Leiden University

What Leiden University Is

Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands, established in 1575 by William of Orange as a reward to the city of Leiden for its resistance during the Eighty Years’ War. Ranked 114th globally by QS in 2025, it is one of Europe’s leading research universities and a founding member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).

The university is spread across two locations: the historic city of Leiden (approximately 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport) and The Hague, where its campus houses the faculties of Governance and Global Affairs and hosts several international law and public administration programs. The Hague location is particularly relevant because the city is home to the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and numerous international organisations — making it one of the world’s most important centres for international law and governance.

Leiden has seven faculties: Archaeology, Governance and Global Affairs, Humanities, Law, Medicine (Leiden University Medical Centre), Science, and Social and Behavioural Sciences. It is particularly well-known for:

• Law: One of the strongest law faculties in continental Europe, with deep expertise in international law, European law, and human rights law.
• Psychology: Ranked among the top 100 globally by QS for psychology.
• International Relations and Governance: The Hague campus provides proximity to international institutions that few universities can match.
• Life Sciences: The Leiden Bio Science Park is one of the largest life sciences clusters in the Netherlands.

For Indian students, Leiden offers English-taught programs at tuition levels substantially lower than the UK or US (approximately EUR 12,000–18,000/yr for non-EU students), with access to a European job market and a Dutch residence permit system that is comparatively straightforward.

Who It’s For

Leiden University suits Indian students who want:

• A European education in English at moderate cost: Non-EU tuition at Leiden (EUR 12,000–18,000/yr) is roughly half the cost of comparable UK universities and a fraction of US tuition. The Netherlands offers an excellent quality-to-cost ratio for international education.
• International law, governance, or public policy: If your interest is in international relations, European Union law, human rights, or public administration, Leiden’s Hague campus puts you at the centre of global governance institutions.
• Psychology or life sciences: Leiden’s psychology faculty is well-funded and research-active. The bio-pharmaceutical sciences cluster offers strong industry connections.
• A post-study work pathway in Europe: The Netherlands offers an “orientation year” (zoekjaar) residence permit, allowing graduates of Dutch universities to stay for one year after graduation to seek employment. This is a simpler system than the UK’s or Germany’s post-study work arrangements.

Leiden is less suited for students primarily interested in engineering, business administration, or technical disciplines — for those, TU Delft or Erasmus University Rotterdam are more appropriate.

Programs Popular with Indian Students

• BA International Studies: Three-year English-taught bachelor’s covering world regions, languages, and global challenges. Taught at the Leiden campus. This program attracts students interested in diplomacy, international organisations, and area studies. See also: BA International Relations.

• BSc Computer Science: Three-year program taught in English. Covers algorithms, data science, software engineering, and artificial intelligence. Leiden’s Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) has strong research in AI and data science.

• BSc Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences: Three-year English-taught program. One of Leiden’s distinctive offerings, situated within the Leiden Bio Science Park. Focuses on drug research and development.

• BSc Psychology: Three-year English-taught bachelor’s. Leiden’s psychology program is research-oriented, with access to labs and clinical facilities. The program covers clinical, cognitive, social, and developmental psychology.

• LLB Law: Leiden’s law programs are among the most internationally oriented in the Netherlands. The bachelor’s includes pathways in European law, international law, and Dutch law. Note that the undergraduate LLB may be partly taught in Dutch — verify the language of instruction for your specific track. See also: LLB.

• MSc Computer Science: Two-year research master’s with specializations in data science, AI, and software technology. See also: MSc Data Science.

• LLM: One-year master’s with multiple specializations including International Public Law, European Law, Law and Digital Technologies, and International Civil and Commercial Law. Many LLM programs are fully English-taught.

• MA International Relations: One-year master’s at The Hague campus. Specializations include International Studies, European Union Studies, and Global Conflict.

Campus and Location

Leiden is a compact, historic Dutch city of approximately 125,000 people, located between Amsterdam and The Hague. The university’s buildings are spread throughout the city centre — there is no single enclosed campus. The Hague campus (approximately 15 minutes by train from Leiden) is a modern facility in The Hague’s international zone.

For Indian students, practical considerations include:

• Housing: Finding housing in the Netherlands is notoriously difficult, especially in the Randstad (the Amsterdam–The Hague–Rotterdam–Utrecht conurbation). Leiden’s housing office helps international students, but start early. Expect to pay EUR 500–800/month for a room in shared accommodation.
• Cycling: The Netherlands is a cycling country. Most daily transport in Leiden is by bicycle. Budget for a second-hand bike (EUR 50–150) and a good lock.
• Indian community: The Randstad has a significant Indian community, concentrated in The Hague (which has one of the largest Indian/Surinamese-Hindustani communities in Europe). Indian restaurants, grocery stores, and temples are accessible.
• Language: While university programs may be in English, daily life in the Netherlands functions in Dutch. Learning basic Dutch improves social integration and job prospects, though it is possible to manage entirely in English in the Randstad.

Costs and Financial Aid

• Undergraduate non-EU tuition: Approximately EUR 12,500–15,000/yr depending on program (2024–25). Science and computer science programs are at the higher end.
• Graduate non-EU tuition: Approximately EUR 16,000–18,000/yr for most master’s programs (2024–25). LLM programs may be slightly lower.
• Living costs: Budget EUR 10,000–13,000/yr for housing, food, insurance, and transport in Leiden/The Hague.
• Health insurance: Mandatory for all international students in the Netherlands. Approximately EUR 50–120/month depending on provider and coverage level.
• Scholarships: Leiden offers the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) for non-EU students, covering either EUR 10,000 of tuition, half tuition, or full tuition. The Holland Scholarship (EUR 5,000 one-time) is available for non-EEA students studying in the Netherlands for the first time. Additionally, some programs offer specific scholarships — check the program page.
• Part-time work: Non-EU students in the Netherlands can work up to 16 hours/week alongside studies (or full-time during summer months) with a work permit arranged by the employer.

Things to Verify Before Applying

• Language of instruction: Most master’s programs are in English, but some bachelor’s programs (especially law) may be partly or wholly in Dutch. Confirm the language of instruction for your specific program before applying.
• English proficiency: Leiden typically requires IELTS 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL 90–100, depending on the program. Check program-specific requirements.
• Application deadlines: Non-EU students typically face an April 1 deadline for September intake. Some programs have earlier deadlines. The Numerus Fixus (capacity-limited) programs have a January 15 deadline.
• Credential evaluation: Indian bachelor’s degrees (three-year) may not be directly recognized as equivalent to a Dutch bachelor’s for master’s admission. Some programs require a four-year degree or additional qualifications. Verify with the program’s admissions office.
• Orientation year visa: After graduation, you can apply for the zoekjaar (search year) residence permit. This allows one year of job searching in the Netherlands. Apply within three years of graduation.
• Housing: Start your housing search as soon as you receive an admission offer. Leiden’s housing market is tight; waiting until arrival is risky.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• TU Delft — top Dutch technical university, nearby
• University of Amsterdam — another major Dutch research university
• Erasmus University Rotterdam — strong in business and economics
• University of Groningen — Dutch research university with good international programs
• BA International Relations — international relations degree options
• LLM — master of law programs
• BSc Computer Science — CS degree options
• BA Psychology — psychology degree pathways

Sources Used

• Leiden University Admissions
• Leiden University Study Programmes
• Leiden University Fees
• Leiden University Scholarships