Leiden University Excellence Scholarships

Leiden University offers the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) to high-achieving international students from outside the EEA/EFTA region who are pursuing a full-time master’s degree at the university.

Host Institution
Leiden University, located in the Netherlands

Eligible Programmes

• The scholarship applies to most full-time master’s degree programmes at Leiden University, with the following exceptions:
• Non-advanced LLM and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School
• February-intake programmes at the Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Sciences, and Leiden Law School

Who Can Apply?

• Students from non-EEA/non-EFTA countries (exceptions apply for certain advanced programmes)
• Applicants must not qualify for Dutch government study financing (Studiefinanciering)
• For specific programmes like the LLM Advanced Studies and MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy, students of all nationalities are eligible

Scholarship Amounts

-LExS offers three tiers of financial support:

-€10,000 toward tuition fees

-€15,000 toward tuition fees

– Full tuition fee minus the statutory Dutch tuition fee

Note: LExS does not cover all study-related costs. Recipients must provide proof of sufficient funds when applying for a visa or residence permit.

 Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must show excellent academic performance relevant to the master’s programme they’re applying for.
• As a guideline, students should be in the top 10% of graduates from their previous academic institution (no proof of ranking is required).

Application Process

• Apply for admission to an eligible master’s programme at Leiden University via the official application portal.
• If eligible, the option to apply for the LExS will appear in the scholarships section of the portal.
• Indicate your interest and upload a motivation letter specific to the LExS.

  Website:

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