About this opportunity
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) 2027 offers around 25 merit awards of €10,000 to €19,000 towards tuition fees for excellent non-EEA students joining a full-time master's programme at Leiden University in the Netherlands. It is a partial tuition award, not a full scholarship: recipients must still show proof of sufficient funds for their Dutch visa or residence permit. Apply through your Leiden master's admission application and upload a 500-word motivation letter before the 1 December 2026 deadline.
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) 2027 is a partially funded scholarship offered by Leiden University for applicants heading to Netherlands. Applications close on Dec 1, 2026.
Who should apply?
This may be a fit if the following points describe you. Always use the official criteria as the final check.
- Hold a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport and not be eligible for Dutch government student finance, except for Advanced LLM programmes and the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy, which have no nationality restriction
- Apply for a full-time Leiden University master's programme starting in September
- Have achieved excellent results in a previous study programme relevant to the chosen master's, as an indication among the top 10% of graduates (proof of ranking is not required)
- Meet the admission requirements of the chosen master's programme
- Not apply for a Leiden Law School LLM (non-advanced) or MSc programme, which are excluded
- Not apply for a programme starting in February, which is excluded
- Not have already obtained a Leiden University master's degree, with limited exceptions for programmes where a previous master's or work experience is mandatory
What the opportunity may offer
- Tuition fee reduction at one of five levels: €10,000, €15,000, €17,500, €18,500 or €19,000
- Award held for the duration of the study programme, up to 12 months for a one-year programme or 24 months for a two-year programme
- Study at the oldest university in the Netherlands, across faculties including Science, Humanities, Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Medicine, Archaeology and Governance and Global Affairs
- UK students are eligible, as the UK is a non-EEA country, with a noted exception for those registered in a Dutch municipality before 1 January 2021
- In some circumstances the LExS may be combined with a partial scholarship from an external provider
- Notification of the outcome before the end of March, with faculty selection committees nominating recipients within 10 weeks of the deadline
Required documents
- Online Leiden University master's admission application, submitted and paid for where an application fee applies
- LExS motivation letter as a PDF of maximum 500 words, explaining why you should be considered for the award
- Academic transcripts and degree evidence for the previous study programme
- Curriculum vitae, where the chosen master's programme requires it
- Proof of English language proficiency, where the chosen master's programme requires it
- Any programme-specific documents required by the chosen master's programme
Application process
- Choose an eligible full-time Leiden master's programme starting in September
- Apply online for admission to the master's programme and pay the application fee if applicable, well before the deadline
- After submitting the admission application, return to the Apply screen and click on Scholarships
- Indicate that you want to apply for the LExS and upload your motivation letter as a PDF of maximum 500 words
- Submit the scholarship application before the 1 December 2026 deadline; no changes can be made after submission
- If applying for more than one programme, submit a separate LExS application and motivation letter within each admission application
- Wait for the faculty nomination and the email notification before the end of March
Before you apply
- □Apply before Dec 1, 2026 — confirm the date in your own time zone
- □Confirm that you meet every eligibility condition set by Leiden University
- □Prepare your 6 required documents in the format asked for
- □Ask referees early and share the official instructions
- □Review the official source once more before submitting
Deadline notes
The official Leiden page lists the LExS deadline as 1 December 2026 for master's programmes starting in September. Note that many older guides still show 1 February; the official page opened on 25 October 2026 states 1 December 2026, so treat 1 December 2026 as the deadline and start the admission application early, since Leiden warns it can take up to 3 working days to create and submit. Late scholarship applications are not considered, and applicants are notified before the end of March.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Leiden LExS scholarship fully funded?
No. It is a partial tuition award of €10,000, €15,000, €17,500, €18,500 or €19,000. Recipients must still show proof of sufficient funds for their Dutch visa or residence permit, and a significant personal contribution is required.
What is the LExS deadline for September 2027 entry?
1 December 2026, as stated on the official Leiden page. Older guides showing 1 February are outdated for this cycle; late applications are not considered.
Who can apply for LExS?
Excellent students with a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport joining a full-time Leiden master's programme starting in September, except Leiden Law School LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programmes. Advanced LLM programmes and the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy have no nationality restriction.
How many LExS scholarships are awarded?
Around 25 per year, while over 1,000 students apply, so it is highly competitive. As an indication, successful applicants are among the top 10% of graduates in their previous programme.
What does the motivation letter require?
A PDF of maximum 500 words explaining why you should be considered for the award, uploaded in the scholarships section after you submit your admission application. You cannot change it after submission.
Programme details can change. Check the original listing before you prepare or submit an application.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-25UShireZone is not affiliated with Leiden University. We never charge applicants to apply. Always verify details and submit through the official website.