Universiteit Leiden

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Study areas

The libraries offer over 2300 study places. Some are freely available, some are available to Leiden University students only.

Exam period: 11 March - 31 March

In the busy exam weeks, nearly all library study places are available to Leiden University students only. Study places need to be booked in advance. For some user groups, access restrictions apply. 

Using library study places

Outside of exam periods, most regular library seats can be freely used by all visitors owning a valid library card (LU-Card).

Computers, group study rooms and individual study rooms can be used by Leiden University students only. They need to be reserved in advance year-round, using Leiden University's study places booking system or one of the apps (App Store or Google Play).

Study places marked with a dark blue sticker
Study places marked with a light blue sticker
  • Outside of exam periods: freely available to all library visitors
  • During exam periods: available to Leiden University students only; advance booking mandatory
Study places marked with a white sticker
  • Freely available, no booking options

Study places in exam periods

During the busy exam weeks, most study places are available to Leiden University students only and need to be booked in advance.

At all libraries, several study places are freely available to visitors to whom the UBL library access restrictions do not apply. These study places are marked with a white sticker. At the University Library (UB), this applies to the seats in reading room 1 on the first floor.

Upcoming exam weeks
  • 11 - 31 March 2024
  • 13 May - 30 June 2024

Only Leiden University students can book study places.

  • Visit Leiden University's booking system website - or download the app from the App Store or Google Play - and log on, using your Leiden University student credentials
  • Choose a location, date, time and duration (max. 5 hours)
  • Select an available seat
  • Confirm your booking

Please note that PhD students are staff/employees, and cannot book study places.

Using your booked study place

You can use your reserved study space only after having checked in. Your reservation will be cancelled if you do not check in within 30 minutes after your booked time slot has started.

  • At the University Library and Law Library, you will automatically be checked in upon scanning your LU-Card at the entrance turnstiles
  • At other libraries, please scan the QR-code on the check-in posts near the ‘SharedDesk for Students Check-in’ banners

Study place seat numbers can be found on each desk.

Please have a look at the booking system's support pages for an overview of the most frequently asked questions. Check out the convenient apps at the App Store or Google Play.

Logon issues?
If the logon page shows the message 'Account already exists', please choose 'Add to existing account'. Next, follow the confirmation link in the email that will be sent to your university email address, making sure to open the email link in the same browser you were using to sign in. There may be a slight delay; just wait for some minutes and try again. If the logon issue persists, please contact SharedDesk.

Most computers are available for use by Leiden University students only. They must be booked in advance year-round.

All library locations will offer several computers for use by other visitors. These places are marked with a white sticker. These computers cannot be booked.

The UB on Witte Singel offers sixteen individual study rooms, for use by Leiden University students. The rooms must be booked in advance.

At the libraries, all visitors may connect to the Eduroam network.

Eduroam issues? Contact the ISSC Helpdesk!

Leiden University students, staff and alumni

Connecting to Eduroam Your ULCN-username, followed by @leidenuniv.nl
Information Please visit the dedicated Leiden University webpages for students or staff
Support ISSC Helpdesk
Students and staff at other universities / institutions
Connecting to Eduroam By way of your own institution's credentials
Information Please follow the instructions offered by your own institution (instructions may vary)
Support Your own institution's ICT Helpdesk
Library account holders with no 'Eduroam'-affiliation
Connecting to Eduroam Your library account (ULCN) username, followed by @leidenuniv.nl
Information Please consult Leiden University's wifi-webpage
Support ISSC Helpdesk

Several areas within the libraries, specifically the reading rooms, are marked as silent zones. Outside of these zones you may confer in a subdued voice.

For Leiden University students looking to work together and converse freely, we suggest booking one of the libraries' group study rooms.

Check our application Study Spots for a real-time estimate on how busy each UB study area currently is.

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