2025 Leiden University Excellence Scholarship: Full Tuition Coverage for International Master’s Students in the Netherlands

2025 Leiden University Excellence Scholarship: Full Tuition Coverage for International Master’s Students in the Netherlands
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Overview of the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is designed to support outstanding international students enrolling in a full-time Master’s degree program at Leiden University in the Netherlands. This prestigious award covers substantial tuition fees for the selected candidates, providing a valuable opportunity for higher education in Europe.

Eligibility and Application Details

The 2025 Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is open to non-EEA/non-EFTA nationals applying for a Master's program at Leiden University, including students from the UK. It also extends to all nationalities applying for the LLM Advanced Studies program or the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic performance and be among the top 10% of graduates in their previous studies. 

Scholarship Amounts and Duration

The LExS provides full coverage of tuition fees with three award levels:

• €10,000 towards the tuition fee
• €15,000 towards the tuition fee
• Total tuition fee minus the statutory tuition fee

The scholarship is awarded for the entire duration of the Master’s program.

Selection Process and Notifications

Faculty selection committees will nominate scholarship recipients, and the Scholarships Team will inform all applicants of the decisions. Notifications are made at the end of November for February intakes and at the end of April for September intakes.

Application Procedure for 2025

To apply for the 2025 Leiden University Excellence Scholarship:

1. Visit the scholarship application page.
2. Apply online for admission to a Master’s program at Leiden University, paying the application fee if required.
3. Indicate your interest in applying for the LExS in the scholarship section of your online application.
4. Upload your LExS motivation letter (maximum 500 words) in PDF format, explaining why you should be considered for the award.
5. Submit your application before the deadline. If applying for multiple programs, specify this in each application and upload a separate motivation letter for each.

For further details and to start your application, follow the provided link to the scholarship application page.