Make your choice! Three introduction weeks for students at Leiden University
Leiden or The Hague? Dutch or English? These two questions decide which introduction week new students at Leiden University can best choose: EL CID, HOP or OWL.
‘A flying start for both your academic and your social life here.' This is how Carel Stolker, Rector Magnificus of Leiden University, describes taking part in an introduction week. It is not compulsory, but the university definitely does advise new students to join in. You can take part in all three of the weeks, but joining at least one of them will give you an experience you will never forget. You can read below about which week will suit you best.
EL CID
Leiden – (mainly) Dutch – 12 t/m 16 August
The Enige Leidse Commissie Introductie Dagen (EL CID) has organised the introduction week for Leiden University students since 1970. Since 2014 students at Leiden University of Applied Sciences have also joined the event, which turns the whole city centre into one lively student party.
The theme of the 2019 EL CID week is The Golden Path.
Visit the website and register: website El CID
HOP
The Hague – Dutch & English – 19 t/m 22 August
Leiden University has locations in two cities: Leiden and The Hague. This is the second year the university is offering a full introduction week in The Hague: the HOPweek. This week is specially for students of the bachelor's programmes in Public Administration, Leiden University College (LUC), International Studies, Computer Science and Economics, International Relations and Organisations and Security Studies. Students from the master's programmes taught in The Hague can also take part. Hop till you drop!
Visit the website and register: website HOP
OWL
Leiden – English – 26 t/m 30 August
Enjoy five days of fun, music, culture, sports, games and making new friends. That's the Orientation Week Leiden, or OWL. The week is specially for new international students at Leiden University, but Dutch master's students are also very welcome!
Do you know what 'gezellig' means and how Dutch people like to 'borrelen'? For a soft landing in the Netherlands, OWL offers things like a bike sale and a session on Dealing with the Dutch. The week would not be complete without a pub crawl through Leiden: the CrOWL.
Visit the website and register: website OWL