• Once the number of housing requests exceeds the number of rooms available, we will close housing applications and post a notice on this page. This generally occurs around April (for studies starting for September) and October (for studies starting in February). But this can vary from year to year.
• As there is a quota for each group (degree students and non-degree students), it can occur that applications close earlier for one group than the other. 

We will let you know by 15 June (for studies starting in September) or 30 November (for studies starting in February) if you applied in time and can be offered housing.

1. Apply for admission to a degree or exchange/study abroad programme at Leiden University.
    
2. In the online application system (uSis), indicate that you want to request housing.
    
3. Pay the €285 housing fee as instructed in uSis as soon as possible! Your place on the housing list is determined by the date we receive your housing fee.
   
   Have you applied for multiple programmes with the same start date but don’t know yet which you will follow? If so, you still only need to pay one housing fee.
    
4. On approx. 15 June (studies starting in September) or 30 November (studies starting in February), we will send you an email letting you know that either:   
   • you applied in time and will soon be given access to the housing reservation portal, or
   • too many students applied before you so you will be put on a housing waiting list in case another student withdraws, or you can choose to cancel your housing application and request a refund of your housing fee.
     
     Please patiently await this email as we are unable to provide details before this date!
     
     If you choose to remain on the waiting list
     You can still request a refund or defer your housing application at a later date on condition that we have not yet offered you housing. See how to cancel or defer housing. Of course, if we are unable to offer you any housing at all, we will refund your housing fee.

If you are notified that you applied in time:

1. Shortly after 15 June (studies starting in September) or 30 November (studies starting in February) we will begin sending activation emails for the ROOM-University housing reservation portal. Here you can find all the accommodation set aside by DUWO for Leiden University’s international students.
   
   Activiation emails will be sent in batches
   Students who paid the housing fee earliest will receive their activation email first, followed by the next batch and so on. Remember to check your emails and junk mail frequently from 15 June/30 November onwards!
    
2. Immediately after receiving your activation email, activate your account, log into the ROOM-University housing reservation portal and reserve your accommodation. Be quick! Remember that other students will be reserving rooms at the same time as you. And the longer you wait, the more students will be granted access to the portal so the less choice you will have.
    
3. Immediately after reserving your accommodation, make sure you have sufficient funds available to make your first payment. Before signing your tenancy agreement, DUWO will ask you to make an initial payment that includes 3 months rent. See the DUWO - Leiden University website for details.

Once you have reserved your room, you will receive information from DUWO on further procedures and payments. For further details see: 

• DUWO – I have found a room
• DUWO - first payment and tenancy agreement  

On the DUWO terms and conditions page you can find information on matters such as tenancy regulations, cancellation policies and contract termination and extensions.

Not via uSis

If you cancel or defer your studies in the online application system (uSis), your housing application will NOT be automatically cancelled/deferred. You must also follow the steps below.

Steps to take

• Send a message via the Housing contact form letting us know you want to cancel or defer your housing application. Include your name and student number (from uSis).
• Deferrals only: you can only defer your housing application if you also defer your admission! So don't forget to defer your admission by following the instructions in this FAQ. Once you have done so, we will transfer your housing application and fee to your new start date. You do not need to reapply for housing or pay the housing fee again.