Leiden University admission for international applicants

To start a Leiden University bachelor in September 2027 from abroad, you need, according to the admission requirements page as of October 2026, a diploma at least equal to the Dutch pre-university diploma (VWO), you register in Studielink and then finish the application in uSis, Leiden's own portal, and you pay a tuition fee that Leiden has already set for the academic year 2027-2028: €2,771 statutory for first-year bachelor students, or an institutional fee of €14,700 (Humanities) to €19,200 (Science) if you are not a national of an EEA country, Suriname or Switzerland.

Leiden University runs a two-part application for anyone without a Dutch diploma that grants direct admission: first registering your application(s) in the national system Studielink, then completing the file in uSis. The deadline depends on the programme, not on a single university date, so check the programme before you plan anything else.

Leiden University rules that catch international applicants out

Three Leiden University rules trip up applicants from abroad more often than the diploma itself:

• Earlier deadlines. Numerus fixus programmes close on 15 January, and if you need a visa or residence permit for a programme with compulsory matching, your deadline moves from 1 May to 1 April.
• Subject requirements. Programmes in mathematics and natural sciences, medicine, classics, cyber security and cyber crime, and economics and society require knowledge of compulsory subjects at Dutch VWO (pre-university diploma) level.
• Binding study advice. You continue only if you earn at least 45 out of a possible 60 credits by the end of your first year.

Leiden Sterrewacht, the old observatory in Leiden

Does Leiden University already name the 2027-2028 cycle?

Yes, in part. The Leiden University tuition fee page gives its fees for the academic year 2027-2028. Psychology states that you can apply for the academic year 2027-2028 as of 1 October 2026. Political Science: International Relations and Organisations states that its 2027-2028 applications opened on 1 October 2026 and close on 15 January 2027. Leiden University College accepts applications for September 2027 from 1 October 2026 onwards. The central deadlines page, by contrast, gives standing dates without a year, so read those dates as the page stood in October 2026.

Leiden University does not print a QS, THE or ARWU position on its own rankings page; what it does publish is its age, founded in 1575, and the scale reported in its Annual Report for 2025: 33,494 students.

The Leiden University rankings page, titled "More Than Our Rank", names no table position, and it says: "we do not see rankings as the definitive measure of the quality of our research and teaching". For a position you can compare, open the publisher's current edition of QS, THE or ARWU directly.

Leiden University history

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and describes itself on its about page as one of the leading international research universities in Europe. Leiden University has seven faculties and a campus in both Leiden and The Hague, which matters for applicants because Leiden University College lists its location as The Hague, not Leiden.

Leiden University in numbers

Leiden University takes the figures on its facts page from its Annual Report for 2025. The staff figure excludes the Faculty of Medicine and LUMC, the university hospital. The share of international students among all students is not published on that page; the closest figure is the share of foreign nationals among new bachelor's students.

Leiden University's figure of 23% foreign nationals among 6,316 incoming bachelor's students covers Dutch-taught and English-taught programmes together; the page does not split the figure by programme or by language of teaching.

Leiden University does not publish an acceptance rate for its bachelor programmes or for international applicants; what it does publish is the number of places on its selective programmes, such as 600 in Psychology, 400 in International Relations and Organisations and 200 first-year students at Leiden University College. On every other bachelor, the gate is your diploma, your grades and your subjects, not a quota.

Leiden University gives no figure for applications, offers or the share of applicants admitted, for any bachelor programme. The two nearest numbers, Annual Report 2025 figures on the Leiden University facts page, describe students who are already in: 6,316 incoming bachelor's students, and a 14% drop-out rate after the first year of a bachelor's degree. Neither number tells you your chance of getting in.

Which Leiden University bachelors have a numerus fixus

A numerus fixus is a fixed cap on first-year places, filled through a selection and placement procedure. Leiden University's own pages do not agree on the list, so here is what each page says:

• The admission requirements page lists six: Biomedical Sciences (in Dutch) Clinical Technology (in Dutch) Criminology (in Dutch) International Relations and Organisations (in English) Medicine (in Dutch) Psychology (in English and in Dutch).
• The English application deadlines page lists eight, adding International Politiek (in Dutch) and Politicologie (in Dutch).
• The Leiden Study System page lists eight programmes with a registration deadline of 15 January, including Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences and Political Science.
• The International Relations and Organisations page says the Dutch-taught specialisation Nationale en Internationale Politiek has a later application deadline and no numerus fixus.

