Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 2025 | Apply Now

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) provides financial support to exceptional international students pursuing a master’s degree at Leiden University in the Netherlands. It is awarded based on academic merit

This guide provides information about the scholarship, its benefits, and a clear step-by-step guide to the application process.

About the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship:

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is a tuition fee scholarship for outstanding international students applying for a Master’s at Leiden University, Netherlands. It is awarded based on academic merit and usually provides around €15,000 per year. The number and amount of scholarships vary by faculty budget. Founded in 1575, Leiden University is a leading European research university, and LExS supports talented students in achieving their academic goals.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), applicants must meet specific requirements related to their study programme, nationality, and academic performance. Below are the main criteria to qualify for this scholarship at Leiden University:

• Applicants must be applying for a Master’s programme at Leiden University starting in September.
• The following programmes are not eligible for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS): all Master’s programmes at the Faculty of Humanities, and LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School.
• Applicants must hold a non-EEA passport (non-European Economic Area: not from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway) and a non-EFTA passport (non-European Free Trade Association: not from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland).
• Applicants must not be eligible for Dutch government student finance (Studiefinanciering).
• Nationality restrictions do not apply to applicants of all LLM Advanced Studies programmes and the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy.
• Students from the United Kingdom are eligible to apply, as the UK is considered a non-EEA country. However, this does not apply to applicants who were already living in the Netherlands and registered in the Dutch municipal BRP before 1 January 2021.
• Applicants must have excellent academic results in their previous studies, relevant to the Master’s programme they are applying for.
• As a general guideline, applicants should be among the top 10% of graduates from their previous academic programme. (Proof of ranking is not required; this is only an indication of the expected level of academic excellence.)
• Selected students must agree in writing to the Terms and Conditions of the scholarship before it is officially awarded.
• The scholarship cannot be awarded to applicants who have already obtained a Master’s degree from Leiden University, except when applying to a programme that explicitly requires a previous Master’s degree or relevant professional experience (such as the LLM Advanced Studies).
• The scholarship is not available to applicants applying to:
  • A Master’s programme at the Faculty of Humanities
  • An LLM (non-advanced) or MSc programme at Leiden Law School
  • A programme starting in February
• Applicants who do not meet the nationality requirements are excluded, as are those receiving a full scholarship from an external provider.

Note: For complete details on eligibility criteria, visit the official website of Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS).

Benefits:

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is awarded for the duration of the study programme and provides the following benefits through five levels of awards:

• €19,000 of the tuition fee
• €18,500 of the tuition fee
• €17,500 of the tuition fee
• €15,000 of the tuition fee
• €10,000 of the tuition fee

Note: If awarded the LExS, the scholarship amount is final and cannot be changed. The LExS is a partial scholarship and does not cover the full cost of studies, so a significant personal contribution is required. Non-EEA (non-European Economic Area: not from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway) students must still provide proof of sufficient funds when applying for their student visa or residence permit.

Note: For complete details of the benefits, visit the official website of Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS).

Application Deadline:

To apply for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), applications must be submitted by the following dates:

• 1 February for programmes starting in September

Note: For the most up-to-date and detailed deadlines, visit the official website of Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)..

Requirements:

To apply for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), applicants must submit the following requirements as part of their Master’s programme application. Note this are general requirements.

General Required Documents

• Completed application for a Master’s programme at Leiden University
• Valid passport copy
• Official academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter explaining why the scholarship is requested
• Two academic reference letters
• Proof of English language proficiency (if required by the programme)
• Any additional documents requested by the specific Master’s programme

Note: For complete details about the requirements, visit the official Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) page.

How to Apply: Step-by-step

To apply for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), it is important to follow the application process carefully. Below are the key steps to submit a complete application for this scholarship.

Step 1: Apply for Admission

Apply online for admission to a Master’s programme at Leiden University and pay the application fee if applicable.

Note: It can take up to 3 working days to create and submit an application, so start early before the LExS deadline.

Step 2: Check Scholarship Eligibility

After submitting the admission application, return to the Apply screen in the online account and click on the Scholarships section.
If eligible, the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) will be visible there.

Note: If LExS is not visible, this may indicate that the admission application has not been submitted, the deadline has passed, or eligibility criteria have not been met.

Step 3: Submit LExS Motivation Letter

Indicate the intention to apply for the LExS and upload a motivation letter.

• The motivation letter must be a PDF file, maximum 500 words, explaining the reasons for seeking the scholarship.

Step 4: Submit Scholarship Application

Complete and submit the scholarship application before the LExS deadline.

Important: After submission, no changes or additional documents can be added online or via email.

Step 5: Applying for Multiple Programmes

If applying for multiple Master’s programmes or specialisations and wishing to apply for the LExS for each, a separate scholarship application and motivation letter must be submitted for each programme within the respective admission applications.

Note: For more detailed information, visit the official website of Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS).

Contact Details:

For any queries about the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), the fastest response can be obtained by using the following contact options:

• Email: scholarships@sea.leidenuniv.nl
• Telephone consultation hours:
  • Tuesday: 10:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 16:00
  • Thursday: 10:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 16:00
• Phone number: +31 (0)71 527 7192

Note: This contact information is current as of the time of writing and is sourced from the official Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS).

Final Thought:

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) offers opportunity for outstanding international students to pursue a Master’s degree at one of Europe’s leading institutions. With a focus on academic excellence and global impact, this scholarship supports talented individuals in achieving their educational goals in the Netherlands. Make sure to check all the requirements and apply on time.

Don’t forget to explore other scholarships that may assist in funding your education, whether they are local, National, or international.

Check out the scholarship guides on this website for additional options.

Reference:

• Leiden University. (n.d.). Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS). Leiden University. Retrieved May 21, 2025, from https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/scholarships/sea/leiden-university-excellence-scholarship-lexs
• Leiden University. (n.d.). Admission and application. Retrieved May 21, 2025, from https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/admission-and-application
• Scholarship Roar. (2024, November 18). Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025, from https://scholarshiproar.com/leiden-university-excellence-scholarships-lexs/