What and why?
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.
What is an Exchange?
Going on exchange means taking courses at a partner university as part of your study programme. As an exchange student, you have the advantage that you will not have to pay the tuition fees of the partner university abroad and can use the credits for your curriculum in Leiden. This exchange is facilitated by an 'exchange agreement' between Leiden University and the partner university. If this contract is open to all Leiden University students, it's called a University-wide exchange. If this contract is open to students at the Faculty of Science, it's called a faculty exchange. The different exchange programmes have a:
- different offer of partner universities
- different deadline and application procedure
- different contact person at Leiden University
- different scope of agreement (i.e. in which area of study can students follow courses)
If there is information specifically related to the Faculty of Science exchange programme, then you will find this under the 'Science' tab on each page (Where?, When?, etc.). All information pertaining to university-wide exchanges can be found under the 'General' tab on each page.
Find our latest announcements on the Science International Office Brightspace, under the Faculty of Science (FWN) course.
Did you miss us at the International Experience Week? Find our Faculty Information Session presentation here. Unsure of what to write in your exchange motivation letter? Sign up for our workshop, hosted by Science Career Service, here.
There are Other Ways to Go Abroad!
Not interested in following courses abroad at one of our partner universities? Here are the options you have:
- Internships, fieldwork, research project or summer schools abroad
- Free mover - study abroad independently at a non-partner university
Need Inspiration?
Check out where others have gone before you and read about their experiences in the Student Reports database.