2027 Leiden University Excellence Scholarship in Netherlands

Leiden University in the Netherlands is inviting applications for the 2027 Leiden University Excellence Scholarship.

This update is for international students who want to apply for a Master’s degree programme at Leiden University and need financial support for their tuition fees.

Students looking for more scholarship and school opportunities can check latest education updates here.

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 2027

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, also known as LExS, is for excellent students applying for a full-time Master’s degree programme at Leiden University.

The scholarship is open to highly qualified applicants who have performed very well in their previous study programme.

It is important for candidates to note that the scholarship is mainly a tuition-fee support award. It does not cover all study and living expenses.

Scholarship Value

The scholarship can cover part of the tuition fee.

The available award levels include:

€10,000

€15,000

€17,500

€18,500

€19,000

Selected candidates will receive one of these award levels depending on the decision of the university.

Applicants should understand that the scholarship is not a full funding package, so students may still need extra money for living costs, visa processing, accommodation and other expenses.

Who Can Apply?

The scholarship is mainly open to non-EEA and non-EFTA students applying for a Master’s programme at Leiden University.

Students of all nationalities can also apply if they are applying for an Advanced LLM programme or the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy.

Applicants must have excellent academic results in their previous studies.

As a guide, Leiden University expects applicants to be among the top-performing students from their previous programme.

Eligible Fields

The scholarship is available for Master’s programmes in areas such as Archaeology, Humanities, Medicine, Governance and Global Affairs, Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Science, African Studies and Asian Studies.

Candidates should check that their chosen programme is eligible before applying.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is 1 December 2026.

Students who are interested should not wait until the deadline before starting their application.

International applications usually require time for document preparation, admission processing, motivation letter writing and scholarship submission.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must first apply for admission into an eligible Master’s programme at Leiden University.

After submitting the admission application, eligible applicants can apply for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship through the scholarship section of the online application system.

Candidates can click here to apply through the official Leiden University page.

Applicants will also need to upload a scholarship motivation letter explaining why they should be considered for the award.

Important Advice for Applicants

Candidates should prepare their documents early and make sure their academic records are strong.

Your motivation letter should be clear, personal and focused on why you deserve the scholarship.

Do not submit a copied or weak motivation letter.

Students preparing for international study opportunities should also improve their writing, research and exam skills. You can click here to practise CBT-style questions on ALLCBTs and build better academic confidence.

Students who need notebooks, study materials or other learning items can visit the ALLCBTs student shop here.

Candidates who want to ask questions and follow school opportunities can join exam and school groups here.

ALLCBTs Advice to Students

Scholarship applications are competitive, so candidates should not apply casually.

Before applying, confirm that your course is eligible, check the deadline, prepare your documents and write a strong motivation letter.

Applicants should also remember that the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship supports tuition fees only, so they should plan for other expenses.

ALLCBTs will continue to share scholarship updates, school news, admission guides and study resources to help students stay informed and ready.