Leiden University is one of the oldest institutions in the Netherlands, with nearly 28,000 students from all over the world. With time, it has emerged as one of the acclaimed research institutions in Europe. Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is well known for creating a safe space for students to innovate and grow in.
Improvement in the Leiden University ranking tally over the years is quite impressive and shows the institution’s dedication to student and faculty needs.
In the 2022 QS World University Rankings, it ranked #112. Similarly, the World University Rankings by Times Higher Education for 2022 place the institution at 71st place.
The university has no central campus and has different buildings all over the city. Currently, the institution is located in the following locations:
Leiden,
The Hague
Both the cities offer courses in all seven academic departments. Over 20% of the population is based on the Hague campus.
Research Facilities at Leiden University
Leiden University is internationally recognized for its research programs in the following areas:
Fundamentals of Science
Health and Wellbeing
Languages, Cultures, and Societies
Law, Politics, and Administration
Life Sciences
Artificial Intelligence
The university also has multiple state-of-the-art laboratories for supporting various research. These laboratories are based in different buildings like Pieter de la Court, LUMC, LUBEC, and LEVEL. Here, candidates can actively use high-tech equipment to work on their projects.
The languages of instruction at Leiden University are Dutch and English.
Academics at Leiden University
Leiden University invites admission applications in two cycles, starting in September and February. If a student requires a Dutch visa, the deadline for the last submission is 1 April and 15 October, respectively. If not, the deadline is 15 June and 1 September, respectively.
Admission Process at Leiden University
Leiden University’s admission process is pretty straightforward. A student must follow the below-mentioned steps:
Select the program they want to apply for and fill out the application via the Studielink portal. However, that’s not adequate to confirm the submission. They must also start filling out the application on the official website.
24 hours after applying on the Studielink, they will receive an email ‘ULCN account registration’ that will allow them to activate the ID.
Check the details about the documents required and upload them on the application portal. The students should note that they will only be allowed to submit PDFs.
Once completed, they should submit the application. They will then receive a confirmation mail within 2 days.
Admission Requirements for Leiden University
To get the application approved, the students need to meet the following Leiden University admission requirements:
If they choose to study Dutch-medium courses, they will have to prove proficiency in English and Dutch. For international students, whose first language is not English, they will have to provide language test scores for admission to English-based courses. Leiden University accepts IELTS, TOEFL, and CAE.
For securing admission to any undergraduate program at Leiden University, the students should have a diploma that is at least equal to the Dutch pre-university diploma (VWO). Indian students need to pass high school with at least five subjects, including Mathematics. Scores in CBSE and CISCE certificates must be greater than 70% for individual subjects. Similarly, scores for NIOS and state board certificates must be greater than 80% for each subject.
For admission to any postgraduate program, they must have a BA/BSc or any other equivalent degree. Furthermore, the specific requirements for each program vary.
The students must have a Dutch’s master diploma or an equivalent degree for admission to any research program.
Leiden University’s acceptance rate is 51%.
Courses Offered at Leiden University
Leiden University offers almost 50 Bachelor’s courses and more than 70 Master’s programs. They can study at different education levels and opt for graduate, postgraduate, research, non-degree, and summer school courses.
UG Courses
Some of the courses at the undergraduate level are available in the following areas of interest:
Law, Economics and Governance
Media, Arts and Culture
International Relations
Exact and Information Sciences
Archaeology and History
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences
Astronomy
PG Courses
Some of the popular postgraduate courses are as follows:
Applied Neuroscience in Human Development
Arts, Literature and Media
Criminal Law and Criminology
Education and Child Studies
Population Health Management
European and International Human Rights Law
Cyber Security
Arts and Culture
Credit & Grading System at Leiden University
Leiden University works according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and grades the student reports accordingly. One semester consists of 30 credits. Therefore, to pass a 3-year undergraduate program, students require 180 credits.
