Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 2027: Best Guide

If you are searching for one of the most respected merit-based awards in Europe, the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is almost certainly on your shortlist. Known officially as LExS, this scholarship helps outstanding non-EU/EEA students cut the cost of a master’s degree at one of the Netherlands’ oldest and most prestigious universities.

In this guide, we break down exactly what the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship covers, who qualifies, how much you can receive, and — most importantly — how to write an application that actually stands a chance in a pool of over 1,000 competitors chasing roughly 25 awards.

What Is the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship?

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is a merit-based, partial-tuition award offered by Leiden University in the Netherlands to academically outstanding international students. It was created specifically for students from outside the EU/EEA and EFTA area who want to pursue a full-time master’s degree at Leiden.

Unlike loan-based support, the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is a genuine tuition-fee reduction — not something you repay. It is one of the reasons Leiden University consistently attracts top applicants from more than 120 countries every year.

Leiden University itself was founded in 1575 and remains one of Europe’s leading research universities, with seven faculties spread across Leiden and The Hague. The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is the university’s flagship way of keeping that academic reputation accessible to talented students who might otherwise be priced out by non-EU tuition fees.

Quick Facts Box

Note: Because the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship deadline and award figures are reviewed annually, always confirm the current-year numbers on the official page linked above before applying.

How Much Is the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship Worth?

One of the first questions applicants ask is how much money the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship actually provides. The award is not a flat amount — it is structured across five tiers, and the level you receive is fixed once granted (it cannot be negotiated upward later):

• €10,000 toward tuition fees
• €15,000 toward tuition fees
• €17,500 toward tuition fees
• €18,500 toward tuition fees
• Up to €19,000 toward tuition fees (the highest tier)

Browse other fully funded Master’s scholarships in Europe

The exact tier awarded depends on your academic profile and the budget available in your chosen faculty that year. It’s important to understand that the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is a partial award — it reduces your tuition bill but does not eliminate it, and it does not automatically include a living-expense stipend (though in some faculty cases a contribution toward living costs may be added).

Because of this, successful applicants still need to demonstrate “proof of sufficient funds” when applying for their Dutch student visa or residence permit.

Who Is Eligible for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship?

To qualify for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, you generally need to meet three categories of requirements.

1. Nationality Requirement

You must hold a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport (i.e., not from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland) and not be eligible for Dutch government student finance (Studiefinanciering). There are two exceptions where all nationalities can apply:

• All LLM Advanced Studies programmes
• The MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy

UK nationals are treated as non-EEA and are therefore eligible to apply for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, with a narrow exception for UK citizens who were already registered as Dutch residents before 1 January 2021.

2. Academic Requirement

You should have achieved excellent results in your previous degree, ideally placing you among the top 10% of graduates in that programme. You do not need to submit formal proof of your class ranking — the requirement simply signals how competitive the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship pool really is.

3. Programme Requirement

You must be admitted to a full-time master’s programme starting in September. Programmes starting in February are not eligible for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, and neither is the standard (non-advanced) LLM or any MSc programme at Leiden Law School.

Applicants who already hold a Leiden University master’s degree are generally excluded — unless the new programme specifically requires a prior master’s or work experience, such as the LLM Advanced Studies routes.

Eligible Master’s Programmes

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship covers eligible master’s programmes across these faculties:

• Archaeology
• Humanities
• Medicine / LUMC
• Governance and Global Affairs
• Law (Advanced LLM programmes only)
• Social and Behavioural Sciences
• Science

If you’re still deciding on a study level or field, browsing Leiden’s official master’s programme list before applying will save you time, since not every programme within these faculties qualifies.

If a Dutch master’s isn’t your only option, it’s worth comparing this opportunity against our full directory of master’s degree scholarships for international students to see what else is currently open.

What the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship Does NOT Cover

To manage expectations, here’s what falls outside the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship:

• It does not cover 100% of tuition in every case — only the highest tier (€19,000) comes close, and only for higher-fee programmes.
• It generally does not include flights, health insurance, or a full living-expense stipend.
• It cannot be combined with another full scholarship from an external provider (partial combinations may be possible — contact the Scholarships Team directly).
• It does not apply to February-intake programmes or the standard LLM/MSc at Leiden Law School.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Here is exactly how to apply for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship:

1. Apply for admission first. Submit your application for a master’s programme at Leiden University and pay the application fee if one applies. Admission processing can take up to 3 working days, so don’t wait until the last minute.
2. Locate the scholarship section. Once your admission application is submitted, return to your online application dashboard and click “Scholarships.” The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship option will only appear if you’re eligible.
3. Indicate LExS and upload your motivation letter. This is a PDF, maximum 500 words, explaining why you deserve the award.
4. Submit before the deadline. Once submitted, you cannot edit your scholarship application or add documents by email — so proofread everything first.
5. Repeat per programme if needed. If you’re applying to multiple Leiden master’s programmes, you must submit a separate LExS application and motivation letter for each one.

