Study career, professional development, and labour market preparation.

Welcome to Leiden University

Welcome to Leiden University

Bachelor, Master

2025 was a year to remember at our faculty. We celebrated our 450th anniversary, launched new degree programmes and welcomed many inspiring speakers, yet we also felt the weight of budget constraints. Our year in a nutshell:

You're about to graduate. That means there’s a lot to be arranged. The university expects you to take certain steps, as does your faculty and/or institute. Your faculty has various regulations and procedures in place that you need to follow carefully when arranging your graduation.

Welcome to Leiden University

Welcome to Leiden University

Welcome to Leiden University

Welcome to Leiden University

Welcome to Leiden University

Welcome to Leiden University

Do you want to request a change to the academic requirements set by your bachelor's or master's programme? Perhaps you want to be exempted from a particular course, because you think you have already acquired the knowledge elsewhere. Or do you want academic credits earned at another institution to be…

When writing a thesis or paper you must make good use of the insights you have gained during your lectures and studies so far. You should also refer to relevant literature and carry out your own research on the topic.

This webpage offers you the most frequently asked questions and answers provided by staff and students themselves.

internship, research project, fieldwork, summer school, conference, excursion, field trip, thesis

To arrange before departure

Do you want to request a change to the academic requirements set by your bachelor's or master's programme? Perhaps you want to be exempted from a particular course, because you think you have already acquired the knowledge elsewhere. Or do you want academic credits earned at another institution to be…

You're about to graduate. That means there’s a lot to be arranged. The university expects you to take certain steps, as does your faculty and/or institute. Your faculty has various regulations and procedures in place that you need to follow carefully when arranging your graduation.

The academic year officially commences on 1 September and ends on 31 August. On national holidays and compulsory closure dates, the university is closed and no lectures take place.

As a bachelor’s student at Leiden University, you will be issued with binding study advice (BSA). This means you must obtain sufficient study credits in the first year of your bachelor’s programme to be permitted to continue studying. Some programmes also have additional requirements.

The university council and faculty councils are democratically elected co-participation bodies that represent both students and staff of the university and its faculties. Co-participation also takes place at departmental level through programme committees.

For a long time, Thijs Bosker was an average student, until he discovered how exciting learning becomes when there are no ready-made answers. To his students, he passes on one key message: hope is the driving force that keeps us moving forward. They nominated him as Lecturer of the Year.

He is always positive towards his students, helps them see the bigger picture of the programme, and tries to remind them that ‘a degree is an enormous opportunity to grow in directions that genuinely interest you.’ Thomas Moerland, assistant professor at LIACS, has been nominated for Lecturer of the…

PhD

A minor allows you to develop your knowledge beyond the boundaries of your study programme, or to specialise further in your own field of study. You can follow a minor in Leiden and also in Delft or Rotterdam.

Education administration offices

Quiet rooms

As well as study associations, Leiden University also has a number of other associations through which you can develop your skills and gain experience that will come in useful in your later professional life.

When deciding what to study you undoubtedly read a lot of information about your study programme. Leiden University employs various systems to provide information about programmes and courses and to facilitate communication between lecturers and students.

During your bachelor’s programme at Leiden University you have the option of doing a minor or earning elective credits.

Do you want to gain problem-solving experience? Shape your future with a Master Honours Challenge at Leiden University!

Research

A study association is a good way to combine study-related activities with pleasure. Every faculty has one or more study association.

In addition to compulsory elements, most degree programmes also have elective credits. These are credits you can earn in a variety of ways, for example by taking elective courses, studying abroad or doing a minor.

Do you want to gain problem-solving experience? Shape your future with a Master Honours Challenge at Leiden University!

Good mental health provides a strong foundation for study and work. It is important to seek help if you are not doing well. There are a range of ways in which you can work on your mental well-being. You can also turn to others for help and guidance. Take a look at the various options available.

Some bachelor's programmes help you monitor your own academic progress by assisting you in drawing up a study plan at the end of your first year.

Find out what to do in the event of an emergency or incident during your studies.

When deciding what to study you undoubtedly read a lot of information about your study programme. Leiden University employs various systems to provide information about programmes and courses and to facilitate communication between lecturers and students.

Does the Leiden Leadership Programme appeal to you? You can find more about the selection procedure below. The applications for 2026-2027 run from 1 September till 30 September 2026.

Organisation

Are you interested in the Honours College track Governance and Global Affairs? Here you will find an overview of the admission requirements and the admissions procedure.

Thinking of studying abroad, or are you just starting your international journey here at Leiden University? We've got you covered! Join us for a week of pure inspiration, amazing chats with your peers, and all the info you need to make your dreams a reality here in the Netherlands or abroad. And enjoy…

Lecture, China Seminar