Here is the Dutch Marking system:
Marks/Grade
Remarks
10
Outstanding
9
Excellent
8
Very good
7
Good pass
6
Sufficient
5.5
Minimum Pass
5
Lower, Insufficient
P
Pass
F
Fail
WD
Withdrawn
I
Incomplete
Source: Official university website
Additionally, the grading system for different study programs is as follows:
M Archaeology
Grade
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
Absolute %
6.0
7.7
18.3
22.9
22.6
13.6
7.2
1.5
0.2
Cumulative %
100
94.0
86.4
68.1
45.2
22.5
8.9
1.7
0.2
Source: Official university website
B German Language and Culture
Grade
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
Absolute %
18.4
9.3
15.7
17.2
15.9
9.8
8.0
5.1
0.6
Cumulative %
100
81.6
72.3
56.6
39.4
23.5
13.6
5.7
0.6
Source: Official university website
M Biomedical Sciences
Grade
6
7
8
9
10
Absolute %
29.9
15.8
37.3
15.8
1.2
Cumulative %
100
70.1
54.4
17.0
1.2
Source: Official university website
B Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Management
Grade
C-
C
C+
B-
B
B+
A-
A/A+
Absolute %
1.1
3.4
4.1
7.9
14.2
25.1
28.1
16.2
Cumulative %
100
98.9
95.5
91.4
83.5
69.4
44.3
16.2
Source: Official university website
Some of the top programs is also based in the business and management domain. Additionally, Leiden University offers PhD programs for research aspirants. Every candidate is enrolled in one of the following schools:
Graduate School of Archaeology
Graduate School of Humanities
Graduate School of Medicine
Graduate School of Science
Graduate School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Graduate School of Law
Graduate School of Governance and Global Affairs
Academic Calander of Leiden University
The academic calendar for session 2022-23:
Semester 1- 5 September 2022- 5 February 2023
Semester 2- 6 February 2023- 9 July 2023
Some of the key inclusions and public holidays to note are:
Relief of Leiden- 3 October 2022
Christmas and New Year- 25 December 2022 – 1 January 2023
Extracurriculars and Diversity at Leiden University
For an individual’s personal and professional growth, it is crucial to network with people from different cultures. Doing so help students understand life events from a broader perspective and ultimately helps build their acumen.
At Leiden University, students get an opportunity to study alongside 34,000 students coming from over 130 countries.
Various student clubs support extracurricular activities and promote networking among students. International people get a chance to join ISN Leiden and Leiden United to integrate into the community. Here, they will find multiple social and informative events to bridge the cultural gap.
Additionally, there are various sports, music, cultural, and religious associations to choose from. If a student is confused about which club to join, they can simply check them out online or even drop by during the HOP introduction week.
The students can visit the parties, talk to existing members, and find their tribe at the university.
Career/Professional at Leiden University
Career planning is crucial for students to consider before finalizing where to pursue further education. For that, there is a strict requirement for a proper guidance cell that can advise students on how to explore their interests and find relevant work opportunities.
Leiden University has a dedicated Career Zone that focuses on preparing the students for the job market after completing their degree. This online portal helps them take career, personality, competency, and team tests to determine their preparation level.
Additionally, there is a Career Route Planner for students facing trouble deciding what to pursue further. The institution assigns specific activities per semester to determine their interest areas.
The Career Orientation Process is the right platform for any candidate to get introduced to the job market. Here, they can find part-time work, internships, training or volunteer work as a student. If they want to connect with the Alumni regarding any work opportunities, they can also do that by joining the Mentor Network.
Leiden University is actively involved in shaping the career of all the students enrolled. The career advice desk helps them fill out applications, prepare CVs, and take mock interviews. The institution also organizes multiple career events and workshops to help students figure out their future paths.
Famous Alumni of Leiden University
Considering that Leiden University came into existence back in 1575, plenty of historical artists and politicians are on the alumni list. Over the years, some of the famous people to study at this institution are:
John Quincy Adams- Born in 1767, John was an American statesman, diplomat, and attorney. He was also selected as the sixth president of the United States, from 1817 to 1825.
Johan De Witt- Born in 1625, Johan was a well-known Dutch political figure.
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken- She is a Dutch-English businesswoman who owns 25% shares in Heineken International. Sunday Times Rich List classified her as the richest woman in the UK back in 2019.
Jacobus Henricus van’t Hoff- Born in 1852, Jacob was a Dutch physical chemist. He won the first-ever Nobel Prize in the field of Chemistry.
Financials at Leiden University
As a student in a foreign nation, it is crucial to consider the living costs beforehand. In the case of Leiden University, the average monthly costs, excluding tuition fees, will lie between EUR 968 and EUR 1338.
Bachelor’s Courses
Tuition fees for a Bachelor’s course for the session 2022-23 are as follows:
Faculty
Average Tariffs academic year (2022-23)
Faculty of Archaeology
EUR 12,100
Faculty of Humanities
EUR 12,100
Faculty of Governance & Global Affairs
– Additional tuition fee Leiden University College
EUR 12,100
EUR 2,457
Faculty of Law
EUR 12,100
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
EUR 12,100
Faculty of Science
EUR 16,200
Faculty of Medicine/Leiden University Medical Centre
– Biomedical Sciences
– Medicine
EUR 16,200
EUR 22,200
Source: Official university website
Master’s Courses
Tuition fees for a master’s course for the session 2022-23 is as follows:
Faculty/Programme
Tariffs academic year (2022-23)
Faculty of Archaeology
EUR 19,300
Faculty of Humanities
EUR 19,300
Faculty of Governance & Global Affairs
EUR 19,300
Faculty of Law
EUR 19,300
Faculty of Social Sciences
EUR 19,300
Faculty of Science
EUR 19,600
Faculty of Medicine/Leiden University Medical Centre
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