Leiden Excellence Scholarship 2027: Up to €19,000 Tuition Support
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) offers competitive tuition awards for eligible September-entry master’s applicants. The current official page lists a 1 December 2026 deadline for the upcoming intake and awards of up to €19,000. This is partial funding: recipients still need a substantial personal budget.
Official sources checked 15 October 2026. Read the provider’s current rules before submitting.
Key details
Destination: Netherlands · Level: Master’s
Funding: €10,000–€19,000 towards tuition; partial funding
Scholarship deadline: 1 December 2026; no cutoff time stated
Funding levels and the remaining cost
LExS has five tuition-award levels: €10,000, €15,000, €17,500, €18,500 and €19,000. It applies over the study programme’s duration; the award level is final. Living costs are not fully funded, and non-EEA recipients still need sufficient-funds evidence for immigration.
Who can apply?
Normally applicants need a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport and must be ineligible for Dutch student finance. Advanced LLM programmes and the MSc International Relations and Diplomacy have nationality exceptions. Relevant top-10% academic performance indicates competitiveness; ranking proof is not required. Non-advanced LLM/MSc programmes at Leiden Law School and February starts are excluded. Previous Leiden master’s graduates face restrictions.
Application steps and documents
- Choose an eligible degree and follow its admission document and English-language requirements.
- Submit the admission application and any applicable fee early; account/application preparation can take up to three working days.
- Return to the application’s Scholarships section and select LExS where eligible.
- Upload a PDF motivation letter of no more than 500 words and submit the separate scholarship application.
- If applying to multiple eligible programmes, complete a separate scholarship request and tailored letter in each admission application.
Deadline and selection
The published deadline is 1 December 2026. No cutoff time or time zone is stated on the cited page; do not assume midnight. Late applications are excluded and submitted applications cannot be amended. Faculty nomination is followed by email notification, expected before the end of March.
Is LExS a realistic financial fit?
Start with a two-column budget: guaranteed resources and possible scholarship income. Put LExS only in the second column until an award is confirmed. Calculate tuition still payable plus housing, insurance, food, travel and initial settlement expenses. This helps you decide whether applying is useful even if you receive a lower award level.
For the motivation letter, use a simple structure: academic objective, evidence of preparation, programme fit and future contribution. Select a small number of meaningful examples instead of compressing your entire CV. Have someone check whether each paragraph answers why you should be considered and whether the claims can be supported.
Our advice is to submit well before the date shown and retain confirmation. This is a planning recommendation, not an additional university rule or a guarantee of selection.
Frequently asked questions
Is LExS fully funded?
No. It is tuition support, with a significant remaining personal contribution.
Is it automatic with admission?
No. Complete the scholarship section and motivation letter separately.
Can another full scholarship be combined?
Leiden does not permit that combination; ask its scholarship team about partial external awards.
Apply Now — Official Scholarship Instructions
Official sources
University scholarship rules, application route and current deadlines
Compare other opportunities
- Eric Bleumink Fellowship 2027: Fully Funded Master’s Route
- Radboud Scholarship 2027/28: Tuition Reduced for International Students
- EPFL Master Excellence Fellowship 2027: CHF 10,000 Per Semester
- Erasmus Mundus PlantHealth 2027–2029: €1,400/Month
Compare funding scope, admission route and your own eligibility separately for each option. ScholarshipHubNow provides independent application guidance; the university makes all admission and funding decisions.
