Student Affairs Front Office
Frequently Asked Questions
I am not able to log in with my student account. What should I do?
There are several reasons why you may not be able to log in:
- You haven’t yet received a user name and/or password. Request an account.
- You have forgotten your user name and/or password. Request them again.
- Your account has not yet been activated. Activate your account.
- Your password has expired. Reset your password.
- Your ULCN account is no longer active. You can only access uSis and Brightspace using your ULCN account up to 60 days after your student registration has been cancelled.
If you know your user name and password, keep the following points in mind:
- You must log in with your user name, not your uMail address.
- Use lower case letters to enter your user name, not capital letters (e.g. s1234567).
- Make sure you haven’t accidentally put CAPS LOCK on.
If you still can’t log in, do the following:
- Change the language on the log-in page, from Dutch to English or vice versa, and try again.
- If you can log into one application but not another, the issue concerns the application and not your account. Contact the ISSC Helpdesk.
- If none of the above-mentioned tips work contact the ISSC helpdesk.
How do I request a Statement of registration (enrolment)?
- Log into uSis using your student number.
- Click on the 'Communication' tile.
- If you do not see the message you are looking for, click on the little x in top-right corner of your screen.
- Click on ‘Your registration is final’ to download your Statement of registration.
More information
I haven’t yet received my LU card. What should I do?
There can be a number of reasons why you haven’t yet received your LU card:
- You have not yet uploaded a passport photo through Account Self Service.
- The university does not have your correct address; check this in Studielink or at the Student Affairs Front Office.
For further assistance, contact the Student Affairs Front Office. Front Office for assistance.
When and how must I send certified copies of my academic records to the university?
When?
When you apply for admission to a degree programme via our online application portal (uSis), you need only upload digital copies of your academic records. Upon admission you will be issued with an ‘Admission Statement’, which will explain exactly which certified copies must be sent to Leiden University Admissions Office and how to do so.
How?
Non-Dutch diplomas
Copies must be certified as genuine (i.e. bearing an original stamp and signature) by the registrar of your institution or the head of department. They must be sent in a sealed institution envelope to Leiden University Admissions Office, either by you or directly by the institution. See Admissions Office postal address.
If you cannot meet these requirements please instead submit officially legalised or apostilled documents - see this Dutch government website on legalising documents.
Note that photocopies of certified/legalised copies are not acceptable, nor are copies certified by local municipal authorities.
- Diploma not yet issued? If you are asked to submit a diploma but it will not be issued in time, please instead submit a complete certified transcript accompanied by an original statement from your institution confirming that you have graduated.
- Translations: If the original documents are not issued in English, French, German or Dutch, they should be translated by a sworn translator (or the institution itself) and attached to the original documents.
Dutch diplomas
Certified copies of Dutch academic records may be sent to the Admissions Office directly by the issuing institution or by the applicant him/herself.
For further information, see the FAQ on What is a certified copy?
I would like to combine two study programmes. Is that possible?
Can I submit my English test result after I apply for admission?
If you have already taken an English test, we recommend that you submit your English test result along with your initial application. If not, you can submit your application without an English test result. If you are admitted, it will then be on condition of submitting a sufficient English test result.
The deadline for submitting your sufficient language test result after admission is:
- If you need a student visa/residence permit: before the visa/residence permit application deadline
- If you do not need a student visa/residence permit: before the start of your study programme.
More information
Is there a template for my motivation letter?
No, there is no official template. Your motivation letter is a personal statement in which you explain why you wish to study at Leiden University and why you have chosen this particular study programme. It is an opportunity for you to convince the faculty of your qualities and goals. The letter should contain approximately 700-1500 words.
Note: if you are applying for a programme at Leiden University College (LUC) you should instead complete and submit an LUC motivation letter form.
Can I change or withdraw my housing request after I submit it?
If you notify the university Housing Office that you are withdrawing your request before the housing deadline, or before you have been offered accommodation, you can receive a refund of your housing fee. If you withdraw your request after these dates, the housing fee is non-refundable.
Defering your request
If you decide to defer your studies before you receive an offer of housing, you can also request a deferral of your housing contract start date.
Changing your request
You can change your housing preferences, or submit a request for special facilities/adaptations, before the housing application deadline. After this date it will be very difficult to make changes.
In all the above-mentioned cases, always contact the Housing Office for assistance.
Can I upload more documents after having submitted my online application?
Once you have submitted your online application, it is technically not possible to upload additional documents without the assistance of the Admissions Office. We therefore recommend that you upload all the necessary documents before submitting your application when possible.
However, if you need to upload additional documents at a later date, for example an updated transcript of grades, please contact the Admissions Office via their contact form (see links below) for assistance. Please note that documents received after the application deadline may lead to a delay in processing your application.
What is a BBC?
BBC stands for Bewijs Betaald Collegegeld (which means proof of tuition fee payment). If you are studying at another institution, in addition to Leiden University, you may be able to fulfil tuition fee obligations at one institution by showing proof (a BBC) that you have paid tuition fee at the second institution. This means you will only have to pay tuition fees once.
To be issued with a BBC, you must be studying full-time and paying the statutory tuition fee rate for the study programme in question. See the link below for information about statutory tuition fee. Always check in advance with the relevant Students Administration department whether you are eligible for a BBC. For Leiden study programmes, contact the Student Affairs Front Office.
A BBC can only be issued once you have taken the necessary steps to arrange tuition fee payment.
You can also use a BBC when arranging registration as a guest or minor student at another university.
