Leids Universiteits Fonds - Leiden University Fund – Het Leids Universiteits Fonds (LUF)

What the Leiden University Fund (LUF) offers

The LUF pays travel and living grants so you can do research or a work placement abroad as part of your degree at Leiden University in the Netherlands. The two main lines for students are the LUF International Study Fund (LISF), which gives up to 1,750 EUR for a research stay abroad, and a placement grant of up to 900 EUR for an internship abroad. Each year the single best LISF application also wins the Janneke Fruin-Helb bonus of 500 EUR. The grants cover real costs such as travel, visa, vaccinations, accommodation, local transport, food, entry fees at your host institution and extra insurance. The LUF is the official fund of Leiden University, financed by donations from alumni and other supporters. Some faculties have separate specialist lines, for example up to 10,000 EUR for internal medicine placements and up to 5,000 EUR for Roman archaeology or China studies research.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled at Leiden University.
• Study level: You are a bachelor's or master's student and have already passed your first-year foundation exams (propedeuse).
• Field of study: Open to all subjects. Some faculties add extra funding for medicine, archaeology, China studies and more.
• Purpose: Your stay abroad must be part of your degree. Your research must end in a written report, thesis or academic publication.
• Limit: You may submit one application at most per bachelor's or master's programme.
• Destination: You cannot travel to countries under an official orange or red travel warning.

How to apply

You apply through the LUF grant portal (subsidie.luf.nl). You send a short project description, a motivation, a budget, your transcript, a confirmation letter from your host abroad and a reference signed by a Leiden lecturer, coordinator or study advisor. For LISF the deadlines fall roughly four times a year (in 2026: 19 February, 30 April, 24 August and 5 November). About a week before the committee meets, you attend a short in-person interview of around 15 minutes in Leiden with two committee members. A video call is not possible.

How realistic are your chances?

These grants are open only to Leiden University students, so you compete within your own university rather than the whole country. If your stay abroad clearly fits your degree and you can show a solid research plan and budget, your prospects are good, especially since you can apply at several deadlines each year. The in-person interview in Leiden means a well-prepared, committed applicant stands out.