You may only go on exchange with the approval of your study programme. Inform your study advisor about your plans and make sure you get approval for an exchange. Once you submit your application, the international exchange coordinator will ask your study programme to confirm its approval.   

After looking through all the options in the world map, draw up a list of (up to) 3 universities where you would like to study, in order of preference. Please note that submitting fewer will not increase your placement odds. Please do not submit more than 3 choices – if we cannot place you within your top 3, we will contact you with alternatives.

Letter of Motivation
Write your letter of motivation. There is no template for the faculty exchange programme, you may format your letter as a standard letter of motivation. You may explain your motivation for your top choice or your top 3 choices. Please stick to one A4-page!

Your letter should include:

• Your name and study programme
• Academic motivation
  • Why do you want to study at your host university? What area of study will you be pursuing? What courses at the partner university align with this?
  • How does an exchange fit into your programme at Leiden University? Will this be during your minor period, or, for example, extra-curricular?
  • For non-English speaking destinations: why is your Italian / French / German / Spanish sufficient to take courses at university-level abroad?
• Personal motivation
  • Why do you want to go on exchange? What are the (non-academic) reasons for choosing this particular university / city / country?

Second Semester as Plan B
Are you applying for the first semester, but can you also go abroad in the second semester (or vice versa)? Mention in your letter that you wish to be considered for a different semester if you are not selected for your first choice of semester. Please note that it is important to discuss this with your study advisor in advance to make sure your study programme permits going on exchange in the second semester.

Study Plan
Make a (prospective) study plan in which you outline which courses you would like to follow at your top 3 choices. This is not a final study plan, but an indication of your interests. You do not need to include the complete overview of courses in the main text of your motivation letter. You may upload the study plan as a separate document, or add this to your motivation letter document, after your main text.

We ask that you make a study plan to be sure an exchange fits into your study programme. Are enough courses available in your field of interest, at your study level, and in a language you speak? Consider which compulsory courses you still need to complete in Leiden, how semester dates align and when exams are scheduled.

Transcript
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.
• Joint degree: if you do a joint degree at Leiden University and TU Delft, request an official TU Delft Transcript of Records with GPA via your Faculty’s Service Desk 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. Be sure to select the academic year in which you will be going on exchange, not the current academic year.
• Select your (max. 3) exchange destinations in order of preference.
• Submit your application.

If you need further explanation, consult the manual on applying for faculty-wide exchange via uSis. 

Once your programme confirms its approval you will be included in the selection process. You will be notified of the results by email. Be sure to check your uMail! If you are offered a place, you will be invited to log into the study abroad portal to view the details of the offer. Make sure to read all the information and conditions of the offer carefully.

If you are not offered a place, the Science International Office will be in touch with you to discuss further possibilities.

If you have been offered a place, you must accept or decline this place within 7 days in the uSis study abroad portal. If you do not accept this 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 the partner university. The partner university will then reach out with instructions on how and when to submit your application to their institution. You are responsible for completing your application on time! Find more information on the ‘To arrange before departure’ page.