Late submissions are never accepted under any circumstances — this is one of the strictest rules of the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship process.

How to Write a Winning LExS Motivation Letter

Since the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship motivation letter is capped at 500 words, every sentence needs to earn its place. Strong letters typically:

• Open with a specific academic or research achievement, not a generic “I have always dreamed of studying abroad” line.
• Connect your past academic performance directly to the Leiden programme you’re applying for.
• Mention specific Leiden faculty members, research groups, or courses — this shows genuine research, not a copy-paste application.
• Explain your postgraduate plan and how the degree fits into it.
• End with a confident, specific closing statement — avoid vague statements about “gaining international exposure.”

Because the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is need-blind but merit-heavy, your grades open the door, but your motivation letter is what actually wins the tier.

Selection Process and Timeline

• Faculty selection committees review and nominate Leiden University Excellence Scholarship recipients within 10 weeks of the deadline.
• All applicants — successful or not — are notified by email before the end of March.
• Roughly 25 scholarships are awarded each cycle from an applicant pool that regularly exceeds 1,000 students, making the acceptance rate for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship well under 3%.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Apply early. Faculties sometimes review on a rolling basis internally, and complete early applications are easier to process.
• Target the right faculty. Award availability for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship depends on each faculty’s individual budget, so competitiveness varies by programme.
• Don’t rely on GPA alone. With 1,000+ highly qualified applicants, your motivation letter is often the tiebreaker.
• Prepare visa proof-of-funds documents in advance, since even Leiden University Excellence Scholarship winners need to show additional financial capacity for their residence permit.
• Have a backup plan. Because the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is so competitive, apply to at least one or two other funding options in parallel — see our list of fully funded scholarships for international students for alternatives.

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship vs. Other Dutch Scholarships

The Netherlands offers several routes for international students, and the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is just one of them:

If a broader European search interests you, our Germany scholarships hub covers DAAD and similar fully funded routes worth comparing against LExS.

What People Also Ask

Is the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship fully funded? No. The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is a partial-tuition award ranging from €10,000 to €19,000. It reduces your tuition significantly but rarely covers 100% of costs, and it typically doesn’t include living expenses or flights.

How much is the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship worth? It ranges across five tiers: €10,000, €15,000, €17,500, €18,500, and up to €19,000, depending on your academic profile and your faculty’s available budget that year.

What GPA do I need for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship? There’s no fixed minimum GPA published, but Leiden states successful applicants are usually among the top 10% of graduates from their previous programme.

When is the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship deadline? The deadline is typically 1 December each year, for programmes starting the following September. Always verify the exact current-year date on the official Leiden scholarships page.

Can I apply for LExS without IELTS or TOEFL? English proficiency requirements are set by your specific master’s programme, not the scholarship itself. Some Leiden programmes accept alternative proof of English proficiency — check your target programme’s admission page directly.

How many people receive the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship each year? Around 25 scholarships are awarded annually, against an applicant pool that regularly exceeds 1,000 students.

Related Scholarships You Should Also Check

• UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (RES) – Full-Tuition PhD Funding
• Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): Fully Funded
• Wellington Doctoral Scholarship: Fully Funded PhD Guide
• Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students (Full List)
• All Master’s Degree Scholarships on LicensureHub

Final Thoughts

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship remains one of the most respected — and most competitive — funding routes for international students who want a master’s degree in the Netherlands. It won’t cover every cost, and it won’t guarantee admission, but for academically strong candidates with a well-crafted motivation letter, the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship can turn an otherwise unaffordable Dutch master’s into a realistic, fully achievable goal.

Start your application early, verify every deadline directly on the official Leiden University Excellence Scholarship page, and treat your motivation letter as the single most important document in your file.

For visa and residence permit requirements after winning, refer to the Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) for the latest official guidance.