For an applicant from abroad, the two English-taught programmes that appear on every Leiden University list are International Relations and Organisations and Psychology. If you are considering a Dutch-taught programme from the longer lists, ask the programme which procedure applies to the 2027-2028 intake before the numerus fixus deadline, which the deadlines page gave as 15 January in October 2026.

Is admission guaranteed on Leiden University programmes without a cap?

No. Leiden University says that a diploma on its list does not mean it is always considered equivalent to a Dutch VWO diploma, nor that it will automatically guarantee you admission; grades, subjects followed and subject levels are also considered.

At Leiden University, all bachelor's programmes, with the exception of numerus fixus programmes, include mandatory matching. Matching is a step to help you test your choice, not a selection round: the African Studies page, for example, states that matching is compulsory but not binding.

How competitive are Leiden University's selective programmes?

Leiden University publishes no applicant counts for its selective programmes, but it is explicit that meeting the requirements is not enough. For numerus fixus programmes, even if you are admitted, you are not guaranteed a place on the programme. Leiden University College says that not everyone who applies can be admitted. For the academic year 2027-2028, the Institute of Psychology bases its selection on the grade average of your secondary school; the results on the Online Assessment; a draw, so part of the outcome is a lottery.

Leiden University offers more than 50 bachelor's programmes, and several are taught in English, among them International Relations and Organisations, the English track of Psychology and Leiden University College in The Hague. A Leiden University bachelor takes three years, at 60 EC (study credits) per year.

Leiden University does not publish one list of English-taught bachelors outside its programme search, so the table below lists the programmes that a Leiden University page marks as taught in English. The list is long but not complete; if a programme you want is missing, open its page and look for "Language" in the fact box.

Location matters for where you live and commute. Leiden University College lists its location as The Hague, and Leiden University has seven faculties and a campus in both Leiden and The Hague, so check the location line on each programme page before you look for housing.

Leiden University bachelors taught in Dutch

Several of Leiden University's most selective bachelors are taught only in Dutch. The Leiden University numerus fixus list marks Biomedical Sciences (in Dutch), Clinical Technology, Criminology and Medicine as Dutch-taught, and Psychology as running in English and in Dutch. For these programmes the language is also an entry rule: you must be proficient in Dutch to take part in the selection procedure for Dutch-taught numerus fixus programmes.

Leiden University's two counts of its own bachelors differ slightly: the bachelors page says more than 50, while the facts and figures page, based on the Annual Report 2025, lists 51 bachelor's programmes. Neither page splits the count by language, so Leiden University does not state how many of its bachelors are taught in English.

How a Leiden University bachelor is organised

A Leiden University bachelor runs for three years, and the nominal study load is 60 EC (study credits) per year. The first year carries the binding study advice, covered in its own chapter. Leiden University College works differently from the other programmes: your degree is a Bachelor of Science / Arts, depending on major.

New or changing Leiden University bachelors for 2027-2028

Leiden University names no new or discontinued bachelor programme for the 2027-2028 intake on its bachelors and admission pages. Before you apply, open the page of your programme and check that it still lists a September 2027 start.

Huygens and Oort buildings of Leiden University

You apply to a Leiden University bachelor in two steps, first in Studielink and then in uSis, Leiden's online application portal, and you pay an application fee of €100. Your deadline depends on the programme: according to the Leiden University deadlines page in October 2026, it is 15 January for numerus fixus programmes and 1 May for programmes with matching, moving to 1 April if you need a student visa or residence permit.

Leiden University application steps, in order

Leiden University asks all students applying for a bachelor's programme at Leiden University to start in Studielink, the national Dutch application system. Studielink opens for applications from 1 October; for September 2027 entry, Psychology opened its 2027-2028 applications as of 1 October 2026. After the Studielink step, Leiden University emails you login details for Leiden University's online application portal (uSis), which can take a few days to arrive.

In uSis you complete the actual application. Without a Dutch diploma that grants direct admission, you complete a two-part application procedure, and uSis is where you upload your documents. Some programmes add their own steps, such as matching, a selection procedure or an online assessment, described on the programme's page.

Documents Leiden University asks for

• Academic records: your academic records of all attended secondary and higher education (completed and uncompleted), including any national or entrance exam results. If you are still at school, upload the transcripts you have so far and your expected graduation date.
• Translations: documents in another language need official translations if they are not in English, Dutch, German or French.
• International Baccalaureate: your transcript with IB grades obtained so far, at least containing their first year's final grades, plus your final-year subjects and levels.
• US high school: any AP, SAT or ACT results obtained to date, or the subjects in which you will take AP exams.
• English test: you can apply for admission before receiving the results of your English language test; a sufficient result then becomes a condition of admission.
• CV: only if your academic/professional background is complex, irregular, or your graduation was not recent. Check your programme page for any additional documents.

