It generally takes about 4 to 6 weeks from the date on which you are informed that your application is complete until you receive a decision. If additional information is required during the application process it may take a little longer. Please make sure your application is complete and is submitted as early as possible.

Once a decision on your application has been made, you will receive a formal statement from the faculty by email.

 

More information

• Application & admission

Visit the Student Account (ULCN) page where you can solutions, tips, and information on who to contact for help.

On approx. 15 June (for studies starting in September) or 30 November (for studies starting in February) you will receive an email letting you know whether:

• you applied in time and will soon be given access to the housing reservation portal, OR
• too many students applied before you so you will be put on a housing waiting list in case any other students withdraw, or you can choose to request a refund of your housing fee,

Please patiently await this email as we are unable to provide details before this date.  

For students who applied in time, Leiden University will soon after begin sending activation emails for the housing reservation portal. After you have activated your account, you can log-in and reserve one of the rooms or apartments set aside for Leiden University's international students.

More information

• Housing via Leiden University

If you have applied but not yet been admitted
Yes, you can change your requested start date as follows:

1. Cancel your application in Studielink
2. Reapply for your preferred start date in Studielink.
3. You will then be instructed to create and submit a new application in Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis). 

If you have already been admitted
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. Please follow the instructions below: 

1. Log into uSis, download your admission decision and save it on your computer.
2. Cancel your current application for enrolment in Studielink.
3. After 1 October: Go to Studielink and apply for your new start date. 
4. Log into uSis and follow the steps required to submit a new application. 
5. When you get to the step 'Previous education', upload any qualifications obtained since your last application. 
   
6. When you get to the step ‘Admission’, click on Uploads > Other documents > Previous decision, and upload your admission decision.
7. Submit your application

In general, you do not have to pay the application fee again. See the exceptions here below: 

Exceptions:

• If you wish to change your choice of study programme or specialisation, you must 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.

Other important steps

• Already applied for housing? You must notify the Housing Office of your deferral. This will not happen automatically! See the FAQ on Can I defer my housing request.
  
• Already applied for a scholarship? Upon deferral, your scholarship request will be automatically cancelled. You must re-apply for your scholarship when applying for re-admission. 
  
• Already applied for a visa/residence permit? Upon deferral, your visa/residence permit application will be automatically cancelled. Once you are re-admitted, you will receive information on how to re-apply for your visa/residence permit. Note that after deferring your application, you must wait at least 2 days before submitting a new visa/residence permit application via uSis.

More information

• Application & admission
• Admissions Office contact form: Bachelors
• Admissions Office contact form: Masters

When we apply for your visa and/or residence permit, we will ask you to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds for your living expenses and (if applicable) your tuition fee. 

You can demonstrate sufficient funds by way of bank transfer, or by providing a bank statement or scholarship letter that meets the strict requirements of the immigration department (IND). 

You can find detailed information on how to demonstrate sufficient funds, and how much is sufficient, on the Proof of funds page . 

Have you been conditionally admitted to Leiden University but are having problems submitting the items to meet your conditions?  

Documents to meet conditions issued late? 
Will the documents required to meet your admission conditions be issued after the stipulated deadline, e.g. your final diploma? Find out what to do on the Documents issued after deadline page.

Cannot submit items in correct way? 
Have you been asked to submit certified documents or information via a specific method so that Leiden University can verify your academic records? But are you unable to use the method specified on your decision statement? Find out if you can use a different verification method. 

Further information
Visit the Meeting your admissions conditions page. 

When applying 
When you apply for admission to Leiden University, you only need to upload digital copies of your academic records in the online application portal (uSis). Certified copies are not yet required.

Upon admission
Upon admission you will be notified of the following via uSis:  

• Your conditions of admission. 
  
• Whether you must submit certified copies of your academic records (for verification purposes).
  
• How to submit certified copies if required.
  
• The deadline for submission.
  

Before submitting any documents, carefully read the information on the Meet your admission conditions page!

Important 

• Only submit items via the method specified in your decision statement. Items submitted via other methods cannot be accepted.
  
• There is no need to send items via multiple methods unless this is specifically requested. 
  
• Problems submitting items on time or in the correct way? See the Meet your conditions page for possible solutions. 
  

Because of their popularity, some bachelor’s programmes are oversubscribed. For these programmes, a limit has been set for the number of students that can be allocated a place. This is known as a 'numerus fixus'. This means that even if you are admitted to the programme, you are not guaranteed a place. You must also be allocated a place on the programme via a selection procedure.

• You can find an overview of all numerus fixus study programmes here. 

Take careful note of the application deadlines for numerus fixus programmes as these are generally earlier than those for other types of study programme. 

For further explanation see Admission requirements - Programmes with limited places.

More information

• Student Affairs Front Office

Yes, that is possible if you have a bank account in a SEPA country with an IBAN number, and you indicate in Studielink that you want to pay via direct debit in instalments.

You can choose to pay either in one lump sum or five instalments. Instalments are debited every two months, commencing at the end of October (if you start your studies in September). There is a one-off administrative charge for payment in instalments.

More information

• Tuition fee - methods of payment

You have to arrange an internship yourself. You can contact the internship coordinator of your faculty/study programme or with the Student Career Support. They are able to advise you and help you find an internship. There are also several organisations you can consult, such as AIESEC, that offer internships. For more tips, please visit the Nuffic website.

Are your activities abroad part of or related to your study programme? If so, you will have to get permission prior to going abroad from your study coordinator. After getting approved, you also have to register your activities in the Study Abroad portal of Leiden University, so that the university can contact you in case of emergency. Read more about the Study Abroad portal.

More information

• Studying abroad
• Internship coordinators
• Career Services
• Internships abroad
• AIESEC
• Nuffic
• GoingGlobal