Leiden University

Netherlands · Leiden

Leiden University

Netherlands

Country

Leiden

City

33839

Total Students

—

Status

About the University

Leiden University overview

Leiden University was founded in 1575. It is the oldest academic institution in the Netherlands and one of Europe's most prestigious centers of learning.

The university was established by Willem van Oranje, the leader of the era. It was a reward for the resistance shown against the Spanish siege during the Dutch War of Independence. From the day it was founded, it became the center of a tradition of free thought and scientific inquiry.

Across more than four hundred and fifty years, this institution has shown academic excellence in field after field. Its range runs from Renaissance humanism to Enlightenment philosophy, and from classical philology to modern social sciences. The groundbreaking work has come above all in law, medicine and the natural sciences.

Among the alumni of this institution are Hendrik Lorentz, Nobel Prize laureate in Physics, and the celebrated painter Rembrandt van Rijn. Members of the Dutch royal family studied here too. So did Hugo Grotius, one of the founders of international law, and U.S. President John Quincy Adams.

Today the university still holds a world-leading position, particularly in archaeology, classical and ancient history, political science and law.

Its academic achievements include the development of superconductivity theory, the systematic study of the Dutch East India Company archives and the pioneering of interdisciplinary approaches. Work like this keeps reinforcing Leiden's unique standing in the scientific world. Every year it draws talented researchers and students from all corners of the globe to this historic city.

About the University

About Leiden University

Leiden University was founded in 1575, which makes it the oldest university in the Netherlands. It holds a lasting place in Europe's academic heritage. The university has a historic and organic connection with the Dutch Royal Family, and members of the royal family have traditionally been educated here. It is also known for the scientists it has hosted over its history, among them Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi.

The university is built around two cities. Leiden is a university town through and through, with its historic character and its canals. The Hague is considered the heart of international justice, diplomacy and global politics. Together they give you a quiet place to study and, at the center of global bureaucracy, internship and networking opportunities.

In International Law, Political Science, Archaeology and East Asian Studies, Leiden ranks consistently among the top institutions worldwide. It trains the diplomats and leaders of the future, particularly through its Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs at the Hague campus.

Teaching rests on a "free thought" approach. The focus is on critical thinking and interdisciplinary research rather than rote memorization. You will find numerous libraries here, the Hortus Botanicus (Europe's oldest botanical garden) and research institutes known around the world. Leiden offers you not just a diploma, but the intellectual depth and vision to shape global affairs.

City

Leiden

Country

Netherlands

Number of Students

33839

#70

Times Universities

#119

QS World

National Ranking

Quality Score

#101

Graduate1 Years#4 Ranking

€21,600per year

Quantum Information Science and Technology

Graduate2 Years#174 Ranking

€21,800per year

Scholarship Opportunities

Leiden University scholarships and financial aid

Leiden University offers various scholarship opportunities to international students. What you can apply for depends on the department, the program and academic merit criteria. You can explore the relevant scholarship programs through the link below.

Scholarships

Leiden University Exam Requirements

Submitting at least one of the exams below with the required score is a prerequisite for application. The score threshold may vary by program.

IB Diploma

Min. score

Diploma Note

Min. score

University GPA

Min. score

Application Process

How to get into Leiden University

If you want to apply to an undergraduate program at Leiden University, you must meet the following requirements.

Anatolian High School Diploma or Science High School Diploma
Dutch Proficiency Certificate for programs taught in Dutch
English Proficiency Certificate
- An English proficiency certificate obtained through tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, or the Cambridge English Exam
High GPA (MEB Diploma Score: 80+)
If you are applying to a Social Sciences program, you must have taken mathematics every year throughout high school. Your year-end grade must be at least 80 or above. Otherwise, you will be required to take Leiden University's own online mathematics examination.
If you have taken and passed the Higher Education Institutions Examination, you must also submit your exam results.
Additionally, program-specific admission requirements may apply.

If you want to apply to a postgraduate program at Leiden University, you must meet the following requirements.

A 4-year bachelor's degree diploma from a university recognized and accepted by Leiden University
High GPA
Dutch Proficiency Certificate (for postgraduate programs taught in Dutch)
English Proficiency Certificate (an English proficiency certificate obtained through tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, or the Cambridge English Exam)
Depending on the postgraduate program you apply to, additional admission requirements may apply.

Campus

Take a closer look at Leiden University

Like many other European universities, Leiden University is not a campus university as such. It does have two locations. One is in the center of the city of Leiden, and the other is in The Hague, the administrative and royal capital of the Netherlands. In the Leiden city center are the Academy Building, the Gorlaeus Building and the Hortus Botanicus, the Netherlands' most famous and oldest botanical garden. Lecture halls, the LUMC Teaching Building and the LUMC Research Building are here too, along with the university library and the university sports center.

The Hague location consists primarily of three buildings. It is home to various units belonging to seven faculties within the university. The Faculty of Governance, Global Affairs and International Studies, Leiden University Academy and University College Humanities are based there as well.

Campus Life

Leiden is a university city with a character all its own. The university has shaped that atmosphere significantly for over four centuries.

The historic center of Leiden is home to the student communities, the student housing and the university buildings affiliated with the university.

The university campus sits right in the heart of the city of Leiden. Numerous restaurants, pubs, shops, cafes and the Leiden University Sports Center are a short walk away.

The Hague, meanwhile, grows more international and more of a student city with each passing year. It offers working and career opportunities to students from different countries around the world.

As in the city of Leiden, the Leiden University buildings in The Hague are within walking distance of one another.

The city center puts restaurants, pubs, cafes and shops easily within reach. The Hague's beaches, which stretch more than 11 kilometers, are also very close to the university buildings.

Both Leiden and The Hague have dense public transportation networks. Even so, as in many parts of the Netherlands, you get around within the city on foot or by bicycle.

Student Profile

Leiden University has a broad alumni network of distinguished people who have achieved a great deal in various fields. Notable alumni include;