Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)

A fixed reduction of the tuition fee at one of five levels: EUR 10,000, 15,000, 17,500, 18,500 or 19,000, for the duration of the programme. It is not a full scholarship.

Fields: Any field

Open to most nationalities

• Non-EEA/non-EFTA passport and not eligible for Dutch student finance (no nationality limit for LLM Advanced Studies and the MSc International Relations and Diplomacy)
• Applying to a full-time Leiden master's programme starting in September
• Excellent academic results, as a guide among the top 10 percent of graduates (no proof of ranking needed)
• Not already holding a Leiden master's degree, unless the programme requires a previous master's
• Not open to standard LLM and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School, or February-start programmes
• Not holding a full scholarship from another provider

The deadline for September 2027 programmes is 1 December 2026. Late scholarship applications are not considered. All applicants hear by email before the end of March.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• Submitted online admission application to the master's programme
• Paid application fee where applicable
• Motivation letter as a PDF of at most 500 words explaining why you should receive the LExS
• Signed LExS terms and conditions if you are selected

1. 1

   Step 1: Apply for admission

   Submit your online master's application and pay any fee. Allow up to 3 working days to create and submit it.
2. 2

   Step 2: Open the scholarship tab

   After submitting, go to the Apply screen and click Scholarships to find the LExS.
3. 3

   Step 3: Upload your motivation letter

   Indicate that you want to apply and upload a PDF motivation letter of maximum 500 words.
4. 4

   Step 4: Submit before 1 December

   Submit the scholarship application before the deadline; no changes are possible afterwards. Apply separately inside each admission application if you choose more than one programme.

• Covers only part of the tuition fee; a significant personal contribution is required
• The award level is final and not negotiable
• Recipients must still show proof of sufficient funds for the Dutch residence permit
• Recipients must agree in writing to the LExS terms and conditions

• Apply for admission in October or November, not on the last day, because the scholarship tab only appears after your admission application is submitted.
• Plan how you will pay the rest of the tuition and living costs, since even the top award leaves a gap.
• Focus the 500 words on academic achievement and fit with the programme; faculty committees choose the winners.
• Partial external scholarships can sometimes be combined; ask the Scholarships Team at scholarships@sea.leidenuniv.nl.

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• Netherlands student visa

Checked against these official pages on 16 Oct 2026.

• Leiden University: Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) (opens in a new tab)