Leiden University application fee

The application fee for Leiden University degree programmes is €100. It is non-refundable and covers applications to several programmes at once. Leiden University College is the exception: the LUC application fee does not entitle you to apply for other non-LUC programmes, so if you apply to LUC and to another Leiden University programme, you pay twice.

Leiden University deadlines for September 2027 entry

Leiden University's central deadlines page gives standing dates without a year; the dates below are as that page stated them in October 2026. Where a programme page names the 2027 cycle, the year is shown.

Leiden University College prints two different Regular deadlines. Its deadlines page shows 15 March, 2026, while the same page says that applications submitted in the online application portal (uSis) on 16 March 2027 or later will not be considered. For September 2027 entry, plan around the 2027 sentence and submit before 16 March 2027.

What happens after you apply to Leiden University

Leiden University decides within four to six weeks after it receives your application. There are three possible options: you are admitted, you are conditionally admitted (the decision letter lists the conditions), or you are not admitted.

If you are admitted or conditionally admitted, you confirm attendance in uSis. If you need a visa or residence permit, Leiden University can only request it after you confirm, so confirm attendance before the visa/residence permit deadline. On a numerus fixus programme you accept or decline an offer within 14 days of being offered a place. You arrange tuition fee payment before the programme starts, and you are only officially enrolled once you have received the Confirmation of Enrolment by email.

Every Leiden University bachelor requires a diploma that is at least equal to the Dutch pre-university diploma (VWO), and Leiden University's list for 2027/2028 spells out what that means per diploma: the full IB Diploma, A-Levels in three general, academic subjects with grades A-C, or a US high school diploma with a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 plus AP exams. That list is the minimum gate, not the level of the students Leiden University admits to its selective programmes.

With a non-Dutch diploma you cannot be automatically admitted, and must instead apply for admission; the Leiden University Admissions Office then assesses your file. Its document General admission: diploma requirements 2027/2028 lists the most common non-Dutch diplomas that meet the minimum, but being on the list is not a promise. Leiden University states that a listed diploma is not always equivalent to the VWO, nor that it will automatically guarantee you admission, because grades, subjects and subject levels also count.

Two Leiden University rules decide which part of the list applies to you. First, Leiden University applies the admission requirements of the curriculum you have followed, not those of an extra diploma or equivalency statement. Second, the listed requirements apply to diplomas earned after following the curriculum for at least 2 years; a diploma after 1 year or from an online school is judged case by case.

Leiden University IB requirements

Leiden University requires the full IB Diploma: individual IB certificates are not accepted, and if you followed the IB curriculum you are expected to obtain the diploma. The general list gives no minimum IB point score. When you apply, upload your transcript with IB grades obtained so far, at least containing their first year's final grades, and a list of your final-year subjects and levels. Science and medicine programmes add subject requirements, covered in the mathematics chapter.

Leiden University A-level requirements

Leiden University asks for A-Levels in three general, academic subjects with grades A to C. The accepted subjects are History, Biology, Classical Civilisation, Chemistry, Economics, Languages, Literature in English, Mathematics, Geography, Government and Politics, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Religion, and Sociology. If one of your A-levels is not on that list, 1 not-accepted subject may be compensated by strong grades (B or higher) in your other subjects, case by case. Upload your IGCSE results too, or your pre-A-level school diploma or transcript if you did not take IGCSEs.

Leiden University requirements for a US high school diploma

Leiden University asks for a High School Diploma from a college-preparatory programme with a minimum non-weighted GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0, combined with three College Board AP exams (grades 4-5) in different subjects or four AP exams (grade 3-5). AP exams are the main route. The SAT and the ACT are a fallback only: if you cannot submit sufficient AP scores or your school offers no AP courses, admission may still be possible with the SAT (>1300) or ACT (composite score >28), depending on the strength of your application.

For a US diploma from an international school outside the US, Leiden University adds that if you have also taken IB courses, it expects you to obtain the full IB diploma. Upload any AP, SAT or ACT results obtained to date, or the subjects in which you will sit AP exams.

Leiden University and the European Baccalaureate

The European Baccalaureate is on the Leiden University list without a published minimum score. When you apply, indicate in which subjects you will take your written and oral examinations. National diplomas from other EU countries are listed country by country; the next chapter covers them. If you do not expect to meet the minimum for your diploma, Leiden University names one alternative: first complete at least one year of a bachelor's programme at a research university in your country, with good results.

