Financial matters

Before embarking on your studies at Leiden University, it is important to thoroughly research the financial aspects of your stay. Look into the cost of living and studying in the Netherlands, and find out about all the available sources of financial aid. There are many options available.

Financial aid

Financial aid can be an indispensable resource to help you cover the costs of your education. Before starting your studies, make sure to investigate all the funding opportunities available to you.

Scholarships

Leiden University has a number of scholarship programmes for international students. There are also a range of scholarships offered by Dutch governmental and EU organisations. For information on the options available, including eligibility criteria and deadlines, please visit our scholarships and loans page.

Loans

There are a number of student loans available from EU, national and private organisations. Some of these are listed on our scholarships and loans page. However it’s always a good idea to find out if there any loan schemes in your home country that you could make use of.

US Federal loans and VA benefits
Please be aware that Leiden University is not currently participating in any US Federal loans or VA benefit schemes (such as Chapter-35 or GI Bill) and therefore cannot complete any forms or provide any data for this purpose.

As there are so many different scholarships, grants and fellowships out there, we cannot list them all on our website. Use these search engines to track down all the funding opportunities available to you.

Grantfinder – scholarships search engine for study and research in The Netherlands
European Funding Guide - search for educational funding in the EU
ScholarshipPortal - scholarship search engine
ZOnMw – funding options via the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
NWO – funding options via the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
Open Society Foundations – provider of grants, scholarships and fellowships
European Research Council - search for a research grant

When studying at Leiden University you may be entitled to Dutch student finance and a student travel pass from DUO. Whether you are eligible depends on several factors such as your nationality and length of stay. Students who are eligible for Dutch student finance may also apply for a student travel pass from DUO (known as a student OV card).

Monthly living costs

As a student of Leiden University you will need to take a number of costs into consideration. In addition to your tuition fees, you will need sufficient funds to cover your study and living costs. In the table below you can find a rough estimate of the monthly expenses for students in Leiden and The Hague. Of course, actual expenditure can vary greatly from student to student, so these figures only provide a rough indication.

Rent (including water, gas and electricity) Note: there is limited availability in the lower price range, so be prepared to pay in the upper range.	€400 – €700
Groceries	€173*
Clothing and shoes	€53*
Travel expenses Note: if you regularly commute between Leiden and The Hague, be prepared to pay more.	€70 – €100
Health insurance	€80 - €120
Books and study materials (varies per programme)	€49*
Sport and social activities	€124*
Telephone	€19*
Total (excluding tuition fees)	€968 – €1338

* Based on figures provided by Nibud (Dutch Institute for Family Finance Information).

Note: if you need a student visa/residence permit, you will be asked to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds for both your tuition fee and living expenses. The exact amounts required can be found on the visa page.