Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is awarded to excellent students joining a full-time Master's degree programme at Leiden University. The scholarship is designed for students who have achieved outstanding academic results in their previous study programmes, typically ranking among the top 10% of graduates. The LExS is a highly competitive scholarship with approximately 25 scholarships available each year, while over a thousand students apply annually. The scholarship is awarded for the duration of the study programme and provides partial tuition fee coverage at five different levels, ranging from €10,000 to €19,000. It is important to note that the LExS is not a full scholarship and does not cover the complete cost of studies, requiring a significant personal contribution from recipients. The scholarship is available for Master's programmes starting in September across multiple faculties, including Archaeology, Humanities, Medicine/LUMC, Governance and Global Affairs, Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Science. Eligible applicants must be non-EEA/non-EFTA students, with exceptions for UK students and all nationalities applying to Advanced LLM programmes and MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy. Students who have already obtained a Leiden University Master's degree are generally excluded, except those applying for programmes requiring a specific previous Master's degree or work experience. The scholarship cannot be combined with another full scholarship from external providers.