Some fields set subject rules on top of the diploma. Programmes in mathematics and natural sciences, medicine, classics, cyber security and cyber crime, and economics and society require knowledge of compulsory subjects at Dutch VWO (pre-university diploma) level, and for the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine Leiden University refers you to a specific diploma requirements document for science programmes.

Leiden University's diploma list for 2027/2028 sets a different minimum for each country: a Polish matura is listed with no minimum score and no extended-level subject, Portugal asks for a Média Final of at least 14 (out of 20), Greece for an average of at least 17 and India for CBSE grades of at least B1 B1 B1 B1, B2. The list is an indication of the minimum, not a promise of admission.

Leiden University and the Polish matura

For Poland, Leiden University lists exactly this: Świadectwo Ukończenia Liceum Ogólnokształcącego and a Świadectwo Dojrzałości from the Okręgowa or the Centralna Komisja Egzaminacyjna. The entry names no minimum percentage and no subject at extended level (poziom rozszerzony). For an English-taught programme, read the language test line under Poland in the same list: Leiden University says its diploma requirements list indicates if a language test exemption applies to your diploma or not. Programme subject rules, such as mathematics for science programmes, still apply on top.

Leiden University requirements for the Abitur, the French baccalauréat and other EU diplomas

For Germany, Leiden University lists the Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur) and exempts you from an English test if English was included in final year of Abitur. For France, it accepts the Diplôme du Baccalauréat Français International (previously the OIB option) as well as the general baccalauréat; the BFI with the Anglais section grants exemption from an English proficiency test.

Southern European diplomas carry explicit numbers. Portugal requires a Média Final of at least 14 (out of 20) and entrance exam scores of at least 120 over 4 national (entrance) exams. Greece asks for an Apolytirio average of at least 17, or a lower average combined with the Vevaiosi Prosvasis, as the table shows. Italy lists the state exam diploma from academic licei and the istituto magistrale, with no minimum grade in the entry.

Leiden University requirements for diplomas from outside the EU

For India, Leiden University accepts the All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE) with at least 5 general/academic subjects at positional grades of at least B1 B1 B1 B1, B2, or the Indian School Certificate (CISCE) with five academic subjects including mathematics, each above 70. If mathematics is not included, an additional (online) mathematics exam may be required. The NIOS certificate and the state-board Higher Secondary Certificate are also listed, each with each subject > 80%. The US diploma rules, with GPA and AP exams, are in the entry requirements chapter.

A foundation or access year does not replace your school diploma at Leiden University: your national diploma being the primary qualification in the assessment, a strong academic curriculum and very good results are required. If your diploma falls short, Leiden University names one alternative: complete at least one year of a bachelor's programme at a research university in your country, with good results.

The Leiden University country list is an indication

Leiden University says plainly that its list works in both directions. A listed diploma is not always equal to the VWO, nor that it will automatically guarantee you admission, because grades, subjects and levels are also considered. And if your country is not included on the Admissions Office's list, this does not mean that you will automatically be refused admission; you apply and the Admissions Office assesses your diploma individually.

At Leiden University, mathematics is required for the science programmes and for several social science programmes: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence asks for Analysis & Approaches HL in the IB or AP Calculus AB or BC in a US diploma, while Psychology and International Relations and Organisations want mathematics at Dutch VWO level. International Studies, a Humanities programme, names no specific subject.

Leiden University sets science subject rules in one PDF whose title reads Specific diploma requirements for science and medical programmes 2027-2028. Inside, a note still says the requirements described below are valid for admission to the academic year 2026-2027 only. The document is titled for 2027-2028 but carries a 2026-2027 validity note, so confirm the subject list for your programme with the Admissions Office if your plan depends on it.

Which Leiden University programmes require mathematics

Outside the Faculty of Science, two English-taught Leiden University programmes set a mathematics bar of their own. Psychology requires mathematics at pre-university level (i.e. VWO), and the general rule is that you should have taken mathematics throughout your entire high school career. For International Relations and Organisations, mathematics must be an equivalent to the level of mathematics at Dutch VWO level, and your curriculum must contain the areas of probability and statistics. If your school let you drop mathematics early, check this before you apply.

Leiden University programmes that require other subjects

Science for Sustainable Societies combines mathematics with two sciences or social sciences, as the table above shows for each diploma. The specific subjects may count towards the general diploma requirement, for example the three A-levels.

Medicine is taught in Dutch and has its own subject list in the specific diploma requirements document for science programmes; Dutch-taught programmes also require proof of Dutch, as set out in the language chapter.

