An introduction week is the best way to get to know your new city, student life and your fellow students.

Read more about introduction weeks

As a student of Leiden University you’ll receive a student account (ULCN account). This gives you access to the university’s systems and work stations. You'll first need to activate your ULCN account.

Read more about ULCN accounts

Your LU card is your university ID card. It gives you access to a range of facilities. Make sure to request your LU card before starting your studies.

Read more about the LU card

Make sure you know where you have to be and when on your first day.

Take a look at your timetable

We are still working on the schedules for next year. As soon as they are final, we will publish them in MyTimetable.

In your first year you do not have to register for your CADS courses and examinations: we will do this for you. You will have to confirm whether you will take part in an exam. If you are enrolled for an exam but do not confirm your participation 10 days before the exam, you will automatically be unenrolled from the exam. This also goes for the re-takes. You will receive more information about this during the introduction day.

More information about confirming your participation in an exam can be found on the page 'How do I confirm my participation in an exam?'.

The books you will be using in the first semester can be ordered from the webstore of Itiwana, our Study Association. 

If you wish, you can start buying your reading materials right away. Alternatively, you can order your books online from the Itiwana study association’s webshop. Just before the start of the semester, Itiwana has a promotion period during which you can buy books for a discounted price. You will receive more information and a link to the webshop by email in August.

In your first year of studies you will have a tutor, who will teach workgroups to help you familiarise yourself with university life. You will also have peer mentors (students of the second or third year of the bachelor’s programme). The peer mentor programme focuses on the social aspect of your studies. Your mentor will help you find your way and guide you through the challenges you might face in your first year at university. Your tutor (a teacher) and your mentor (a student) will keep in touch with each other on a regular basis.

The Student Services Centre FSW can help you with questions about timetables, grades, study results, etc.

During your time as a student you will probably face a variety of challenges. Both in terms of studying and personal development, you might need a little help from time to time. Find out how you can boost your wellbeing and who you can turn to for support. Read more about wellbeing

Here, on the student website, you can find a wide range of practical information about your studies. By selecting your programme when logging in, you can view information that is relevant to you. Find out how to get the most out of the student website

Your student card is your proof of registration as a student of Leiden University. The student card is a digital card and can be found in the University Leiden app after activation.

All the details of your studies are recorded in uSis. From your first registration as a student until your graduation.

Read more about uSis

Brightspace is Leiden University’s online learning environment.

Read more about Brightspace

We use offline and online forms of education. Our new online learning environment is called Brightspace. Here, instructors place additional information about their course. To get an idea how it works, watch this video about Brightspace.

As a student of Leiden University you will be issued with a university email address: uMail. All correspondence from the university will be sent to this address. You can set up your uMail account so that all mails will be forwarded to your own email address.

Read more about uMail

The indispensable app for Leiden University students. Here you can find all your personal study information in one place. Log in once and access your schedule, results, available computers and university news anytime and anyplace.

Download the app

By joining an association you'll meet lots of people and get more out of student life. As well as student and study associations, there are also a range of social associations in Leiden and The Hague, for example sports, religious or cultural associations.  

Read more about associations

Itiwana

Itiwana is the study association of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology students in Leiden. We are the link between the students and the institute. We look after our students interests by selling study books, publishing magazines and organising study-related activities.

WDO

The WDO is an Interfaculty Ethnological Association. In 1928, students of ethnology -what is now called ‘’anthropology’’- felt the need to expand their conversations on anthropological subjects outside of the lecture halls. Thus, the WDO was founded. Over the years, the main concept of WDO has stayed the same; students from Leiden University meeting up on a monthly basis to discuss anthropological themes.   

As a student of Leiden University, you have access to a wide range of affordable sports via the University Sport Centre (USC) in Leiden and The Hague.

• Universitair Sportcentrum Leiden

• Plex-Fit in Leiden city centre

• USC The Buzz in The Hague