The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) supports top master's students with a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport who plan to study at Leiden University in the Netherlands, with five award levels from €10,000 to €19,000, and the deadline is 1 December 2026. It is a partial award: Leiden states that the LExS is not a full scholarship and does not cover the full cost of your studies. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the university's official scholarship page and set out the amounts, conditions and steps below.
What the LExS Is
🏛️ Provider: Leiden University, the Netherlands
🎓 Level: master's programmes
💶 Type of award: partial scholarship, not a full scholarship
📅 Deadline: 1 December 2026, and late applications are not considered
🛂 Passport rule: applicants must hold a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport
Award Levels and Amounts
The LExS has five award levels.
🥉 €10,000
🥈 €15,000
🥇 €17,500
🏅 €18,500
🏆 €19,000
⚠️ Partial funding: the scholarship does not cover the full cost of studies, so plan how you will pay the rest. Our guide to government scholarships in Europe lists other funding routes to compare.
Which Master's Programmes Are Covered
The LExS can be used for all master's programmes that start in September, with one exclusion: the Law School's non-advanced LLM and MSc programmes.
🌱 Start date: September intake
✅ Eligible: all September-start master's programmes at Leiden University
❌ Not eligible: the Law School's non-advanced LLM and MSc programmes
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Who Can Apply
🛂 Passport: a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport is required
🇳🇱 Dutch student finance: you must not be entitled to Dutch student finance
📊 Academic record: you must be in the top 10% of graduates in your previous study programme
🎓 Programme: you apply to an eligible September-start master's programme at Leiden University
Motivation Letter and Documents
The application includes a motivation letter. It must be a PDF file of maximum 500 words. Our guide on how to write a scholarship motivation letter shows how to structure a short letter like this.
📄 Format: PDF only
✍️ Length: maximum 500 words
How the Selection Works
🏢 Who decides: the faculty selection committees nominate their LExS recipients
⏱️ When: nominations are made within 10 weeks of the LExS deadline
🚫 Late applications: not considered
How to Apply
You apply for the scholarship as part of your Leiden University master's application: choose the scholarships step in the application (Apply, then Scholarships) and submit before the deadline. Late applications are not considered, so complete everything by 1 December 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship worth?
There are five levels: €10,000, €15,000, €17,500, €18,500 and €19,000. The LExS is not a full scholarship and does not cover the full cost of your studies.
Who can apply for the LExS?
Applicants need a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport, must not be entitled to Dutch student finance, and must be in the top 10% of graduates in their previous study programme.
Which master's programmes qualify?
All master's programmes starting in September qualify, except the Law School's non-advanced LLM and MSc programmes.
What is the deadline, and are late applications accepted?
The deadline is 1 December 2026. Late applications are not considered.
How long should the motivation letter be?
It must be a PDF file of maximum 500 words.
When will recipients be chosen?
The faculty selection committees nominate their LExS recipients within 10 weeks of the LExS deadline.
Deadline
⏳ 01 December 2026
Link
🔗 Official scholarship page: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/scholarships/sea/leiden-university-excellence-scholarship-lexs
🔎 More scholarships on Youth Works Hub: https://youthworkshub.org/?tab=scholarships
