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- Your ULCN account is no longer active.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?
Does Leiden University offer a (partial) tuition fee waiver?
Leiden University offers several scholarships which includes (partial) tuition fee waivers, such as, for example, the LExS scholarship.
Can I change the start date of my studies or defer my admission?
If you have applied but not yet been admitted
Yes, you can change your requested start date as follows:
- Cancel your application in Studielink
- Reapply for your preferred start date in Studielink.
- You will then be instructed to create and submit a new application in Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis).
If you wish to defer the start of your studies, you must submit a new application for your preferred start date. Be aware that admission requirements can change. If this occurs, you are unfortunately not guaranteed admission for your new start date. The re-application procedure is not the same as the initial application procedure. Please follow the instructions below:
- Log into uSis, download your admission decision and savev it on your computer,
- Cancel your current application for enrolment in Studielink.
- After the 1 October: Go to Studielink and apply for your new start date.
- Log into uSis and follow the steps required to submit a new application.
- When you get to the step ‘Admission’, click on Uploads > Other documents > Previous decision and upload your admission decision.
- Submit your application
Exceptions:
- If you wish to change your choice of study programme or specialisation, you must submit a complete new application and pay the application fee again.
- If you have been admitted to an LLM Advanced Studies programme, you may only request re-admission once free of charge. If you re-apply a second or subsequent time, you must pay the application fee again and submit an updated CV and copies of any recently obtained diplomas.
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
I would like to combine two study programmes. Is that possible?
Can I take my English proficiency test upon arrival in the Netherlands?
If you require a student visa/residence permit, no, you cannot. You are required to submit a sufficient English proficiency test result before the Admissions Office may apply for your student visa/residence permit.
If you do not require a student visa/residence permit you must submit your sufficient English test result before the start date of your study programme at the very latest.
Leiden University accepts 3 kinds of English proficiency tests. Please visit their websites for the nearest test centres and dates:
What are certified copies of academic records?
A ‘certified copy’ is a copy of an academic record which has been affixed with an original stamp/seal by the issuing institution, thus proving that it is a genuine copy of an original document issued by that institution.
Always refer to your ‘Admission Statement’ – available in the online application portal (uSis) - for information on which academic records (certified copies) must be sent to the Admissions Office and the exact certification requirements.
If the certified copy is not in Dutch, English, French or German, it must be accompanied by an official translation, drawn up by a sworn translator and bearing the original stamp and professional details of the translator.
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?
Does Leiden University offer a (partial) tuition fee waiver?
Leiden University offers several scholarships which includes (partial) tuition fee waivers, such as, for example, the LExS scholarship.
Can I change the start date of my studies or defer my admission?
If you have applied but not yet been admitted
Yes, you can change your requested start date as follows:
- Cancel your application in Studielink
- Reapply for your preferred start date in Studielink.
- You will then be instructed to create and submit a new application in Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis).
If you wish to defer the start of your studies, you must submit a new application for your preferred start date. Be aware that admission requirements can change. If this occurs, you are unfortunately not guaranteed admission for your new start date. The re-application procedure is not the same as the initial application procedure. Please follow the instructions below:
- Log into uSis, download your admission decision and savev it on your computer,
- Cancel your current application for enrolment in Studielink.
- After the 1 October: Go to Studielink and apply for your new start date.
- Log into uSis and follow the steps required to submit a new application.
- When you get to the step ‘Admission’, click on Uploads > Other documents > Previous decision and upload your admission decision.
- Submit your application
Exceptions:
- If you wish to change your choice of study programme or specialisation, you must submit a complete new application and pay the application fee again.
- If you have been admitted to an LLM Advanced Studies programme, you may only request re-admission once free of charge. If you re-apply a second or subsequent time, you must pay the application fee again and submit an updated CV and copies of any recently obtained diplomas.
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
I would like to combine two study programmes. Is that possible?
Can I take my English proficiency test upon arrival in the Netherlands?
If you require a student visa/residence permit, no, you cannot. You are required to submit a sufficient English proficiency test result before the Admissions Office may apply for your student visa/residence permit.
If you do not require a student visa/residence permit you must submit your sufficient English test result before the start date of your study programme at the very latest.
Leiden University accepts 3 kinds of English proficiency tests. Please visit their websites for the nearest test centres and dates:
What are certified copies of academic records?
A ‘certified copy’ is a copy of an academic record which has been affixed with an original stamp/seal by the issuing institution, thus proving that it is a genuine copy of an original document issued by that institution.
Always refer to your ‘Admission Statement’ – available in the online application portal (uSis) - for information on which academic records (certified copies) must be sent to the Admissions Office and the exact certification requirements.
If the certified copy is not in Dutch, English, French or German, it must be accompanied by an official translation, drawn up by a sworn translator and bearing the original stamp and professional details of the translator.