Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)

You get a tuition-fee discount of 10,000 EUR, 15,000 EUR, 17,500 EUR, 18,500 EUR or 19,000 EUR. You get one fixed level, and it runs for the full length of your Master's programme. Leiden University in the Netherlands gives this award to top international Master's students based on their grades. It only lowers your tuition fee, so you still need to fund a large part of your studies yourself. Non-EEA students must also prove they have enough money for a visa or residence permit.

Who can apply

• Level: You apply for a full-time Master's programme at Leiden University that starts in September. February starts are not funded.
• Field of study: Open to all faculties (Archaeology, Humanities, Medicine/LUMC, Governance and Global Affairs, Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Science). The LLM (non-advanced) and the MSc programmes at Leiden Law School are excluded.
• Nationality: You need a passport from outside the EEA/EFTA (the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), and you must not qualify for Dutch government student finance. UK students count as non-EEA and can apply. Exception: for all LLM Advanced Studies programmes and the MSc International Relations and Diplomacy, any nationality can apply.
• Grades: You have excellent results in your previous studies, roughly the top 10% of your graduating class. You do not need a formal ranking.
• No earlier Leiden Master's: You have not already earned a Master's degree from Leiden University. Exception: your new programme requires a specific prior Master's or work experience, such as an LLM Advanced Studies.
• Other funding: You cannot combine the LExS with a full scholarship from another provider. A partial external scholarship may be possible if you check first with the Scholarships Team.

How to apply

First apply for admission to a Leiden Master's programme through the online portal. Then select the LExS under 'Scholarships' in the same portal. It only appears once you have submitted your admission application and you qualify. Add a motivation letter of up to 500 words as a PDF and submit before the deadline: 1 February for a September start. Each faculty's selection committee nominates recipients within 10 weeks, and you hear the result by email by the end of March at the latest.

How realistic are your chances?

Leiden awards around 25 LExS scholarships a year against more than 1,000 applications, so competition is heavy. Strong grades are the baseline, not the edge. A convincing motivation letter and a clear fit with your chosen programme are what set applicants apart. Applying early with a complete, polished application gives you the best shot.