Study in the Netherlands
Partial Master's Degree

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)

Leiden University · Leiden University

Award

A partial tuition award at one of five levels, from €10,000 to €19,000

Awards

—

Eligible

Non-EEA / non-EFTA students (exceptions for Advanced LLM programmes and the MSc International Relations and Diplomacy)

Deadline

See official site

Overview

LExS is Leiden’s scholarship for excellent non-EEA/non-EFTA students starting a full-time master’s in September. Leiden states it is not a full scholarship and does not cover the full cost of study, and that only around 25 are awarded each year while more than 1,000 students apply.

Eligibility

You need excellent academic results (Leiden gives the top 10% as an indication) and an application for a September master’s programme; standard LLM and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School are excluded. As of October 2026 the page gives 1 December 2026 as the deadline for the 2026–2027 cycle, with a motivation letter of at most 500 words; applicants are notified before the end of March. The date moves each year, so treat it as a guide.

Benefits

A partial tuition award at one of five levels, from €10,000 to €19,000

How to apply

Apply for admission to the master’s programme first. The scholarship then appears in the scholarships section of your application portal.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)?

You need excellent academic results (Leiden gives the top 10% as an indication) and an application for a September master’s programme; standard LLM and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School are excluded. As of October 2026 the page gives 1 December 2026 as the deadline for the 2026...

What does the scholarship cover?

A partial tuition award at one of five levels, from €10,000 to €19,000

How do I apply?

Apply for admission to the master’s programme first. The scholarship then appears in the scholarships section of your application portal.

Apply on official site

Official source: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/scholarships/sea/leiden-university-excellence-scholarship-lexs

Scholarship & funding guides

All guides →
Application Guides How to Apply to a Dutch University: Studielink, Deadlines and What Comes After Most applications run through Studielink, with 1 May as the general deadline and 15 January for numerus fixus programmes. Rankings & Comparisons Research University or University of Applied Sciences? WO and HBO Explained Dutch higher education has two main routes, WO and HBO, and the difference is in how the degree is taught, not in how good it is. Scholarships Scholarships for the Netherlands: What Exists, What Has Ended and When to Apply The NL Scholarship pays €5,000 and the big university awards close between December and May for a September start.

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