What and why?
No consultation hours Plexus and Wijnhaven
From December until February 2025, there will be no open consultation hours at Plexus and Wijnhaven. Our university-wide exchange coordinators will be busy processing applications for the 2025-26 exchange round.
Characteristics of exchange programmes
- You will apply via Leiden University and must meet certain eligibility criteria.
- There are limited spaces available, so you are not guaranteed a place on an exchange programme.
- You will remain registered as a student of Leiden University and won’t need to pay additional tuition fees to your host university.
- If you get advance permission from your Board of Examiners, the credits you earn can be counted towards your study programme at Leiden University.
Two types of exchange
There are two types of exchange programme:
- University-wide
- Via a faculty or study programme
Characteristics of university-wide exchange
- As a rule, for students of all disciplines. Conditions may apply.
- Also open to master students, though restrictions generally apply at both Leiden University and partner universities.
- At your host university, you can generally follow courses offered by any programme or faculty.
- All destinations are outside Europe.
- Due to limited exchange places at our partner universities, you can only go on exchange for 1 semester. Students who have a mandatory 2 semester exchange via their study programme are exempted from this.
- The programme is organised by the international exchange coordinator for university-wide exchange, whom you can contact with any questions.
Characteristics of exchange via a faculty or study programme
- Only for students from specific study programmes or faculties.
- You may only follow courses offered by specific study programmes or faculties at your host university.
- Destinations are both within Europe (Erasmus+) and outside Europe.
- The programme is organised by the international exchange coordinator at your faculty or programme, whom you can contact with any questions.
Exchange Programmes
The Faculty of Humanities has a large network of student exchange partnerships within Europe. These are the so-called Erasmus+ partnerships, for more information see Where?.
Going abroad indepently
Students who independently apply to a university of their choosing are called 'Free movers'. For more information, see Going abroad independently.
Mandatory Studies Abroad
A number of BA and MA programmes in the Faculty of Humanities have a mandatory study abroad period as a component of the programme. These students are usually not considered to be exchange students. For more information, please check your programme specific tab.