More information
Contact form
Frequently Asked Questions
I am not able to log in with my student account. What should I do?
There are several reasons why you may not be able to log in:
- You haven’t yet received a user name and/or password. Request an account.
- You have forgotten your user name and/or password. Request them again.
- Your account has not yet been activated. Activate your account.
- Your password has expired. Reset your password.
- Your ULCN account is no longer active. You can only access uSis and Brightspace using your ULCN account up to 60 days after your student registration has been cancelled.
If you know your user name and password, keep the following points in mind:
- You must log in with your user name, not your uMail address.
- Use lower case letters to enter your user name, not capital letters (e.g. s1234567).
- Make sure you haven’t accidentally put CAPS LOCK on.
If you still can’t log in, do the following:
- Change the language on the log-in page, from Dutch to English or vice versa, and try again.
- If you can log into one application but not another, the issue concerns the application and not your account. Contact the ISSC Helpdesk.
- If none of the above-mentioned tips work contact the ISSC helpdesk.
How do I request a Statement of registration (enrolment)?
- Log into uSis using your student number.
- Click on the 'Communication' tile.
- If you do not see the message you are looking for, click on the little x in top-right corner of your screen.
- Click on ‘Your registration is final’ to download your Statement of registration.
More information
I haven’t yet received my LU card. What should I do?
There can be a number of reasons why you haven’t yet received your LU card:
- You have not yet uploaded a passport photo through Account Self Service.
- The university does not have your correct address; check this in Studielink or at the Student Affairs Front Office.
For further assistance, contact the Student Affairs Front Office. Front Office for assistance.
When and how must I send certified copies of my academic records to the university?
When?
When you apply for admission to a degree programme via our online application portal (uSis), you need only upload digital copies of your academic records. Upon admission you will be issued with an ‘Admission Statement’, which will explain exactly which certified copies must be sent to Leiden University Admissions Office and how to do so.
How?
Non-Dutch diplomas
Copies must be certified as genuine (i.e. bearing an original stamp and signature) by the registrar of your institution or the head of department. They must be sent in a sealed institution envelope to Leiden University Admissions Office, either by you or directly by the institution. See Admissions Office postal address.
If you cannot meet these requirements please instead submit officially legalised or apostilled documents - see this Dutch government website on legalising documents.
Note that photocopies of certified/legalised copies are not acceptable, nor are copies certified by local municipal authorities.
- Diploma not yet issued? If you are asked to submit a diploma but it will not be issued in time, please instead submit a complete certified transcript accompanied by an original statement from your institution confirming that you have graduated.
- Translations: If the original documents are not issued in English, French, German or Dutch, they should be translated by a sworn translator (or the institution itself) and attached to the original documents.
Dutch diplomas
Certified copies of Dutch academic records may be sent to the Admissions Office directly by the issuing institution or by the applicant him/herself.
For further information, see the FAQ on What is a certified copy?
I would like to combine two study programmes. Is that possible?
Can I submit my English test result after I apply for admission?
If you have already taken an English test, we recommend that you submit your English test result along with your initial application. If not, you can submit your application without an English test result. If you are admitted, it will then be on condition of submitting a sufficient English test result.
The deadline for submitting your sufficient language test result after admission is:
- If you need a student visa/residence permit: before the visa/residence permit application deadline
- If you do not need a student visa/residence permit: before the start of your study programme.
More information
Is there a template for my motivation letter?
No, there is no official template. Your motivation letter is a personal statement in which you explain why you wish to study at Leiden University and why you have chosen this particular study programme. It is an opportunity for you to convince the faculty of your qualities and goals. The letter should contain approximately 700-1500 words.
Note: if you are applying for a programme at Leiden University College (LUC) you should instead complete and submit an LUC motivation letter form.
Can I change or withdraw my housing request after I submit it?
If you notify the university Housing Office that you are withdrawing your request before the housing deadline, or before you have been offered accommodation, you can receive a refund of your housing fee. If you withdraw your request after these dates, the housing fee is non-refundable.
Defering your request
If you decide to defer your studies before you receive an offer of housing, you can also request a deferral of your housing contract start date.
Changing your request
You can change your housing preferences, or submit a request for special facilities/adaptations, before the housing application deadline. After this date it will be very difficult to make changes.
In all the above-mentioned cases, always contact the Housing Office for assistance.
Can I upload more documents after having submitted my online application?
Once you have submitted your online application, it is technically not possible to upload additional documents without the assistance of the Admissions Office. We therefore recommend that you upload all the necessary documents before submitting your application when possible.
However, if you need to upload additional documents at a later date, for example an updated transcript of grades, please contact the Admissions Office via their contact form (see links below) for assistance. Please note that documents received after the application deadline may lead to a delay in processing your application.
What is a BBC?
BBC stands for Bewijs Betaald Collegegeld (which means proof of tuition fee payment). If you are studying at another institution, in addition to Leiden University, you may be able to fulfil tuition fee obligations at one institution by showing proof (a BBC) that you have paid tuition fee at the second institution. This means you will only have to pay tuition fees once.
To be issued with a BBC, you must be studying full-time and paying the statutory tuition fee rate for the study programme in question. See the link below for information about statutory tuition fee. Always check in advance with the relevant Students Administration department whether you are eligible for a BBC. For Leiden study programmes, contact the Student Affairs Front Office.
A BBC can only be issued once you have taken the necessary steps to arrange tuition fee payment.
You can also use a BBC when arranging registration as a guest or minor student at another university.
More information