Netherlands Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) 2026
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) 2026 is one of the most prestigious funding opportunities for international students seeking to pursue a full-time Master’s degree at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Established to support highly talented and academically outstanding students, the scholarship helps cover tuition fees for selected Master’s programmes across various faculties. With only about 25 scholarships awarded annually, the LExS is highly competitive, attracting over a thousand applicants worldwide each year.
Leiden University, founded in 1575, is the oldest university in the Netherlands and one of Europe’s leading international research institutions. Known for its rich academic tradition and strong global reputation, the university offers a wide range of Master’s and PhD programmes in fields such as law, social sciences, medicine, governance, humanities, and natural sciences. With a diverse community of students and staff from more than 120 nationalities, Leiden University is committed to academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact, making it a top choice for ambitious international students.
Degree Level
- Master’s (full-time programmes only).
Available Subjects
- Faculty of Archaeology
- Faculty of Medicine/LUMC
- Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs
- Faculty of Law (Advanced LLMs only, not non-advanced)
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Faculty of Science
Note: The LExS is not available for Master’s programmes in the Faculty of Humanities, or for Leiden Law School’s LLM (non-advanced) and MSc programmes, nor for Master’s programmes beginning in February.
Benefits
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) provides partial tuition fee coverage at one of the following levels:
- €10,000 of tuition fee
- €15,000 of tuition fee
- €17,500 of tuition fee
- €18,500 of tuition fee
- €19,000 of tuition fee
Important Notes:
- The award is final and non-negotiable.
- LExS does not cover living costs or full tuition fees. Students must demonstrate additional proof of sufficient funds for visa and residence permit purposes.
- The scholarship cannot be combined with another full external scholarship, though it may be combined with a partial scholarship under certain conditions.
Eligible Nationalities
- Non-EEA/Non-EFTA students (all countries outside the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).
- Exceptions: No nationality restrictions apply for:
- All Advanced LLM programmes
- MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the LExS, applicants must:
- Hold a non-EEA/EFTA passport (unless applying for Advanced LLMs or MSc International Relations & Diplomacy).
- Have achieved excellent academic results, typically ranking within the top 10% of graduates in their previous degree programme.
- Be applying for an eligible Master’s programme starting in September 2025.
- Submit a strong motivation letter (max. 500 words) explaining why they deserve the award.
Exclusions:
- Students applying to Humanities programmes.
- Students applying to LLM (non-advanced) or MSc programmes at Leiden Law School.
- Students beginning in February intake.
- Students who already hold a Leiden University Master’s degree (with limited exceptions).
Application Procedure
- Apply online for admission to a Master’s programme at Leiden University. Pay the application fee if required. (Allow at least 3 working days for application processing before the scholarship deadline.)
- After submitting your admission application, return to the Apply screen and click on Scholarships. (If eligible, the LExS option will appear.)
- Upload a motivation letter (PDF, max. 500 words) in the scholarships section, explaining your motivation and eligibility.
- Submit your LExS application before the deadline (1 February 2026). Late applications will not be accepted.
- If applying for more than one Master’s programme, submit a separate LExS application and motivation letter for each.
Selection Process
- Faculty selection committees will review and nominate recipients.
- Applicants are notified of the results by the end of April 2026.
- Only around 25 students are awarded each year, making the LExS extremely competitive.