How to make up a missing subject for Leiden University

If you meet the general diploma minimum but miss a subject, you can obtain certificates for the missing subject(s) in the Netherlands. Leiden University tells you which subjects are missing after you submit your application, and it names no separate deadline for the certificates on that page. For science programmes other than Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, Leiden University accepts Boswell-Bèta exams at vwo level, Dutch state exam certificates, CCVX certificates, or the online mathematics placement test:

• OMPT-D with minimum score of 60% for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Biology and Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• OMPT-A with a minimum score of 60% for Science for Sustainable Societies.

Leiden University programmes with no specific subject

International Studies asks international students only for an equivalent of a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) diploma plus English, with no named subject. Leiden University College is flexible on mathematics: if your mathematics skills are below what is stated on the diploma list, you can still be admitted to LUC. The other English-taught Humanities programmes use the same Faculty of Humanities diploma rules, but check each programme page for its own notes.

For the academic year 2027-2028, Leiden University selects English-taught applicants in three ways: Psychology ranks you on the grade average of your secondary school; the results on the Online Assessment; a draw, International Relations and Organisations combines your grade average with a multiple-choice online assessment on 18 February 2027 to 19 February 2027, and Leiden University College runs its own selection with a pre-admission class. Every other bachelor has compulsory matching, which is not a selection.

Selection applies only to Leiden University's numerus fixus programmes and to Leiden University College. The English-taught numerus fixus programmes are Psychology and International Relations and Organisations; Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Technology, Criminology and Medicine select in Dutch. The Dutch-taught specialisation Nationale en Internationale Politiek has a later application deadline and no numerus fixus. The acceptance rate chapter sets out where Leiden University's own lists differ.

Leiden University Psychology selection

The Institute of Psychology sorts candidates into 4 categories using two inputs. Candidates with a grade point average (GPA) higher than 7.5 (thus, 7.6 and higher) and a 'pass' on the Online Assessment are placed at the top; a GPA of 7.5 or lower with a pass comes second, then a higher GPA with a fail, then a lower GPA with a fail. Within each group, the exact ranking number will be determined by a drawing of lots. The 7.5 refers to the Dutch grading scale: with an international diploma, the Dutch equivalent of your GPA will be calculated under the supervision of Leiden University's Admissions Office.

Leiden University International Relations and Organisations selection

International Relations and Organisations ranks applicants on their grade average and an online assessment that consists of multiple choice questions. You submit your grade average by 31 January 2027, 23:59 CET, and the assessment is open only from Thursday 18 February 2027, 13:00 CET to Friday 19 February 2027, 23:59 CET. The page does not publish how the two parts are weighted. Your ranking number arrives on 15 April 2027; for Psychology it arrives on the 15th of April.

How Leiden University College selects

Leiden University College runs its own selection, which includes a pre-admission class with a written reflection. The online class lasts one hour, followed by 30 minutes for the reflection, which you are expected to write yourself without the use of AI. The Admissions Committee prioritises academics first, followed by English skills, motivation for studying Global Challenges, extracurricular activities and finally math skills. If you receive an offer, it is not possible to defer the start date of your studies.

Does Leiden University require the SAT, the ACT or an admission test?

No general admission test applies. Besides the selection procedures above (the Psychology and International Relations and Organisations online assessments among them) and the mathematics placement tests for missing subjects, Leiden University names no admission test. The SAT and the ACT appear only for US high school diplomas, as a fallback when AP scores fall short: admission may still be possible on basis of the SAT (>1300) or ACT (composite score >28), depending on the strength of your application.

Leiden University compulsory matching

At Leiden University, all bachelor's programmes, with the exception of numerus fixus programmes, include mandatory matching, an online module or activity that helps you check your choice. It is not a selection: the African Studies page, for example, says matching is compulsory but not binding and asks you to complete the matching between 1 December and 31 August. Your own programme sets its matching dates, so check its page.

Most English-taught Leiden University bachelors, Psychology among them, ask for IELTS Academic 6.0 overall and 6.0 for each separate component or TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall, with at least 4.5 per component, while Leiden University College asks for more: IELTS 7.0 overall and at least 6.0 per component.

Each English-taught programme page carries its own English test minimums. As of October 2026, the Psychology admission page carries the standard set that the other programme pages below repeat, and the Leiden University College page carries a higher set.

The TOEFL scale changed in January 2026. On the Psychology page, a TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026 needs 80 overall and 20 for each separate component; Leiden University College asks for an overall score of 100 and at least 20 for each separate component if you took the test between September 2025 and January 2026. The Science for Sustainable Societies page still lists only three kinds of official tests, with TOEFL at 80 overall and 20 for each separate component and no LanguageCert or PTE. If you apply there with a new-scale TOEFL, ask the Admissions Office which bar applies.

