Leiden University Excellence Scholarships 2027 to Study for Free in Netherlands

Getting admitted to a Dutch university may be difficult. Paying international tuition can be harder.

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 2027 (LExS) is aimed at academically outstanding students applying for eligible full-time Master’s programmes at Leiden University for September 2027. Depending on the award level, you could receive a tuition reduction of up to €19,000.

But there is an important catch: LExS is not a fully funded scholarship. It reduces your tuition bill, but you may still need substantial money for living costs, travel, insurance, visa expenses and Dutch immigration financial requirements.

How Much Can You Receive Through LExS?

You may receive a fixed tuition reduction ranging from €10,000 to €19,000.

That can make Leiden considerably more affordable, but do not build your study plan assuming the scholarship will pay your rent or monthly expenses.

Are You Competitive for the Leiden Excellence Scholarship?

You should consider LExS seriously if your academic performance places you among the strongest students in your previous programme.

Leiden generally uses performance around the top 10% of graduates as an indication of the academic level expected. You may not always need an official ranking certificate, but average grades alone are unlikely to make this an easy scholarship and you should have:

• A strong academic transcript.
• An eligible full-time Leiden Master’s application.
• A focused scholarship motivation letter.
• Enough financial planning to cover costs LExS does not fund.

If your GPA or percentage is strong but you are unsure whether it is competitive, compare your performance with students from your own grading system rather than randomly converting it to a 4.0 GPA.

Which Master’s Programmes Are Eligible?

Most eligible full-time Master’s programmes beginning in September 2027 can be considered, but important exclusions apply.

LExS is not available for:

• Non-Advanced LLM programmes at Leiden Law School.
• MSc programmes at Leiden Law School.

Nationality rules also change for some courses. Applicants of all nationalities may be considered when applying for:

• Advanced LLM programmes.
• MSc International Relations and Diplomacy.

For most other programmes, LExS primarily targets applicants holding passports from outside the EEA/EFTA who are not eligible for Dutch government student finance. Certain UK applicants may also qualify, depending on their residence and Dutch BRP registration status before 1 January 2021.

Your Motivation Letter Can Decide the Competition

A high GPA gets you into the conversation. It does not automatically win the scholarship.

Avoid turning your motivation letter into a rewritten CV. Instead, connect your academic achievements with your chosen Leiden programme, future goals and the reasons you are a strong candidate for merit-based funding.

If two applicants have similar grades, this is exactly where one application can begin looking more convincing than the other.

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 2027 Deadline

The last date to apply for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship for September 2027 entry is 1 December 2026.

You must complete the relevant Master’s admission application and indicate your LExS scholarship request before the deadline. You can review the official Leiden University Excellence Scholarship requirements here.

If you are unsure whether your nationality, GPA, percentage or intended Leiden programme makes you eligible, mention those details in the comments. The difference between being technically eligible and genuinely competitive can be significant.