden-university-excellence-scholarship-lexs 

Conclusion

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is an incredible opportunity for talented international students to pursue their academic dreams at one of the world’s leading universities. With its focus on academic excellence, the LExS scholarship not only provides financial support but also offers a gateway to a vibrant academic community and unparalleled networking opportunities.

If you are a high-achieving student looking to make a significant impact in your field, consider applying for the LExS scholarship at Leiden University.

Frequently Asked Questions