The same standard minimums appear on the admission pages of the other English-taught programmes. A dash means no minimum for that test is shown here: Science for Sustainable Societies lists neither LanguageCert nor PTE, and for the other two dashes see the programme page.

Who is exempt from the Leiden University English test

• You hold an International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP) taught in English or with English A HL.
• You completed your entire secondary or higher education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada), Singapore, South-Africa or Malta. This includes schools elsewhere that are accredited in those countries' systems, if obtained after having attended for at least 2 years.
• You hold a German Abitur and English was included in your final year at least at Grundkurslevel.
• You hold the French Baccalauréat Français International with the Anglais section, which grants exemption from an English proficiency test.
• You hold a European Baccalaureate with English language 1, or English language 2 with at least 4 other courses taught in English during the last cycle.
• You hold a US high school diploma after attending an accredited US high school for at least 2 years.
• You hold a Dutch VWO diploma: on the Psychology page, no English test is needed if you have obtained a Dutch VWO diploma.

For other diplomas, Leiden University's diploma requirements list indicates if a language test exemption applies to your diploma or not. Even with an exemption, an applicant whose documents cast doubt on their English may be asked to sit an English exam.

Tests Leiden University does not accept, and when to submit

Leiden University does not accept TOEFL My Best scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials or institutional tests such as ITP. It does not accept the IELTS Academic Online unless test centres in your country are closed or unsafe, and it does not accept IELTS General Training. You can apply before you have your result; the score then becomes a condition of admission. Psychology recommends that you complete the English proficiency test by 15 January, and its scores cannot be older than 2 years at the application deadline. For Leiden University College, your test date cannot be older than September 2025 if you wish to start in August 2027.

Leiden University Dutch language requirements

For Dutch-taught bachelors you must be proficient in Dutch and English, and for the selection of Dutch-taught numerus fixus programmes you must be proficient in Dutch. Leiden University accepts the Dutch NT2-II diploma for the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine, and for all faculties the Dutch TUL advanced exam or CNAvT Educatief Startbekwaam or Educatief Professioneel. Holders of an IB Diploma with Dutch B Higher or Dutch A SL/HL can be exempted from a Dutch test.

For the academic year 2027-2028, a first-year Leiden University bachelor student pays the statutory fee of €2,771, while students who are not nationals of an EEA country, Suriname or Switzerland pay an institutional fee: €14,700 in Humanities, €19,200 in Science and €31,400 in Medicine.

The institutional fee applies to students who are not nationals of an EEA country, Suriname or Switzerland, with one exception: if, on the basis of your Dutch residence permit, you are eligible for student finance from the Dutch education agency (DUO), you are entitled to pay the statutory tuition fee. DUO publishes which residence permits qualify.

Leiden University College fees

Leiden University College adds an institutional fee to the tuition fee; the university fee table shows €3,070 for 2027-2028. On the LUC fees page, the EU/EEA fee for 2027-2028 is estimated at €2,771, for an estimated total of €5,841. Without an EU/EEA nationality the fee is €18,050 and the total €21,120. The LUC fee table marks the standard tuition fee and the LUC fee with a note that this is still an estimate, so treat the 2027-2028 LUC figures as estimates. Students living on the LUC campus also pay a campus fee of €657 for 2027-2028.

How and when you pay Leiden University tuition

Leiden University asks you to arrange tuition fee payment before the official start date of your study programme. If you need a residence permit, the money has to be visible earlier: you must demonstrate you are able to pay the tuition fee for the first 12 months of your studies, on top of proof of €13,800 for living costs, an amount Leiden University marks as valid as of 2026. The tuition pages do not describe instalment plans, so ask the Admissions Office before you plan around one.

Living costs in Leiden and The Hague

For students in Leiden and The Hague, Leiden University puts rent, including water, gas and electricity, at €400 to €800 per month, and warns that cheaper rooms are scarce, so be prepared to pay in the upper range. The same table puts groceries at €244 a month, based on figures provided by Nibud (Dutch Institute for Family Finance Information). Leiden University calls these figures a rough indication; actual spending can vary greatly from student to student.

Leiden University says it has a number of scholarship programmes for international students, but it publishes their amounts and conditions per scheme, not as a single figure; the one bachelor-level aid with a dated rule is LUC Financial Support, for which you must apply by the Early Bird deadline of 1 December 2026. Plan your funding before your admission deadline, because scholarship deadlines can often be earlier.

