Approval and application
First check your exchange programme type!
Different deadlines and procedures apply depending on whether you want to apply for destinations via a university-wide exchange programme, via a faculty exchange programme, or (if applicable) via a special exchange programme only for students on your study programme.
- For destinations via a university-wide exchange programme: follow the instructions and deadlines here below on the general tab.
- For destinations via a faculty exchange programmes, or via a special exchange programme only for students on your study programme: click on your faculty or study programme tab and follow the instructions and deadlines there.
University-wide exchange
Deadline
If you want to go abroad via a university-wide exchange programme in autumn 2025 or spring 2026, you can apply until 23:59 on 1 December 2024.
Note that different deadlines apply if you are going abroad via a faculty or study programme-specific exchange programme. See your faculty or study programme tab for details.
Apply on time
Make sure your application is complete on time. Late applications will not be considered.
Requirements
To apply for a university-wide exchange programme, you must meet the following requirements:
- You are registered as a student of Leiden University;
- You have obtained at least 60EC of your bachelor’s programme;
- Your average grade is 7 or higher*. Doing a master’s but not yet received any grades? We will use your bachelor’s GPA instead.
- You meet any additional requirements specified by your faculty or programme (these can be found under your faculty or programme tab).
*Exception: for the ISEP programme an average grade of 6.5 or higher is required.
Steps to take
After looking through all the options in the world map, draw up a list of at least 5 (max. 10) universities where you would like to study, in order of preference. When doing so, be aware that some destinations are very popular so it is important that you take your Chances of placement into consideration.
Chances of placement
- You can see the Chances of placement for each destination in the world map under 'Important considerations’. This will be either high, medium or low.
- In your list, we advise you not to include more than 2 destinations that are classified as Chances of placement: low.
- Only select destinations that you would be happy to go to, even if they are not your first choice.
Letter of motivation
Download the motivation letter template, complete it (200 to 300 words per selected university) and upload it in uSis:
Second semester as plan B
Are you applying for the first semester but could also go abroad in the second semester (or vice versa)? Mention this in your letter by ticking the checkbox with the text 'Yes, I wish to be considered for a different semester if I am not selected for my first choice of semester.' Please note that it is important to discuss this with your study adviser in advance to make sure your study programme permits exchange in the second semester.
Transcript: only for master, LUC & joint degree students, and university studies elsewhere
In your online application you will be asked to grant us permission to view your grades in uSis. You therefore do not need to upload a transcript except in the following cases:
- Master's student: if you are master's student, upload a copy of your (Leiden or other university) bachelor transcript with GPA.
- Leiden University College (LUC): if you are, or have been, studying at LUC, request an official transcript with GPA from the LUC course administration and upload it in your application.
- Joint degree: if you are following a joint degree at Leiden University and TU Delft, request an official TU Delft transcript with GPA and upload it in your application.
- University studies elsewhere: if you have also studied at a university other than Leiden University, upload your transcript with GPA from that institution.
- Log into uSis > click on the study abroad tile > select ‘I want to study at a partner university via an exchange programme’.
- Enter the requested data and upload the required documents.
- Select your (max. 10) exchange destinations* in order of preference.
- Submit your application.
*Want to go abroad via the ISEP programme? Select ISEP as one of your exchange destinations in uSis.
If you need further explanation, consult the Manual on applying for university-wide exchange via uSis.
You may only go on exchange with the approval of your study programme. Once you submit your application, the international exchange coordinator will ask your programme to confirm its approval.
Note that the selection procedure has changed! See explanation below.
For further details and background, see University-wide exchange - Lottery procedure.
Once your programme confirms its approval, we will check you meet the eligibility requirements. We will also review your letter of motivation to make sure your study abroad plans are realistic and achievable and your choice of universities is well considered. If we have serious doubts, we may contact you to discuss your plans.
You will then be included in the selection process. For university-wide exchange, selection takes place via a lottery procedure.
Lottery procedure
- If there are sufficient places available for all applicants at your first choice of destination, you will be placed there.
- If there are insufficient places, these will be allocated via a lottery procedure. All students will be allocated a random ranking number via an automated programme.
- Starting with ranking number one, we will check if we can place the student at their first choice of destination. If not, we will try to place them at their second choice, then their third and so on. The same will be done for all students in order of ranking number.
If you are offered a place, you will be invited to log into the study abroad portal to view the details of the offered place. Make sure to read all the information and conditions of the offer carefully.
In the unfortunate event you cannot be placed at any of your chosen destinations, you will be invited to take part in a second selection round for the remaining available places.
If you have been offered a place, you must accept or decline it within 7 days in the uSis study abroad portal. If you do not accept the offer on time, it will be withdrawn. When accepting your place, you must agree to the Regulations on Studying Abroad. Be prepared and read these in advance. If you have any questions about the regulations, contact your international exchange coordinator.
