Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship Programme (LExS) is available to exceptional non-EEA/non-EFTA students who are enrolled in a full-time master’s degree program at Leiden University, except all Humanities programmes and LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School.
The LExS is conferred for the entire term of the study programme. There are five (5) tiers of awards available:
- € 10,000 of the tuition fee.
- € 15,000 of the tuition fee.
- € 17,500 of the tuition fee.
- € 18,500 of the tuition fee.
- € 19,000 of the tuition fee.
Upon being awarded a LExS, the award level is definitive and non-negotiable. The LExS is not a full scholarship and does not encompass the total cost of your studies. Always remember that a substantial personal contribution will be necessary. Non-EEA LExS recipients must provide “proof of sufficient funds” for their student visa or residence permit application.
To apply for LexS:
Firstly, you must submit an online application for admission to a Master’s programme at Leiden University. Upon applying for admission, if you qualify for the LExS, it will now be displayed in the scholarships section of the online application system. Indicate that you want to apply for the LExS, and then upload your motivation letter for the LExS scholarship.
Ensure you submit your scholarship application before the LExS deadline.
When applying for several study programmes or specialisations, you must submit a distinct LExS application and motivation letter for each individual online admission application.
Please note that applications for scholarships submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. The student is responsible for ensuring the submission of both their admission application and scholarship application prior to the LExS deadline.
Scholarship Closing Date
01/02/2025
Student Type
- International Students
Level of Study
- masters
Study Area
- Any/All fields of study
Scholarship Value
Up to € 19,000 of the tuition fee
Scholarship Eligibility
Students must have achieved excellent academic results in their previous study programme(s), which must be relevant to the Master’s programme for which they are applying. As an indication, the student is amongst the top 10% of graduates in his/her previous study programme. Note: Proof of ranking is not required – this information is purely to indicate the level of competitiveness.
Applicants must possess a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport. They may be ineligible for student funding from the Dutch government (Studiefinanciering), except for students applying for the programmes specified below, for which no nationality limitations apply:
- All LLM Advanced Studies programmes.
- MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy.
*EEA/EFTA: All EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Scholarship Application Link
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/scholarships/sea/leiden-university-excellence-scholarship-lexs