Leiden University's admission pages name no scholarship amount for a first-year bachelor student, so build your budget on tuition and living costs first and treat any scholarship as an addition.

Who can get a Leiden University scholarship, and how to apply

Leiden University College runs its own aid scheme, LUC Financial Support, and the application has to go in with the Early Bird round by 1 December 2026. For the university-wide scholarship programmes, the eligibility rules, grade conditions and amounts are set per scheme on Leiden University's scholarship pages; check each scheme for whether it covers bachelor students and your nationality.

Dutch student finance (DUO) for EU students at Leiden University

Leiden University is direct about DUO: Dutch student finance is primarily intended for Dutch students, although other nationality, residency or employment criteria can open a grant or a tuition fee loan. DUO decides eligibility, not Leiden University, so do not build your budget on it until DUO confirms.

If you live on the LUC campus in The Hague, all studio apartments on the LUC campus qualify for rent subsidy from the Dutch government, which Leiden University puts at approximately €260 (2025) per month if you have no income. US students should note that Leiden University is not currently participating in any US Federal loans, FAFSA or VA benefit schemes.

At Leiden University you continue your bachelor only if you earn at least 45 out of a possible 60 credits by the end of your first year, plus any additional requirements of your programme; if you don't meet these requirements, you cannot continue this programme at Leiden University. If you hold a student residence permit, a second check runs alongside: Leiden University checks your study progress each year by 31 August.

The binding study advice, known in Dutch as the BSA, is a first-year rule. It applies by the end of your first year. A negative advice means you cannot continue that programme at Leiden University.

Leiden University programmes with different BSA rules

Leiden University's general BSA rule adds that you must have met any other additional requirements to continue, which leaves room for programme-specific conditions. The central pages do not name programmes with a higher credit norm or extra conditions, so check your programme's own rules before you start.

Study progress rule for residence permit holders

Holders of a student residence permit follow a separate timetable. As a permit holder you must meet a study progress requirement, and Leiden University checks that you have met the study progress requirement by 31 August each year, warning you by email in mid-May, June and July if you are at risk. If you fall short, Leiden University must notify the immigration service, and the IND will then cancel your student residence permit. That notification can only be withheld if your study programme's Board of Examiners issues an official decision that exceptional circumstances caused the delay.

Leiden University does not guarantee housing to its bachelor students, except at Leiden University College in The Hague: elsewhere, housing can unfortunately not be guaranteed to any students, regardless of length of stay, and bachelor students come last in the queue for the rooms Leiden University reserves through DUWO, at € 425 to € 1200 a month. Leiden University College offers guaranteed housing on campus, at a rent of approximately €790 a month.

Leiden University reserves a number of rooms for international students via DUWO, a local housing agency, every semester, but it allocates them by length of stay. Exchange students come first, then one-year master's students, and last students studying for longer than one year (i.e. Bachelor and two-year Master). For a bachelor student the practical message from Leiden University is plain: you are highly advised to arrange housing yourself.

When to apply for Leiden University housing

Leiden University reserves its rooms through DUWO and gives priority to shorter stays, so as a bachelor student apply for housing as soon as you can and look at the private market at the same time. Applying costs €285.

Leiden University College housing in The Hague

Leiden University College works differently. LUC offers guaranteed housing on campus: single studio apartments which are fully furnished, at approximately €790 a month, a rent that changes every year. On top comes the campus fee: the campus fee for the academic year 2027-2028 is €657.

Finding housing yourself in Leiden

Leiden University is blunt about the private market: "if you haven't found a place to live before leaving home, we strongly advise you not to come to Leiden University". Start looking as soon as you apply, budget for the upper end of the rent range, and check whether your programme is taught in Leiden or in The Hague before you sign anything.

Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratorium, Leiden University

Whether you need a visa for Leiden University depends on your passport: EU, EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a visa or residence permit. Everyone else should check the Leiden University visa page for their nationality, and if you need a student visa or residence permit, your admission deadline is 1 April, according to the Leiden University deadlines page as of October 2026.

Applying for the permit and the money you must show

Leiden University can only request the permit after you confirm your place, so confirm attendance before the visa/residence permit deadline. The Leiden University deadlines page puts the application deadline for anyone who needs a student visa or residence permit at 1 April.

The residence permit application includes proof of money. Leiden University requires proof of sufficient funds for your living expenses for the first 12 months of your studies, and the amount listed is €13,800, marked as valid as of 2026. That amount can change, so check it again before you apply for 2027 entry.