Once you accept your place, Leiden University will nominate you to your host institution. You will then receive instructions on how and when to submit your application to your host institution, either from your international exchange coordinator or directly from the host itself.
Check your exchange programme type!
As a student of the Faculty of Humanities you can apply to go abroad via Faculty exchange programme or the university-wide exchange programme. If you’re a BA International Studies student you can also go abroad with that specific exchange programme.
Find your exchange destination via the world map!
Faculty Erasmus+ exchange programme
Requirements
The faculty exchange programme is mainly for European destinations. This includes the Erasmus+ destinations in EU countries as well as universities in the United Kingdom. To ensure that our nominated students meet our partner universities' admission requirements, you must meet the following requirements in order to be considered for an exchange semester:
- You are enrolled as a full-time student in a Faculty of Humanities programme;
- You have successfully completed your first year (propedeuse) of your Faculty of Humanities study programme;
- You have a minimum GPA (cijfergemiddelde) of 7.0. Please note: Students who fall short of 7.0 GPA but passed all 1st year courses and have a 6.5 GPA minimum may be considered. Students in this category are not eligible for all partner universities. Placements depends on the spots available at the specific partner universities.
Keeping up your grades after being selected
It is important that you maintain your GPA after you selection. If selected by Leiden University for a partner university, you will need to apply directly to that university’s exchange programme. Your application to the partner university will include a transcript: if your GPA does not meet anymore the above-prescribed minimums, your application could be rejected by the partner university.
Deadline
Would you like to go on an exchange through the faculty exchange programme? Apply by 15 February for an exchange during the first or second semester of the following academic year. Check the Worldmap for your options (select Faculty of Humanities, you study level as well as Faculty exchange programme).
Late applications will not be considered.
Required documents
You need to prepare and upload the following documents:
The letter must be:
- Written in English
- Max 2 pages (A4)
- Addressed to the study abroad coordinator
- Include your name and study programme
The letter should include answers to the following questions:
- Academic motivation / expectations.
- What do you want to study at your host university? Did you find examples of interesting courses?
- How does the study abroad period fit into your programme at Leiden University? Will the courses be, for example, extra-curricular or part of your Elective Credits (vrije keuzeruimte)?
- A study abroad period might delay your graduation. What will your strategy be to deal with this situation if it occurs?
- Personal judgement of your language proficiency.
- Do you think that your Italian / German / French / Spanish / Italian etc. is good enough to perform on academic level (level B2) if this language is not the one you study at Leiden University? Why do you think so? (You do not have to answer this questions for your English language proficiency.)
- Are there any other reasons why you choose for this particular university / city / country?
- You can choose up to 5 universities in one single application. If you do so, you only have to focus on the first three universities in your motivation letter.
In your online application you will be asked to grant us permission to view your grades in uSis. You therefore do not need to upload a transcript except in the following cases:
- Leiden University College (LUC): if you are, or have been, studying at LUC, request an official transcript with GPA from the LUC course administration and upload it in your application.
- University studies elsewhere: if you have also studied at a university ‘other than’ Leiden, upload your transcript from that institution.
You need to submit proof that you have discussed your wish to go on exchange with your study advisor (studieadviseur). The study advisor can inform you about the consequences of exchange for your study plan and study progress. Use the form “Confirmation study advisor”.
Students of the following programmes are exempted from this requirement:
- BA German language and culture
- BA History
- BA International Studies
About offers and placements
Students who are offered an exchange spot must formally accept the placement. Those students who already accepted an exchange placement through another exchange programme during the same period may not submit an application for other exchange placements.
Due to the high number of applications, we unfortunately cannot hold placements for students.
Those students who do not accept their placements by the deadline mentioned in the offer letter will forfeit the offered placement.
Online application
Submit your application in the uSis study abroad portal as follows:
- Log into uSis > click on the Study Abroad tile > select ‘‘I want to study at a partner university via an exchange agreement’.
- Enter the requested data and upload the required documents.
- Select your (max. 5) exchange destinations in order of preference.
- Submit your application.
Selection and offer
You will be notified of the results by email. If you are offered a place, you will be invited to log into the uSis study abroad portal to view the details of the offered place. Make sure to read all the information and conditions of the offer carefully.
Accept the offered place within 7 days
If you have been offered a place, you must accept or decline it within 7 days in the uSis study abroad portal If you do not accept the offer on time, it will be withdrawn. When accepting your place, you must agree to the Regulations on Studying Abroad. Be prepared and read these in advance. If you have any questions about the regulations, contact your international exchange coordinator.
Nomination and application to host university
Once you accept the offered place, Leiden University will nominate you to your host institution. You will then receive instructions on how and when to submit your application to your host institution, either from your international exchange coordinator or directly from the host itself. Also check in the world map whether there is any additional information available on application procedures at your host university.