Master Scholarships, Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), Netherlands

For excellent Non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a Leiden University master’s degree programme and for excellent students from all nationalities enrolling in a Master of Law Advanced Programme or MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy.

For whom?

Non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a Leiden University master’s degree programme starting September 2012 or February 2013 ( All MA, MSc and LL.M programmes as mentioned on the website Master’s programmes in Leiden).
All nationalities enrolling in the following programmes starting September 2012 or February 2013:
Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in Air and Space Law
Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in European and International Business Law
Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in International Tax Law
Master of Laws: Advanced Studies in Public International Law
MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy

Additional requirements:

In his or her prior academic education abroad, the applicant must have achieved excellent study results which are relevant for the programme for which the student wishes to enroll. As an indication, the student will be among the top 10% for the relevant programme followed abroad
The applicant will hold a non-EU/EEA passport and will not be eligible for support under the Dutch system of study grants and loans
Scholarships will not be awarded to applicants who have already obtained a Leiden University master’s degree
Students who are granted a Leiden Excellence Scholarship must comply with and confirm in writing their agreement with the terms and conditions attached to the scholarship prior to the granting of the scholarship.

Scholarship Amount:
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship programme has 5 awards:

Platinum: Covers the tuition fee minus the home fee* and an allowance of €10,000 for living costs
Gold: Covers the tuition fee minus the home fee*
Silver: Covers 75% of the tuition fee
Bronze: Covers 50% of the tuition fee
Ivory: Covers 25 % of the tuition fee

The number and type of award of the scholarship depends on the budget available for each Faculty department. The type of award has no reflection on the students’ academic level of excellence.

* The tuition fee will be reduced to the amount of the home fee. Students who have been awarded a Platinum or Gold award still have to pay the home fee themselves.

Application procedure for September 2012 / February 2013 intake

Fill in your online application for admission to Leiden University
Upload all necessary documents
Indicate clearly that you would like to apply for the LExS scholarship on the scholarship page
Upload your letter of motivation for the LExS scholarship on the scholarship page
Submit your online application
Pay the application fee

Deadline

Deadline 1 March 2012 for programmes starting in September 2012.
Deadline 1 April 2012 only for programmes of the Leiden Law School starting in September 2012.
Deadline 1 October 2012 for programmes starting in February 2013.

All LExS applicants will be informed by the scholarship department of Student Educational Affairs.

The end of May 2012 for September 2012 intake.
Mid November 2012 for the February 2013 intake.

Letter of motivation
To apply for the scholarship, you should write a letter of motivation (in Word) of a maximum of 500 words, in which you indicate why you believe you should be considered for this scholarship. The Word document should then be attached on the scholarship page in your online application for the master’s programmes for which you are applying.

It is possible to submit applications for more scholarship programmes simultaneously. However, it is not possible to obtain more than 1 scholarship from Leiden University for the same study programme.

If you have already submitted your online application for admission to Leiden University, but would still like to apply for the LExS scholarship, we kindly request you to submit the LExS motivation letter to the Scholarships department.

Selection process
The Faculty selection committee will review the applications. Students are selected on the basis of academic merit.

Disclaimer
The student is responsible for submitting a complete application, according to the steps described under 1A-F by the aforementioned deadline. Leiden University cannot be held responsible for late and/or incomplete applications.
Please note

Students should be aware that the LExS is not a full scholarship. It is necessary to find additional funding to be able to finance their study and stay completely.

One of the requirements for being granted a residence permit in the Netherlands is that students must submit proof that they have sufficient financial means to finance their study period in the Netherlands. Leiden University advises a budget, not including the tuition fee, of approx. €10,000 to €14,000 per year to cover the costs for rent, insurance, living expenses, course books and local transportation. How much money students actually spend will of course depend on their life style and spending habits.

For more information, please visit official website: www.leidenuniv.nl