Study progress while you hold a permit

A student residence permit comes with a study obligation. As a permit holder, you must meet a study progress requirement, which Leiden University checks by 31 August each year; with insufficient progress, the IND will then cancel your student residence permit. This sits alongside the first-year binding study advice; both are explained in the chapter on the binding study advice.

After you arrive: town hall registration

After you arrive, Leiden University tells you soon after arrival you must register at your local town hall for which you will need an official Dutch address. That makes your housing contract a document you need on day one, not only a place to sleep. For permit holders the stakes are higher: failure to do so can result in the cancellation of your permit.

Working during your studies and staying after graduation

The Leiden University visa pages do not set out the rules for part-time work during your bachelor or for staying in the Netherlands after graduation, including the orientation year. Treat both as open questions until you have checked the Leiden University student website and the Dutch immigration service (IND) for your own permit type, and do not plan your budget around earnings that the permit might not allow.

Leiden University suits applicants who hold a diploma at least equal to the Dutch pre-university diploma (VWO), can accept a first-year study check of 45 out of a possible 60 credits, and apply early: applications for 2027-2028 opened as of 1 October 2026 in Psychology, and the first fixed date is the Leiden University College Early Bird deadline of 1 December, 2026.

Who Leiden University suits, and who should think twice

• Suits you: a strong secondary-school record at VWO level or above, a clear choice of programme, and a plan to finish the first year on time. The binding study advice means only if you have attained at least 45 out of a possible 60 credits by the end of your first year, as well as having met any other additional requirements, will you be allowed to continue your programme.
• Think twice: if your plan depends on one selective programme. Leiden University College The Hague and 'numerus fixus' study programmes have a selective admission procedure. This means that meeting the admission requirements does not guarantee a place. Name a second option you would accept.
• Check the money: the statutory tuition fee for first-year bachelor students in 2027-2028 is €2,771. Students who are not nationals of an EEA country, Suriname or Switzerland pay the institutional fee, which is €14,700 at the Faculties of Archaeology and Humanities, with other faculties on their own tariffs.

Check again before you apply

Two things on the Leiden University pages are tied to one year or labelled as subject to change, so confirm each one when you apply.

• Subject and diploma requirements: the Leiden University science programmes document says the requirements described below are valid for admission to the academic year 2026-2027 only. Requirements can change each year.
• Leiden University College fees: the fees page says this is still an estimate. These fees are subject to change annually.

The list of programmes that use a numerus fixus differs between Leiden University pages, so confirm yours in the chapter on the acceptance rate and on the programme's own page before you rely on an open-entry route.

Official pages and documents of Leiden University, all on universiteitleiden.nl, each checked on 18 Oct 2026. No ranking table is cited. Every number on this page links to the page it comes from.

About us - Leiden University · Facts and figures - Leiden University · Application deadlines - Leiden University · Tuition fee - Leiden University · Financial matters - Leiden University · Admission requirements - Leiden University · Admission requirements - Leiden University · General admission: diploma requirements 2027/2028 · Leiden Study System - Leiden University · Application deadline - Leiden University · Application, selection and placement - Leiden University · Application deadlines - Leiden University · Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (BA/BSc) - Leiden University College - Leiden University · More Than Our Rank - Leiden University · Selection & Placement - Leiden University · Application and selection - Leiden University · Matching - Leiden University · Step 5: Complete the online matching module - Leiden University · Bachelors - Leiden University · Study progress requirements - Leiden University · https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/binaries/content/assets/studentenwerving/scm/admission-and-application/specific-diploma-requirements-science-programmes.pdf · Step 1: Check the admission requirements - Leiden University · Step 1: Check the admission requirements - Leiden University · Step 1: Check the admission requirements - Leiden University · Step 1: Check the admission requirements - Leiden University · Step 1: Check the admission requirements - Leiden University · Step 1: Check the admission requirements - Leiden University · Step 1: Check the admission requirements - Leiden University · Admission requirements - Leiden University · Application procedure - Leiden University · Required documents - Leiden University · Language requirements – Bachelor’s programmes · Entry requirements - Leiden University · Admission requirements - Leiden University · Admission and Application - Leiden University · Admission requirements - Leiden University · Admission requirements - Leiden University · Fees and finances - Leiden University · Proof of funds and fees - Leiden University · Via Leiden University - Leiden University · Housing - Leiden University · Visas and residence permits - Leiden University

Photos: Leiden University building on the Rapenburg canal in Leiden: photo Rudolphous, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Leiden Sterrewacht, the old observatory in Leiden: photo Marianne Cornelissen-Kuyt, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · Huygens and Oort buildings of Leiden University: photo Samwalton9, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratorium, Leiden University: photo C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons