Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University overview
Leiden University, founded in 1575, 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, as a reward for the resistance shown against the Spanish siege during the Dutch War of Independence, and from the day it was founded it became the center of a tradition of free thought and scientific inquiry.
Over more than four hundred and fifty years of history, this institution has demonstrated academic excellence across fields ranging from Renaissance humanism to Enlightenment philosophy and from classical philology to modern social sciences, and has produced groundbreaking work especially in law, medicine, and the natural sciences.
Nobel Prize laureate in Physics Hendrik Lorentz, the celebrated painter Rembrandt van Rijn, members of the Dutch royal family, Hugo Grotius — one of the founders of international law — and U.S. President John Quincy Adams are among the alumni of this institution.
The university continues to maintain a world-leading position today, particularly in archaeology, classical and ancient history, political science, and law.
Academic achievements such as the development of superconductivity theory, the systematic study of the Dutch East India Company archives, and the pioneering of interdisciplinary approaches continue to reinforce Leiden's unique standing in the scientific world and draw talented researchers and students from all corners of the globe to this historic city every year.
About Leiden University
Founded in 1575, Leiden University holds the distinction of being the oldest university in the Netherlands and stands as one of the brightest jewels in Europe's academic heritage. The university has a historic and organic connection with the Dutch Royal Family, having traditionally been the place where members of the royal family received their education, and it is also renowned for having hosted world-changing scientific minds such as Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi throughout its history.
The university has a two-city campus structure: Leiden, a quintessential university town with its historic character and enchanting canals, and The Hague, considered the heart of international justice, diplomacy, and global politics. The integration between these two cities offers students both a peaceful academic retreat and internship and networking opportunities at the center of global bureaucracy.
Consistently ranking among the top institutions worldwide in International Law, Political Science, Archaeology, and East Asian Studies, Leiden University — particularly through its Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs at the Hague campus — trains the diplomats and leaders of the future.
The university's general educational philosophy is grounded in a "free thought" approach that centers critical thinking and interdisciplinary research rather than rote memorization. With its numerous libraries, the Hortus Botanicus (Europe's oldest botanical garden), and its globally renowned research institutes, Leiden offers students not merely a diploma but the intellectual depth and vision to shape global affairs.
Leiden University faculties and programs
Leiden University scholarships and financial aid
Leiden University offers various scholarship opportunities to international students based on department, program, and academic merit criteria. Prospective students wishing to apply for a scholarship can explore the relevant scholarship programs through the link below.
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.
How to get into Leiden University
Prospective students wishing to apply to undergraduate programs at Leiden University 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+)
- Prospective students wishing to apply to Social Sciences programs must have taken mathematics every year throughout high school and received a year-end grade of at least 80 or above; otherwise, they will be required to take Leiden University's own online mathematics examination.
- Prospective students wishing to apply to Leiden University who have taken and passed the Higher Education Institutions Examination must also submit their exam results.
- Additionally, program-specific admission requirements may apply.
Students wishing to apply to postgraduate programs at Leiden University 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)
- Additional admission requirements may apply depending on the specific postgraduate program applied to.
Take a closer look at Leiden University
Although Leiden University, like many other European universities, is not a campus university per se, it does have two locations: one in the center of the city of Leiden and another in The Hague, the administrative and royal capital of the Netherlands. The Leiden city center location houses the Academy Building, the Gorlaeus Building, the Hortus Botanicus (the Netherlands' most famous and oldest botanical garden), lecture halls, the LUMC Teaching Building, the LUMC Research Building, the university library, and the university sports center, while the Hague location — which primarily consists of three buildings — is home to various units belonging to seven faculties within the university, as well as the Faculty of Governance, Global Affairs and International Studies, Leiden University Academy, and University College Humanities.
Leiden is a university city with a character all its own, one that has contributed significantly to the city's unique atmosphere for over four centuries.
The historic center of Leiden is home to the student communities, student housing, and university buildings affiliated with the university.
Located right in the heart of the city of Leiden, the university campus is just a short walk from numerous restaurants, pubs, shops, cafes, and the Leiden University Sports Center.
Meanwhile, The Hague — a city with an increasingly international character that grows as a student city with each passing year — offers working and career opportunities for students from different countries around the world.
The buildings affiliated with Leiden University in The Hague are within walking distance of one another, just as they are in the city of Leiden.
In addition to the easily accessible restaurants, pubs, cafes, and shops in the city center, The Hague's beaches — stretching more than 11 kilometers in length — are located very close to the university buildings.
Although both Leiden and The Hague have dense public transportation networks, getting around within the city, as in many parts of the Netherlands, is done on foot or by bicycle.
Leiden University cost of living
Leiden University Location
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Leiden University
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How to Get Into Leiden University
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