Where?

Leiden University has exchange agreements with universities all over the world. So there are plenty of destinations to choose from.

Check which exchange programmes are available to you

Before starting your search for suitable destinations, check on your faculty/study programme tab which types of exchange programmes are available to you. For example university-wide exchange programmes, faculty exchange programmes, or special exchange programmes only for students on your study programme.

Search for destinations

In our world map you can search through all Leiden University’s exchange agreements to find a destination that is compatible with your studies and interests. You can filter on the basis of country, exchange programme type, level, language and more. Once you have found an interesting destination, check the details carefully. Pay particular attention to the following sections:

Intended for students from: is this destination open to students from your study programme?
Important consideration: are there other important aspects you should consider, e.g. language requirements, semester dates, or whether this is a popular destination where your chances of placement are low?

Going abroad via ISEP

As well as regular exchange destinations, you can also choose to go to a destination via ISEP, a non-profit partner organisation. In the world map, select Exchange Programme: university-wide exchange, then ISEP for further information. Note that fees may apply.

Find your exchange destination via the world map!

World map

Negative travel advice? Check your destination

You may not go on exchange in a country for which negative travel advice has been issued. Check here if your destination is safe. This webpage is in Dutch, but by entering the country name (Dutch spelling) you can view the safety status on a map. If your destination is red or orange, you may not go there. See the Health and Safety page for further information.

Gather more information

Student reports

In the student reports database you can find reports written by students about their study abroad experiences. You can filter the reports on the basis of country, faculty and type of activity abroad. This is a great way to learn more about what to expect when studying abroad in a particular country, field and institution.

International Experience Week

Launch your international adventure at the annual International Experience Week. Find out more about the country in which you want to study, talk to students who have already studied abroad, attend faculty information sessions and much more.

Via your faculty or study programme

Click on your faculty or study programme tab for information on the destinations available via your own faculty or programme.

Tips for choosing a destination

Be flexible

There are limited places available on exchange programmes, which means there is no guarantee you can go to your preferred destination. Remember that there are lots of great places to study abroad. We recommend that you don’t restrict your options by setting strict criteria.

What to take into account

The courses you want to follow: are they open to exchange students?
The language spoken and any language requirements: do you speak the language well enough? Or could you attain the required level by following a language course?
Cost of living: this can differ greatly from destination to destination, even within the same country. Do you have sufficient funds?
Special requirements due to disability or illness: can your destination meet your requirements? Also take a look at the Health and Safety page.
The atmosphere, culture and environment: do you prefer small scale or large scale, something completely different or something more familiar?
Equal treatment of all gender identities and sexual orientations: what is the situation in your destination? Take a look on ILGA.org.

Where to go

Leiden University has exchange agreements with universities all over the world. So there are plenty of destinations to choose from.

The Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) has several specific exchange agreements with partner institutions mostly in Europe but also all over the world. In the world map, which will soon be live, you can search through all the exchange programmes available to you, either via a faculty or university-wide agreement. In the meantime, you can check your options with the International Office via intoff@lumc.nl.

Find you destination
In our world map you can search for destinations by filtering on the basis of country, exchange programme type, level, language and more. Once you have found an interesting destination, check the details carefully. Pay particular attention to the following sections:

Intended for students from: is this destination open to students from your study programme?
Important considerations: are there other important aspects you should consider, e.g. language requirements or semester dates?

Find your exchange destination via the world map!

Other students' experiences
Also take a look at the reports written by other students about their study abroad experiences in the student reports database. Here you can filter on the basis of country, faculty and type of activity abroad.

Activities offered at the LUMC

In the third year of the Bachelor Medicine and Biomedical Sciences it is possible to go abroad for a few of our half minors to destinations like France, Indonesia, Tanzania or Cuba. It’s also possible to follow a complete semester in Edinburgh, Scotland, Stockholm, Sweden (biomedical students only) or Helsinki, Finland (medical students only). You can also look for an alternative minor yourself that meets the criteria of the minor phase (view more information on Brightspace). Please be aware that starting dates of semesters can vary per institute, that the set up of courses might be different from Leiden University and that there might be a criterium to enroll for at least six months or a year. All options to go abroad during the minor phase can be found here for students of Medicine and here for students of Biomedical Sciences.

For more information about the half minor programmes and other options to go abroad during the minor phase, please check the information on Brightspace Half Minors, or contact the LUMC International Office via intoff@lumc.nl or schedule a meeting here.

During the master Biomedical Sciences it is possible to follow Frontiers of Sciences courses in Heidelberg. The program director of Biomedical Sciences has approved a few Frontiers of Sciences (FOS) courses offered at Heidelberg. There are limited spaces however, so be aware of the deadlines and know that the courses, application procedure and deadlines are announced on the BMS Brightspace module in the fall. These courses are always taught in the period between May and August. For more information about these courses, check the BMS Brightspace module.

Approval and application

Check which exchange programmes are available to you!

Faculty exchange

Deadline
If you want to go abroad in fall or spring, it is necessary to find out what the nomination and application deadlines are of the university you want to go to. The LUMC does not have an internal deadline for outgoing students on Erasmus contracts. If you are selected for a half minor in either Edinburgh or Helsinki, or the biomedical science exchange in Karolinska, we will inform you about the application deadlines as we have to nominate you first.

Apply on time
It is always important to start in time. If you have not yet decided where you want to go exactly, please keep track of the deadlines so that you will not be too late.

Requirements
To apply for a faculty exchange programme, you must meet the following requirements:

For the half minor programs in Edinburgh and Helsinki, and the biomedical semester in Karolinska Institutet, you need to be selected by the half minor committee. If you are not selected, we will not nominate you to these universities.
We do not have LUMC requirements, but we honour the requirements of the partner institutions, so please make sure you know what the requirements are for the university you want to go to.

Karolinska Institutet

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 2: exchange both semesters
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: Frontier of Science courses, JRP1 of JRP 2
Medicine
master: scientific internship
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Pharmacy
scientific internship

Universitat de Barcelona

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
master: scientific internship
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Pharmacy
scientific internship

University of Edinburgh

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: half minor
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
bachelor jaar 3: half minor
master: scientific internship, medical internship
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Pharmacy
scientific internship

Trinity College Dublin

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
master: scientific internship
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Pharmacy
scientific internship

Medizinische Universität Innsbruck

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
master: scientific internship
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Pharmacy
scientific internship

Universitätsmedizin Göttingen

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
master: scientific internship
Vitality and Ageing
onderzoekstage
Pharmacy
scientific internship

Semmelweis University

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
master: scientific internship
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Pharmacy
scientific internship

Université de Strasbourg

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
master: scientific internship
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Pharmacy
scientific internship

Universität Heidelberg

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
master: scientific internship
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Farmacie
scientific internship

KU Leuven

Biomedical Sciences
bachelor year 3: bachelor internship
master: JRP 1 of 2
Medicine
bachelor year 2: 10 weeks courses
master: research- and medical internships
Vitality and Ageing
research internship
Farmacie
scientific internship

University Sydney